Why Do Dogs Lick Feet -

Has your dog earned the distinction of being nicknamed Sir Licks-a-Lot for giving slobbery kisses and gooey licks to your hands, toes, and feet?

Though some pet parents find the licking endearing and others prefer dogs keep their tongues to themselves, experts say it’s a pretty common behavior.

So, why do dogs lick your feet? Are there health risks to dogs licking feet? How can you stop your dog from licking your feet?

We have expert insight on how to get a foothold on this quirky canine behavior.

Common Reasons Dogs Lick Feet

The most likely reasons dogs lick human feet fall mainly into two categories, and it’s important to distinguish the difference.

Is the licking an occasional situational behavior? Or is your dog licking feet compulsively?

“If a dog licks somebody’s foot while they’re resting in a chair, and the dog is right there and licks it, and this happens once in a while, that could just be because the dog finds that foot to be a toy or a game and licks it,” says Gene Pavlovsky, veterinarian and chief of staff at the Dr. John A. Coyne South Clinic at the University of Illinois.

Besides showering your feet with big wet kisses, dogs may also lick your toes, hands, or face. Licking can also be a sign of affection, or perhaps your dog just likes the smell of one of your appendages and decides they must taste it.

“That could be because of lotion on somebody’s foot, or somebody just took off their socks or their shoes, and it just smells funny,” Dr. Pavlovsky says.

Yeah, there’s kinda a big ewwwww factor when you think about stinky, salty, sweaty feet being appealing, but you know, dogs like a lot of gross things.

A dog may also lick to show fear or appeasement.

“Appeasement is basically when the dog is stressed or scared and licking you as a way to get you to sort of back down, or back away, in a sense,” Dr. Pavlovsky says. “The person might think of that as a dog kind of apologizing and feeling guilty, whereas it’s the dog’s way of saying that they’re scared.”

If a dog is persistently and repetitively licking, it may signal a problem.

“It could be a displacement behavior, which is a normal behavior, but it’s performed out of context,” Dr. Pavlovsky says. “If a dog is anxious, for example, scared or frustrated, they may engage in this displacement behavior as a way to sort of soothe themselves.”

Is It Safe for Dogs to Lick Your Feet?

All this likely leaves you wondering: Is it bad if my dog licks my feet? It could be. Alongside behavioral concerns, there are some health and safety risks for both humans and dogs.

If a person has an open sore or cut on their foot and a dog has infectious bacteria in their mouth, though rare, those germs could be transmitted through the wound and cause an infection.

“If the foot itself is healthy and has intact skin, that serves as protection against most infectious agents,” Dr. Pavlovsky says.

On the flip side, you could make your dog sick if they lick something you have on your hands or feet, like lotion, sunscreen, detergent, or other chemicals that are toxic to them.

“People put all sorts of topical products on their bodies that sometimes you don’t even know what’s in them,” Dr. Pavlovsky says.

If you do have some sort of cream, ointment, or anything potentially poisonous to dogs on your body, don’t let your dog lick that area.

Should You Let Your Dog Lick Your Feet?

If you don’t have anything harmful on your feet and no open sores or infections, it’s likely fine to allow your dog to lick your feet.

“I think a lot of pet owners think it’s kind of cute and endearing that their dogs lick them; some people like the sensation,” Dr. Pavlovsky says. “If this is not a pattern, then I think there’s very little wrong with an occasional foot lick.”

But if your dog is licking out of anxiety, you should address that behavior.

“If it happens all the time, and they’re seeking you out, and they’re licking your feet or hands, and if they’re engaging in other behaviors, like pacing and barking, then I think that should alert the pet owner to seek some help,” Dr. Pavlovsky says.

How To Stop Your Dog From Licking Your Feet

While you may need some professional advice to get off on the right foot, you can start by identifying the trigger and removing it.

“If you’re sitting on the couch, and the dog seeks you out every time you sit down, they can’t leave your feet alone, one way to fix that would be to remove that trigger, which is your feet, meaning that you would just wear socks, slippers, or not extend your feet,” Dr. Pavlovsky says. “Once that’s gone, the dog no longer sees that trigger and doesn’t display that behavior.”

You could also give your dog chews and toys to lick, rather than your feet or other body parts. If you interrupt your dog’s licking to redirect the behavior, be sure to have them do something else for a minute or two before giving them a toy, so they don’t think they’re being rewarded for licking.

However, if anxiety appears to be fueling your dog’s licking, you’ll want to address the underlying cause. Trainers frequently say a lack of exercise and boredom are culprits in many cases of dog frustration.

If you think your dog is getting enough enrichment but still shows signs of obsessive licking, it may be time to talk to your veterinarian or a certified trainer.

Frequently Asked Feet Questions

Still have questions about what it means when a dog licks your feet, but are afraid to ask? Here are answers to some of the most common feet questions:

Why Do Puppies Lick Feet?

Puppies lick feet for many of the same reasons adult dogs do: exploring (potentially stinky) smells, bonding, self-soothing, and showing affection. It’s interesting to note that behavior learned during puppyhood can carry over into adulthood. So if your puppy licks your feet and you laugh or show joy or enthusiasm, your pup may feel like they’re positively rewarded for the licking by the attention they receive, which can lead to the behavior being repetitive. (This goes for adult dogs as well, of course.)

Why Do Dogs Lick Your Toes?

Try not to get toe-toally grossed out, but toes are usually the stinkiest part of the feet and may emit that (gagging here) eau de cheesy, rotten-egg like odor, and as we all know, some dogs have a real knack for enjoying disgusting things, so if the shoe fits…

Toes may also be more fun to lick; all the cracks and crevices might be a nice challenge, like a foot cheese puzzle for dogs. (Yes, the author is cringing at the thought as she writes…)

Is Licking Feet a Sign of a Health Issue?

Dr. Pavlovsky says excessive licking of the feet or even other inanimate objects can sometimes be a sign of oral pain, discomfort, dental problems, nausea, gastrointestinal issues, or swallowing difficulties. Especially if the behavior is new or the frequency or intensity suddenly increases, it’s a good idea to have your vet take a look.