Why Does My Dog Lick My Arm?

Almost every dog parent knows the warm, slobbery feel of a dog’s wet tongue on various parts of their bodies. Whether it is right smack in your face, your legs, or your arms, many dogs just don’t quite seem to get personal boundaries. Some might even stick their tongue right in your mouth! 

While a big slurp to greet you or say “hi” every now and then is pretty normal, constant licking might get a little strange, more so when your dog obsessively does so.

why does my dog lick my arm
Why does my dog lick my arm?

What gives? Is your dog trying to groom you, connect with you, or tell you something? In this blog post, we’ll look at all the reasons why your dog might be licking your arm, and when you should get worried about this perplexing behavior. 

Harmless Reasons Why Your Dog Licks Your Arm

There are many reasons why your dog could be slurping on your arm, and fortunately, many of them are harmless, even endearing, if you don’t mind a bit of doggy slobber. Here are some relatively common reasons why dogs seem to love licking their owners: 

1. To Show Love And Affection

Grooming is a pack activity. From the very day they were born, dogs are groomed by their mothers, and they in turn will groom other members of their pack as a way to bond and show their affection

Toy Poodle and owner
A black Toy Poodle carried by his owner.

It is a behavior that is often seen among littermates, close canine companions, and often spills over to their human pack as well. 

Grooming serves several important functions for dogs. It helps to remove loose fur and dirt, which can help to keep the coat clean and healthy. It can also help to stimulate circulation and promote skin health. 

Grooming can also serve as a way for dogs to bond with each other and strengthen the social connection within a pack. This behavior often transfers onto their humans, and your dog that is constantly licking you on your arm might simply be trying to show you some TLC.

2. You Spilled Something!

One of the most obvious reasons is that your dog is smelling something you can’t. Dogs have a formidable sense of smell that is 10,000 to 100,000 times more powerful than our puny human noses. 

Boxer and owner's scarfs
Boxer and owner’s scarfs

If you’ve gotten some food on your arm or spilled some liquid, you can bet your pooch can smell it, even if it was a long time ago. Your dog licking your arm might simply be smelling something yummy and trying to get at it.

3. They Are Trying To Tell You Something

They can’t talk to you, so they have to rely on non-verbal cues that is our job to pick up on. If your dog is excessively licking your arm, it might be trying to tell you something. Did you forget to refill its water bowl?

talking with a dog
A man talking with his dog.

Or is it dinner time and you are late? 

They might also be trying to signal that they need something like a potty break, or that it is time for a walk. 

The next time your dog seems calm but is licking your arm excessively, take a quick look around and make sure that you haven’t forgotten something important like water. 

4. They Want The Salt

Our sweat is salty, and doggos love licking the salt off our skin! At first glance, it may seem like a strange habit. But in actuality, dogs lick the salt off of our skin because they enjoy the taste of salt.

Chihuahua tongue is out
Chihuahua with a rolled tongue.

Dogs require an adequate supply of sodium in their diet to stay healthy. 

Licking salty skin is a natural way for them to get some extra sodium when needed. In addition to being tasty, salt also has a calming effect on many dogs which is another reason why they may seek it out when licking humans. 

5. They Are Showing Empathy

Studies have shown that when our canine companions sense that we are stressed or anxious, they will often lick us as a way of comforting us and showing empathy. This is because when we are feeling these emotions, our body releases hormones like the stress hormone, cortisol, which can be detected by our furry friends. 

dog sits owner's lap
A dog sits on the owner’s lap.

When these hormones are present in the air, our dogs might lick us in an attempt to help soothe away our stress or anxiety. 

6. They Are Showing Submission

Dogs will always show respect to their pack leader, and one of the ways they show it is by licking and grooming. Other ways include avoiding direct eye contact, rolling over and exposing their belly, and keeping their tail and head low.

German Shepherd licks wrist
German Shepherd licks his owner’s arms and wrist.

If your dog is licking your arm and looks like he is grooming you, it might be his way of saying “hey boss!”.

7. You’ve Rewarded Them Before

Think back to the last time your dog licked you. What did you do? Did you find it adorable and give your dog a big belly rub?

Cavapoochon puppy getting belly rub
Cavapoochon puppy getting belly rub by his owner!

Or did you drop whatever you were doing and spent some time with your dog?

This situation is clearly positive reinforcement in action. Your dog has been rewarded with love and affection before when he or she licked you, and thus, the repeated action should yield the same results. 

Behavioral Reasons Why Your Dog Might Be Licking Your Arm

While most reasons for an excessively licky dog are harmless, some other reasons might be worth paying a tad more attention to. They might still be harmless, but if left unchecked and if gone unnoticed for too long, there’s always a risk of a minor behavioral issue escalating into a problem. 

1. Compulsive Behavior 

Like humans, dogs can exhibit compulsive behavior too. Excessive licking is one such example, and other symptoms include chasing their tail, grooming themselves excessively, biting their paws, chewing, and digging. 

Yorkshire Terrier licks nose
Yorkshire Terrier licks his nose excessively! Is it a bad habit?

While these behaviors may seem harmless, especially if relatively uncommon, they can often be signs of compulsive behavior. Compulsive behavior in dogs is a type of abnormal behavior that is repetitive and has no obvious purpose or function.

Compulsive behavior can range from mild to severe depending on the situation. Common signs include excessive grooming, repetitive pacing, self-mutilation, tail chasing, fly snapping, barking, and circling. 

If your pup is displaying any of these behaviors excessively it’s important to take note and look into possible solutions that might be beneficial for them.  

While the exact cause of compulsive behavior in dogs is still unknown, there are several potential factors that could contribute to its development. These include medical issues such as pain or discomfort due to injury or age, environmental factors like stress or boredom from lack of exercise, and mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. 

It’s important to identify any underlying causes before attempting to treat compulsive behavior in order for the best outcome for your pup. 

If you believe your pup is exhibiting compulsive behavior then it’s important to seek professional advice from a veterinarian or pet behavioral specialist right away. They will be able to assess your pup’s situation and provide an individualized plan tailored specifically for them based on what they find out during their assessment. 

This plan could include anything from changing up their daily routine with more exercise and mental stimulation activities to incorporating anti-anxiety medications or supplements into their diet as necessary.  

Understanding why your pup may be experiencing compulsive behavior can be difficult but it’s important to remember that it doesn’t mean they are bad or unhappy dogs. It simply means they could use some help to deal with their compulsions. 

2. Your Dog Is Stressed 

Human beings aren’t the only animals that can experience stress. Dogs do too! When your dog is feeling a little moody, anxious, or stressed, he or she might lick your arm excessively as a way to comfort themselves

Golden Retriever and owner
Golden Retriever and owner taking a rest after a long run!

This behavior is known as social licking and it has a few different purposes. First, it serves as a way for dogs to self-soothe in times of distress. When a dog licks itself or another animal, it releases endorphins and the feel-good hormone, oxytocin, which can help them relax. 

If your pooch is feeling anxious or overwhelmed in certain situations, it may lick you as a sign of respect and obedience or simply to ask “hey, what’s going on, are we okay”?

It is reassuring for your dog to be licking you, and in times of stress, doggo might be licking you to make themselves feel better! 

Final Thoughts

Dogs use licking as a way of communicating with us humans and other animals alike. They may lick us out of pleasure or for comfort, or they may even try to clean us off like their Mama used to do when they were little pups.

Whatever the reason is, remember that if your furry friend is giving you lots of licks, then it’s probably because he loves you very much! So next time your pooch tries to give you some kisses – let him! He just wants to show his love in his own special way.