Why Does My Dog Lick My Neck So Much?

Have you noticed that your dog seems to enjoy licking your neck?

Maybe they lick it when you are lying in bed together?

Or when you are sitting on the couch, they climb up to reach it?

Why do they do this? What about your neck makes them want to lick it so much?

This post will answer your questions.

We will also discuss whether it is safe to let your dog lick your skin and how to stop them from doing so if you wish.

Why Does Your Dog Lick Your Neck So Much?

Your dog licks your neck because they like the taste, are attracted to your skin care products, express affection, show submission, groom you, because they are distressed, or they can smell something different about you. 

As a loving dog owner, you need to figure out why your dog is licking your neck and ensure there is nothing wrong with your dog.

So, let’s look at this in more detail:

1. Your neck tastes nice.
2. They are attracted to your skin products.
   
3. They are being affectionate.
4. They are expressive submissiveness.
5. They are trying to groom you.
6. Your dog might be sick, stressed, or in pain.
7. They can smell an ailment that you might have.
8. You accidentally trained your pup to lick your neck.

1. Your Neck Tastes Nice

The neck can be quite a sweaty part of your body, sweat is salty, and dogs often like the taste of salt.

So maybe your dog licks your neck because it tastes nice and salty.

You might be able to test this idea by offering your neck to your dog after having a shower and seeing if they lick it as enthusiastically as usual.

2. They Are Attracted to Your Skin Care Products or Perfume

Most people put moisturizing cream, aftershave, or perfume on the neck area of their skin.

Whatever product you use, your dog might find the smell or taste of it enticing.

NOTE – Some skin care and hygiene products contain xylitol which is toxic for dogs.

The chances of them getting sick by licking some traces of it from your neck is very slim, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

3. They Are Being Affectionate

One of the best things about being a dog owner is how much love and affection our pet dogs give us.

They are amazing creatures, and we are fortunate to have them in our lives.

It could be as simple as your dog is licking your neck to show you affection, and they happen to prefer that spot on your body.

4. They Are Expressive Submissiveness

Like humans, dogs live in hierarchies of social status, which goes for how they live with other dogs and humans.

Often (and ideally), pet dogs see their owners as more dominant and show their submissiveness through body language and other behaviors.

5. They Are Trying to Groom You

Lots of animals (including dogs and humans) engage in social grooming.

Dogs do this as a way of bonding but also for practical reasons, for example, a dog can’t lick their ears, but another dog can.

So… yes! When your dog licks your neck, it could be because they think you are dirty and need to be cleaned and groomed.

You can make of that what you will!

6. Your Dog Might Be Sick, Stressed, Or in Pain

Sadly our pet dogs can’t talk to us, but they can communicate in other ways, including licking, nuzzling, and nibbling.

Also, dogs can lick people, other dogs, or random household times when they are sick or stressed as a way of self-soothing.

If you think about it in the same way that some people bite their nails when they are nervous, it should make sense that your dog might do something similar.

If your pooch shows any signs of emotional or physical issues, or if the way they lick your neck is frantic or obsessive, you should get them checked out with your vet.

If you are in financial difficulty and are worried about vet bills, this site lists helpful resources for charities to help you pay your bills.

(If you don’t live in the US, you can use Google to find similar help in your country, there is a lot of support for dog owners who are in difficulty).

7. They Can Smell an Ailment That You Might Have

Before we talk about this one, it’s important to say, please don’t worry!

It is very unlikely that your dog licks your skin because you have a disease.

However, with that said, some dogs do have a remarkable ability to spot ailments in humans.

From licking a rash to sniffing out the onset of Parkinson’s disease, some dogs can spot a wide range of human illnesses.

If you have any symptoms or your dog seems worried or upset when they lick your neck, it might be worth talking to your doctor.

8. You Accidentally Trained Your Pup to Lick Your Neck

While this may sound surprising, it is easy to accidentally train your dog into a behavior pattern.

