Dogs do some weird and often gross things that can seem really strange to humans.
From eating poop to sniffing other dogs’ genitals, they display a wide range of behavior we might not understand.
In this post, we will answer the question, “why does my dog lick my spit?”
Then we will look at how to stop them from doing it.
Why Does Your Dog Lick Your Spit?
Your dog licks your spit because it tastes nice, out of random curiosity, or possibly due to stress or boredom.
You might have also unknowingly encouraged the behavior.
Let’s look at this question in more detail. Here’s a list of all the most likely reasons why your dog might enjoy licking your spit.
- Random curiosity.
- Your spit tastes nice.
- Stress or boredom.
- You have unknowingly encouraged them to lick your spit.
A Quick Note About Your Mouth, Spit, and Spitting
Before we get into the details, we need to separate the question of your dog’s spit licking into two parts.
Firstly if your dog licks your mouth, and you think it does so because it likes your spit.
Then it would help if you read this article:
Link – Why does my dog lick inside my mouth?
Or, if you happen to spit out some saliva and the dog licks it, then you should carry on reading here.
Let’s take the list from above and examine it in more detail.
1. Random Curiosity
Dogs explore the world using their mouths.
So your dog may just be licking some of your spit out of natural curiosity. It might just be that simple.
While it is fun to try and understand what dogs do and sometimes it is important so we can make sure they are ok and not putting themselves at risk.
Sometimes the right thing to do is just let dogs be dogs and let them do what dogs do, even if that includes licking human spit!
NOTE – You may also want to read this post asking the question: Why do dogs stick their tongue out?
2. Your Spit Tastes Nice
Human saliva is salty. Just like humans, dogs also like the taste of salt.
It could be that simple. Your dog might just think your saliva is delicious.
Which, if you think about it, is a kind of compliment and better than them thinking it tastes awful (especially when you think about what else they lick)!
3. Stress Or Boredom
When dogs are stressed, anxious, or bored, they often engage in activities to help them relieve those feelings, similar to a human biting their nails when they suffer from stress.
Obsessive licking is one of the ways dogs will try to feel better in times of stress or boredom.
Important Note – If you think there might be an underlying health issue causing your dog to lick anything, including your spit, please consider taking them to the vet for a check-up.
If you are struggling financially and worried about vet bills, this website lists places you can contact for help.
(If you do not live in the USA, you can use Google to search for similar help near you, there is a lot of support out there for dog owners in difficulty).
4. You Have Unknowingly Encouraged Them to Lick Your Spit
While this might sound surprising, it is easy to accidentally train your dog into a behavior pattern.
For example, let’s say your dog randomly licked your spit 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 if they lick your spit, you will be nice to them.
So whenever they want some attention and affection from you, they lick your spit and see if it works.
Should You Let Your Dog Lick Your Spit?
If you are spitting on the floor and the dog licks your spit, there is no harm, although some people might think both the spitting and the licking are gross.
You should not let your dog lick your mouth or anywhere near damaged skin, as serious infections can be passed from your dog’s saliva.
If your dog licks spit or anything else obsessively, you should get them checked out by a vet in case there is something more seriously wrong with them.
How to Stop Your Dog from Licking Your Spit
To stop your dog from licking your spit, the easiest thing to do is to prevent them from getting near it.
Don’t let your dog lick inside or near your mouth.
The answer is straightforward if you spit on the floor and the dog licks it up. STOP SPITTING!
Why Do Dogs Lick So Much?
Dogs have an instinct to lick, which is part of their nature.
Dogs explore the world around them with their noses, mouths, teeth, and tongues.
They lick when grooming, including as part of the social grooming of other dogs and humans.
They also use licking to assess if something is edible or not.
Dogs also may lick excessively due to boredom, hunger, thirst, stress, or a medical condition.
As dog owners, our job is to figure out what might be causing the licking and, if it is a problem, figure out how to deal with it.
Final Notes On Why Your Dog Licks Your Spit
If your dog licks your spit, it is most likely due to one of these reasons.
- Natural canine curiosity
- Your spit is tasty to your dog.
- They are bored, stressed, or unhappy.
- You have unknowingly encouraged them to lick your spit.
If your dog likes licking your mouth, you should read this post.
If your dog licks anything excessively or obsessively, you should take them to the vet for a check-up.
Tim is a proud, vetted, and experienced dog foster carer for a charity helping dog owners escape domestic abuse.
He has years of experience training and caring for dogs, both his own and other people’s.
He is an expert in canine behavior and is highly skilled in dealing with all dogs but specializes in the difficult ones that other people may struggle with.
When he isn’t fostering dogs, he is making friends with other people’s pups!