What’s better than getting some lovely smooches from your furry friend?
Unfortunately, many pet parents are asking: What should I do if my dog won’t kiss me? And is there a way I can teach my doggo to kiss me on command?
Well, grab some napkins as we’ll help you get wet kisses all day long! In this post we’ll explain different methods for teaching your doggo how to kiss on command—and all you’ll need to teach your buddy this trick are some yummy treats.
How Do I Get My Dog to Kiss Me?
You don’t have to be an animal behaviorist to teach your puppy how to kiss! You see, teaching your dog to kiss you on command is easy.
Here are different training methods you can use:
Method 1: Treat on the Cheek
This training method is quick, but it can get messy. So, make sure to get a towel or some napkins before you start.
If your doggo loves peanut butter or cream cheese, place a dab on your cheek. Then, use the “kiss” cue phrase and lean toward your pup.
After your little friend licks the treat, give them lots of praise.
Method 2: Capture the Kisses
Kissing is something that dogs do naturally as a sign of affection. Sadly, the problem could be that your little friend hasn’t picked up on this habit yet.
In this training method, you won’t need to guide or lure your canine friend to smooch you. Instead, you’ll wait until they naturally do it, and then reward that behavior with a treat.
So, pack your pockets with treats all the time and get ready to reward your puppy whenever they kiss you! Since you’re rewarding this behavior, your dog will likely start doing it more frequently.
After several kisses and rewards, you can add a verbal cue of your choice as a command. That will help your dog associate this behavior with the cue and the reward.
But how can you tell if this method is working?
It’s easy:
Give the verbal cue when your furry friend is near you. If they kiss you, that means they’ve learned the behavior successfully, so praise them and give them a treat.
Method 3: Guiding the Kisses
You’ve probably noticed that if you’re holding any delicious food in your hand, your doggo will try to lick it. We can use this behavior to guide your puppy’s kisses to your face!
Let me tell you how to do that:
First, you’ll need dog-safe peanut butter, cheese, or any sticky, soft treat. Second, put a small amount of the treat on the back of your hand.
Third, put your hand close to your dog’s face. When they start licking the treat, say the verbal cue of choice, like “kiss” or “smooch,” and praise your dog.
You’ll need to repeat this training several times before moving on to the next step.
After that, hold out your hand without the treat and give a verbal cue. If your pup licks your hand, praise and treat them.
You can then use body language to guide your dog on where to kiss you. Let’s say you want face kisses; just point to your face and give your verbal cue.
Why Do Dogs Stop Giving Kisses?
Dogs have different personalities, and your little buddy might not be a licker.
In addition, some dog breeds are less affectionate than others. So, you can’t expect all dogs to behave the same.
That said, here are other reasons why your dog doesn’t want to give you smooches:
1. They’ve Been Trained Not to Lick
If you’ve adopted a mature rescue dog, they might have been trained not to lick their owners.
Since wet kisses can be annoying to many pet parents, it’s possible that the previous owners trained them not to lick. Sad, I know, but it happens.
2. Your Dog Hasn’t Picked Up on This Behavior
Dogs learn this behavior at a very young age. Generally, the mother tends to lick her puppies, and they do it back.
In case your poor little friend grew up without a mother, they might not have picked up that behavior.
3. Health Issues
More sad news:
If your dog suddenly stops kissing you, it might be due to health issues, such as dental problems or gum infections.
It can then be painful or uncomfortable to give you kisses. In that case, make sure to contact your vet for a dental checkup as soon as possible.
4. Your Dog Thinks You Don’t Want Kisses
Dogs are highly sensitive and emotional, as you’d know. So, you might have accidentally let your dog know that you don’t want kisses or don’t appreciate them.
It might have been something as simple as moving abruptly away from your puppy. While you won’t even notice or remember this reaction, your dog will.
In fact, it can make a strong impression on your little friend. As a result, they’ll stop giving you smooches.
Why Do Dogs Only Lick Certain People?
Fun fact:
Licking is a natural behavior in dogs. It allows them to express themselves and bond with their owners.
So, when dogs lick certain people, it can be because they love them a lot!
They might also do that to get their attention or show empathy. Additionally, your canine friend may be trying to bond with these people.
It’s not written in stone, though. Even if your furry friend doesn’t lick you, it doesn’t mean they don’t love you.
Can Dog Kisses Make Me Sick?
Puppy smooches are lovely, but can they make you sick?
It’s uncommon to get sick from doggie kisses, but it can still happen, especially to people who have a suppressed immune system.
In all cases, you should completely avoid mouth-to-mouth kisses. While cute, these kisses might transfer diseases from your pet to you.
How to Control Dog Kisses
So, you might go from no kisses to getting smooches all day long. Your dog now loves giving kisses, and you might have unleashed a beast you can’t stop.
Don’t fret! You can still control this situation using the following tips:
1. Stop Reinforcing the Kisses
The first thing you should do is stop reinforcing the kisses as good behavior. That means you shouldn’t happily fuss over the puppy and kiss them back when they greet you.
2. Take a Time Out
If you’re receiving non-stop licking, taking time out from playtime is a good idea. You can walk to the other side of the room and avoid having contact with your dog for a while. It might be hard, but hang in there!
3. Use Positive Distractions
You can distract your furry friend from licking you by directing this behavior somewhere else. For example, you can let them outside or practice some obedience skills.
You don’t want to give treats while your dog is in the middle of the smooching session either, as it might reinforce the behavior even further.
4. Teach a New Skill
A great way to stop your puppy from licking you is to teach them a new skill that involves another sort of affection.
For example, you can teach your dog how to fetch, which is a great activity that you and your little friend can enjoy.
Wrapping Up
So, what should I do when my dog won’t kiss me?
Well, you can train your canine friend to give you smooches on command.
For starters, you can put a dab of peanut butter on your cheek. When your dog licks it, you can use the verbal cue and praise your dog.
You might also wait for your dog to lick you on their own, and then give them a reward. This will help them associate this behavior with receiving treats, which means they’ll be more likely to do it again.
Keep in mind that if your furry friend doesn’t kiss you, it doesn’t mean they dislike you. Some dogs aren’t natural lickers. Additionally, your little buddy might not have picked up this habit at a young age.