For example, let’s say your dog randomly licked your neck one day, and without thinking, you laughed and stroked them.

The dog felt good because you reacted warmly and gave them some attention.

They repeated the behavior, and you gave them a nice cuddle this time.

They have learned that you will be nice to them if they lick your neck.

So whenever they want some attention and affection from you, they lick your neck and see if it works.

NOTE – Before you read further, you might enjoy this video about why dogs lick their owners.

Just click on the video to start playing:

 

Should You Let Your Dog Lick Your Neck?

The only risk to your dog from doing so is the skin care products on your neck that are toxic to dogs.

With regards to risks for you, canine saliva has some nasty bugs. As a result, diseases and parasites can be transmitted from pet dogs to their owners.

However, with neck licking, there is minimal risk of infection unless your skin is damaged or broken.

If you have a rash or a cut close to where they want to lick, you should not let them do so, but otherwise, it’s very safe and totally up to you if you want them to carry on.

How to Stop Your Dog from Licking Your Neck

The most obvious and easiest way to stop this canine neck licking behavior is to prevent them from being able to get to it.

So you could cover up your neck with a scarf or a hoody, or you could stop them from sleeping in bed with you when your neck is easy for them to get close to.

If neither of those methods is suitable, you can also try training them. Let’s see how…

How to Train Your Dog Not to Lick Your Neck

When training a dog not to lick your neck or anywhere else on your body, we first need to remember that licking is a perfectly natural behavior for them.

This means it might be hard to eliminate licking entirely, and you should only try to do so with good reason.

With that said, there is a simple two-step process that should be very effective with most dogs:

1. Use the “No” command to stop the licking.
2. Use distraction and praise to redirect the dog’s attention.

Let’s look at each step more closely:

Training and Using the “No” Command

If you have not already trained your dog to obey the no command, you should prioritize it.

Select a behavior you want them to stop doing – in this case, licking your neck – you need to catch them in the act of doing it, say “No” in a firm voice, and physically stop them from doing it.

For example, if your dog was licking your hand, you would pull your hand away and say the “No” command clearly and firmly.

Once they understand the “No” command for hand licking, it will be much easier to train them to understand it in a different context, such as barking or jumping up at people.

So you should work through a few different behaviors until they understand that “No” means stop what they are doing, whatever it is.

Using Distraction and Praise to Encourage A Different Behavior

After successfully using the “No” command to stop the dog from licking your neck, you should reward and distract them.

Give them a treat, pet them, or give verbal praise, so they associate stopping with feeling good.

Then play with them, let them go outside, move them around the house, or do something similar to distract them from returning to the licking.

If you keep up with this simple two-step process, you will notice a reduction in this neck licking behavior.

Not only that, but if they do carry on with the licking, you will be able to stop them much more quickly.

Please note that if you struggle to stop your dog from licking, it may be because they are doing so due to stress, boredom, or a medical condition.

If this might be the case, you should do your best to fix the underlying cause and, if need be, take the dog to the vet to get checked out.

Final Thoughts On Why Your Dog Licks Your Neck So Much

If your dog licks your neck, the chances are that it is due to one of these reasons:

• Your neck tastes nice to your dog.
• They are attracted to your skin care products or perfume.
  
• To show you affection.
  
• To expressive submission.
• To groom you.
• The dog might be sick, in pain, or anxious
  
• They can smell an ailment that you have.

Most of these reasons are nothing to worry about, but you should try to stop them from licking your skin care products just to be safe.

There is minimal risk to you from this behavior unless you have broken or damaged skin on your neck, in which case you shouldn’t let the dog do it to prevent any risk of infection.

The easiest way to stop it is not to let them get close enough to your neck to lick it, but you can also use training to reduce or eliminate this behavior.

If the behavior seems obsessive, you should take the dog to a vet for a check-up.

If you have any pain or signs of a health issue in your neck, you should get it checked out by your doctor ASAP.