Name: Steve G.
Status: Educator
Age: 50s
Date: April 21, 2002
Question:
Why does a dog lick humans most of
the time? Is this a show of affection or is something else?
Replies:
It is their way of exploring the world. Much in the same way, human children
put everything into their mouths as well. I presume dogs can pick up a lot
more information from what they touch with their tongues than we could. But
I think it is also a sign of affection, as anyone with a dog can tell you.
It is rare not to see a dog wagging its tail when he or she is licking
someone he or she loves.
NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.
