You’re sitting quietly on the couch when, without warning, your dog starts licking your feet. At first, it makes you smile, then you wonder: What does this behavior mean? This gesture, which may seem trivial, is actually rich in meaning. Communication, bonding, curiosity… Your companion is sending you a clear message in his own way.
Licking: a real language for dogs.

In dogs, licking isn’t a simple, automatic behavior. It’s a behavior I learned from my earliest days. The mother licks her pups to clean them, soothe them, stimulate them… This maternal reflex later becomes a tool of communication. Licking can mean:

“I love you,” “I am here,” “I want to interact with you.” _

Your feet? A treasure trove of olfactory information

As surprising as it may sound, your dog is very interested in your feet. Thanks to a special organ, the Jacobson’s organ (or vomeronasal organ), he is able to sense the following: