Here’s a controversial subject: dog kisses. Which is just a nice way to say enthusiastic “face licking”.
Dog owners’ (and others) reactions range from tolerating them to embracing them.
But non-dog-loving people see canine kisses as a disgusting habit to be avoided. Why? Because dog’s tongues really get into some disgusting crap. Literally. Most dogs experience the world around them by sniffing, licking and tasting anything and everything they can find. We all know that. It’s how we interpret and choose to deal with it that differs wildly.
After all, how is it possible that an animal we know eats poop, have even seen eat poop, can then be greeted, hugged and kissed without reservation? Do we really believe that after they eat their high quality kibble and drink clean water their doggie mouths are somehow cleansed of all that bacteria? Or perhaps a good dental chew actually sweetens and freshens their breath? That’s just a comfortable illusion we harbor to ease our minds on the subject. Or maybe we like the old wives tale that being exposed to dogs makes us healthier and more resistant to infection.
As for the dog’s motivation, it may be that licking salty skin is its own reward, but in general, a face tongue bath from your furry family member is an expression of affection and devotion. We’ve all seen it in action on those wonderful videos of service members returning from overseas tours, when their dogs go wild with excitement and joy, jumping on them and licking their faces because their little hearts are bursting with happiness at being reunited. When faced with such an expression of unconditional love, how could you possibly push your dog(s) away and lunge for the Purell?
For most of us, that’s not an option. We embrace them, we hug them, and we kiss them, because when confronted by absolute love, we know what’s most important. After all, they’re part of our family, warts and all.
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