Dog licking

Lila has a secret. In public she is just a happy go lucky puppy, with a wagging rear end and jangling pet tags. But in private, a dark side emerges. A side I seldom talk about. A side that makes me shudder and sigh. You see, Lila is a toe licker.

She can’t seem to resist the appeal of a naked toe, poking out of a blanket or propped upon a stool. If she sees it, she must sample it. Not just the tip or side, oh no. Lila must wiggle her wet tongue between the digits. It’s downright disturbing. In fact, I was so appalled, I had to know more. Why exactly do dogs lick us? And more importantly, why would Lila want to lick my toes?

Until they can tell us, there is plenty of speculation on the topic. Most suggest it is a display of affection, learned from the time they are pups and their mothers lick them clean. That may be so, but I don’t find it necessary to give my buddies a spit bath, even though my mom often made me presentable with a dab of spit on her index finger. Others suggest licking it is a means of communication, much like a baby’s cry, it can have many meanings: “Hug me”, “I want attention” or “Feed me”. Wolf pups will lick their mother’s face so she’ll regurgitate food for them. Does this mean adorable little kisses are actually a plea for regurgitate food? A few more ominous opinions suggest dogs might just like the way we taste (YIKES).

And, surprise, surprise, Lila’s not the only toe connoisseur. While there are no support groups just yet (TLA, Toe Lickers Anonymous) there are plenty of pet owners who have wondered “WHY?” A few people surmise that dogs enjoy the salty flavor (yumbers) and feet have a high concentration of sweat glands. Dogs can also gather a lot of information by licking their family members. Dogs are able to use millions of scent receptor cells in the nose and mouth to process information about us.

I prefer the idea that Lila licks me as a sign of submission and affection. If Lila loves me enough to lick my toes, I love her enough to let her.

Dog ID Collars