Understanding Why Dogs Lick Lips: Body Language Explained

In case you see a canine licking its lips, you may assume it’s merely consuming or drooling over one thing. But when there isn’t any meals round, a canine is likely to be licking its lips as a result of one thing is happening round them that they understand as a menace. Lip licking is a sort of canine communication, and a canine who licks its lips is utilizing physique language to let you know the way they’re feeling.

We break down what it means when a canine is licking its lips unrelated to consuming and what to do to unravel the conduct.

What Is Lip Licking in Canine?

Lip licking is simply what it feels like: a canine licking his lips. In case you discover a canine licking his lips when there is not any meals concerned, he is most likely attempting to ship a message.

What Does Canine Lip Licking Imply?

Canine coach and behaviorist Turid Rugaas coined the phrase “calming indicators” to discuss with lip licking and related canine behaviors. Lip licking can also be also known as an appeasement gesture. Canine exhibit sure behaviors and actions once they really feel pressured or uncomfortable. It is normally as a result of one thing is happening round them that they understand as a menace. Canine who’re licking their lips are normally sending the message that they’re anxious.

They Really feel Threatened

Canine lick their lips to appease and soothe an individual or animal they see as a menace so as to push back aggression. An instance of this may be seen in canine who’re scolded when their homeowners return dwelling to search out the canine has had an accident in the home. A canine may not join the scolding to relieving himself indoors. As an alternative, he sees his proprietor as a menace. The proprietor could also be yelling and looming over him. The canine might provide an appeasement gesture by licking his lips and averting his gaze. That is the canine’s means of claiming that he is not a menace to the particular person behaving aggressively.

They May Be Confused

Generally canine exhibit appeasement gestures like lip licking and yawning when they’re pissed off or confused. Many homeowners discover this throughout coaching classes when their canine are having bother understanding what’s being taught. In case you discover lip-licking, yawning, scratching, or ground-sniffing whereas coaching your canine, it is likely to be time to cease the coaching session. A canine can’t study new issues when pressured. To finish on a constructive notice, ask your canine to do one thing easy he already is aware of, like sit. Reward him with a deal with and reward, after which finish the session. Attempt enjoying together with your canine for a short time to bond and assist your canine calm down.

Well being Points

One other essential potential motive for extreme lip-licking in canine is a health-related challenge. A canine may lick his lips attributable to nausea, dental illness, or mouth ache. Search for different indicators of sickness and maintain a detailed eye in your canine. When doubtful, contact your vet.

What to Do If Your Canine Is Licking His Lips

Whereas lip licking is normally thought of a submissive gesture meant to forestall aggression from escalating, it’s nonetheless an indication {that a} canine is pressured and uncomfortable with a scenario. This appeasement gesture might be the canine’s first try and take away the menace—to cease his proprietor from yelling at him or to get one other canine to cease barking at him, for instance. Nonetheless, this doesn’t suggest that the canine will not change into defensive if the perceived threatening scenario continues. A defensive canine might resort to aggressive conduct if appeasement gestures are unsuccessful.

Decide the Supply

In case you see a canine licking his lips, again off and permit him some house to get extra comfy. Attempt to decide the supply of the canine’s concern and take away it, if potential. This may prevent from a possible chew from a canine who feels the necessity to defend himself.

Keep Constructive

In case your canine is lip-licking on the vet or one other place that makes him nervous, attempt to redirect him in a constructive method. You possibly can ask him to do a trick after which reward him for complying. Keep away from comforting your canine when he’s uneasy as this solely reinforces his worry or nervousness.

Finish the Coaching Session

In case your canine is lip-licking throughout a coaching session, it is most likely finest to discover a technique to rapidly finish on a constructive notice (ask your canine to do one thing he is aware of and wrap up the session). Subsequent time, break down the motion or conduct into smaller segments so it is simpler to your canine to study. These are generally referred to as shaping behaviors.

Go to the Vet

In case you usually discover your canine exhibiting lip-licking conduct when there isn’t any clear menace and no meals round, chances are you’ll need to examine additional. Maybe there’s something in your canine’s setting that’s making him uneasy. Keep in mind that there might even be a well being drawback, comparable to nausea or oral discomfort. When doubtful, take your canine to the vet for a check-up.