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If I had to name the number one behavior parents ask me about, it would be licking. Some of you don't mind it at all, and some of you can't stand it.
Chances are, your dog doesn't just lick the baby. Many dogs have been licking their family members for years, so it isn't a new behavior. With consistency, training, and management, your dog can learn that it's okay to lick you, but not the baby. If licking has been allowed and rewarded (even by accident), your dog may be confused at first when you react differently around the baby.
Quick summary: Dogs lick babies for many reasons: instinct, the taste of salty skin, food, or lotion, affection, or to ask for space when they feel stressed. Your dog's body language and the context in which the licking happens tell you which one it is. To reduce licking, get ahead of it: redirect your dog before they reach your baby, reward them when they're near your baby and don't lick, and use gates or playpens. The health risk is generally low, but keep licks away from your baby's mouth, cuts, and eczema patches.
Understanding why your dog is licking is the key to reducing it. These are the most common reasons dogs lick people:
Most dogs lick for more than one of these reasons. To tell which one it is, look at the context, your dog's body language when they lick, and what's typical for your dog.
Any time you do one of these while your dog licks, it can be rewarding to them:
Many dogs lick babies, especially mobile babies, because they're asking for space. That kind of licking has nothing to do with affection. These are not doggie kisses.
Your dog is asking for space if their body is tense and they show other signs of stress, like:
You might see this when the baby approaches your dog or reaches toward them. These licks are usually frequent and pushy.
Your dog is most likely showing affection if their body is relaxed, their gaze is soft, and the licks are gentle. If your dog casually approaches your baby, sniffs, licks a few times, and moves on, that's what I call a "drive-by" lick.
Want to practice spotting the difference? Take our free dog body language quiz. It includes videos showing different types of licking.
Want to go deeper? Our Dog Body Language Course teaches you to spot subtle signs of stress.
If your dog asks for space by licking, or seems anxious, especially once your baby is on the move, make sure your baby can't approach your dog. Add a baby gate or a playpen, and let your dog watch "Baby TV" from a safe distance.
What is Baby TV?
Let your dog watch your baby from a safe distance. It isn’t about keeping your dog away all the time. It gives your dog the space and time to get used to your baby’s new milestones, like sitting up, crawling, and pulling up to stand. Pair it with a food-filled puzzle toy or a chew. It’s like going to the movies and having popcorn: you want this to be an enjoyable experience for your dog. Watch me explain Baby TV on Good Morning America.
Pick one or two strategies below and stick with them for a week. If they don't work for your family, move on to another one. Be consistent: if your dog has been licking you for years, it can take a while to change.
When your dog licks you, turn away, or stand up and leave the room. For this to work, ignore your dog the moment the licking starts, every single time. If you allow licking now and then because you're too tired, or only start ignoring it after 5 minutes, the behavior will continue.
If you wait until your dog is already licking the baby and then hand them a toy, treat, or chew, you can end up rewarding the licking, and you'll get more of it over time. Skip "No!" and pushing them away, too. Even disapproving attention is attention, especially for dogs who get less of it since the baby arrived.
When you see your dog approach, offer a toy, chew, or puzzle toy before they have a chance to lick the baby. To make that easy, I keep treats in easy-to-reach spots around the house. Say "Find It" and drop a few treats on the floor away from the baby, on your dog's bed, on a snuffle mat, or inside their crate. Skip this once your baby is mobile and could get close to your dog or find a missed treat. If you do it semi-consistently, you'll create a new pattern.
If your dog loves toys, keep baskets of toys around the house, so you can grab one and hand it to your dog or toss it for them. Our dog Hela was very mouthy as a puppy, and my kids and I consistently redirected her to toys. Now she grabs a toy herself. A dog holding a toy can't mouth or lick.
Praise and reward your dog when they're next to your baby and don't lick. This teaches them that not licking is what earns your attention.
If you don't feel like training, management is a great option. In my book, it's just as good. Useful tools:
If your dog licks your baby a lot and you're not sure if it's affection or a sign of stress, send us a video. With a video analysis, a Dog Meets Baby trainer breaks down exactly what your dog is communicating and gives you a specific action plan, plus a week of email support.
If the licking is very hard to redirect or discourage, it may be a compulsive behavior. Reach out to your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist.
If your dog also licks floors, walls, or other surfaces a lot, mention it to your vet. In one study, most dogs with excessive surface licking had a stomach or gut problem, and treating it often reduced the licking (Clinician's Brief).
The risk is generally low, and there's no need to panic, but it's good to be informed. I asked a pediatrician and veterinary professionals for their advice.
I asked Dr. Anjuli S. Gans, MD, for her professional opinion. She's a board-certified pediatrician, an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics, and the founder of Resilient Rascals. In general, a child's risk of developing a serious disease from dogs is pretty low. But children can be prone to infections if dogs lick certain parts of their body:
Simple ways to lower your child's risk:
I asked veterinarians and vet techs and nurses from the USA, Canada, and the UK. They all said the same thing: licking is normal for dogs, the risks are relatively low, and you can reduce them if you know what to do.
Potential risks:
What to do:
Dr. Lisa Lippman, DVM, recommends extra fecal exams before your baby is born and again when your baby starts to crawl. Dr. Leslie Mucci, DVM, adds that most transmission to people comes from soil contaminated with parasite eggs, so if your kids play in the yard or help in the garden, make handwashing a habit.
Always check with your veterinarian to choose what's best for your family.
Is it okay if my dog licks my baby's face?
The risk is generally low, but keep licks away from your baby's mouth, especially if your dog eats raw food or has just licked their bottom or something outside, like soil or poop. If your dog licks a cut or an eczema patch, wash it with warm water and soap.
Why does my dog lick my baby so much?
Common reasons are instinct, the taste of salty skin, food, or lotion, affection, and asking for space. Licking can also become a habit when it gets your attention, even when that attention is a "No!"
Does my dog licking my baby mean they love them?
Sometimes. Gentle licks from a relaxed dog with a soft gaze, including quick "drive-by" licks, are usually affection. Frequent, pushy licks with a tense body, yawning, or turning away mean your dog is asking for space.
Why does my dog lick my toddler more than they licked my baby?
Toddlers move fast, reach, hug, and get into your dog's space, and many dogs lick to ask for space. Watch your dog's body language, and use gates or a playpen so your dog can step away.
Why does my dog lick my baby's hands and feet?
Many dogs lick adults' hands and feet too. They taste salty, often have food residue or lotion on them, and dogs explore with their mouths. Keep an eye on body language to make sure your dog is relaxed, not asking the baby to back off or to stop touching or kicking them.
How do I stop my dog from licking my baby?
Get ahead of it. Redirect your dog to a toy or chew before they reach your baby, reward them when they're near your baby and don't lick, teach Leave It, and use gates or playpens if the licking continues.
How often should my dog have a fecal test when we have a baby?
The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends at least twice a year for adult dogs. Some vets also suggest an extra test before your baby is born and when your baby starts to crawl.
Whether you don't mind the licking or can't stand it, you get to decide what works for your family. Choose a strategy, give it a week, and remember that management is just as good as training.
If you enjoy training, subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I share short training videos with easy-to-follow steps.
Online resources to help your baby and dog get along—right from the start and as they grow up together.
