Show Affection/Love Australian Shepherds can often lick you to get your attention. They are very friendly dogs and love to be around people, and appreciate your attention as well as companionship. One of the most common reasons why Australian Shepherds lick is because they want to show their affection for you.
Many dog owners view dogs' licking as a sign of affection similar to kissing. Obsessive licking may be a sign of underlying issues, including anxiety, boredom, or fear. Trick training is an effective way to redirect problem licking in a positive way.
When your dog licks you, he may be showing his affection, or simply because your lotion or skin tastes good. A compulsive licker may have unintentionally been taught this behavior by his owner: He learns that licking gets him attention, even if it's negative.
Aside from cuddling, Aussies show affection by bringing you toys, nudging you with their noses, sitting on you, and showing their bellies to you. By putting himself in a vulnerable position, he's showing that he trusts you.
One of the most common reasons why dogs love to lick their owners is simply to show their affection. Since you're the one taking care of them, you're essentially their world! When dogs lick, pleasurable endorphins are released into their blood which makes them feel calm and comforted.
Dogs lick their owners as a way to show affection
It is a way for dogs to show affection towards the owner, but also as a sign of submission and fearlessness. The leg licking motion is often also a sign of gratitude. Dogs lick legs because they are grateful to the owner for giving them food and attention.
“The main reason dogs follow us to the bathroom is because they like to be where we are,” Dr. Coppola explains. “Dogs are obligate social animals, which means socialization is a genuinely natural behavior for them. This is part of what makes them such fantastically loyal companions.”
Australian Shepherds are known for their fierce loyalty with one person, that doesn't mean every Shepherd will act like that. Some Shepherds might not build a particularly strong bond with any one family member. Others might like one of you more than another, but they don't sit on you to show it.
This fun-loving breed requires a lot of exercise and needs to stay active; whether it's playing fetch or taking a long walk every day, make sure to keep your Aussie moving! While intelligent and hardworking, the Australian Shepherd can still be a goofy and loving family pet.
While adaptable, the loyal and devoted Australian Shepherd does best with its people nearby. They are often demanding of attention and they do not like to be left alone.
The Root of the Behavior
Nuzzling, licking, and even nibbling on the ears of another pack member (in this case, you) can be a means to show that your pup is comfortable with you. They can be trying to say that they accept you as part of their pack, specifically as their pack leader, and that they respect and love you.
Licking another dog's face or a human's face is a normal social behavior. Licking can be an appeasement gesture that signals a dog's social deference. It can also be a signal to solicit food, more social information, a sign of affection or to solicit attention.
Should I let my dog lick my feet? Licking feet may seem disgusting to you, but providing that your feet are healthy, you don't have any open wounds or haven't applied any medications that could be poisonous to your dog, such as psoriasis creams, then there is no harm in letting your dog lick your feet.
They're showing affection
For the most part, the reason why domestic dogs lick you is that they want to show you some love. For many pet parents, it can get a bit too much; the best way to curb this behaviour is to teach them an alternative positive behaviour response.
They're showing affection
Licking can be a way for dogs to bond with family members. For example, mother dogs will often lick their puppies to groom them or offer comfort. Likewise, licking may be your dog's way of grooming you and showing closeness.
Grown-up dogs lick each other as a sign of deference or submissiveness to a dominant pack member. The submissive dog lowers its body to make it look smaller, and then looks up to the dominate dog while licking it to add to the effect of subordinate behavior.
At 2-3 years of age, Mini Aussies are considered mentally developed and will be better at regulating their energy levels. In other words, they will start to calm down! That said, Aussies are naturally active dogs and will remain so into old age.
They're a very devoted breed and highly intelligent. Australian shepherds bond with their owners and family and take their role as guardians seriously. This can cause them to be protective, but also aggressive toward things they perceive as a threat if they're not properly socialized and trained.
If your dog follows you everywhere then it's a sign that they trust and love you and that you make them feel safe. Following you very closely can be a sign that they're bored, they want something, they're feeling scared or are just being nosy.
Males tend to be a bit more affectionate but are also more exuberant throughout life. Aussies are very attached to their people. They are inclined to be more steadfast, reliable, and less moody. These dogs also tend to be a little more food motivated.
Signs your dog imprinted on you.
They follow you around closely. They mirror your behaviors. They follow your commands more readily than they do other people's. They check in with you frequently when in new environments or situations.
Often, this is simply a case of access, or lack of it. If one person spends more time at home with the dog, naturally the dog will want to see and spend time with the other partner, too. When the absent partner rewards that behavior by handing out treats upon return, reinforcement and hardwiring occurs.
It is instinctive for them to feel safe when in close proximity to their pack. Once you bring a dog into your home, you become part of their pack. They enjoy sleeping with you because it makes them feel safe and comfortable. Sleeping together gives dogs an emotional connection to their owners.