Doesn’t your furry best friend’s hug relieve the weariness from your day when he runs up to you when you get home with the biggest smile on his face? What about at night? Do you receive those licks too? Wonder why? Keep reading.
These furry lil angels have won over the human race with their quicks and twerks. We as humans have built that nonverbal heart-to-heart conversation, but sometimes this art of deciphering isn’t sufficient. One of such questions pondering in many dog parents’ heads is why dogs adamantly lick before bedtime.
In order to strengthen their bond with you and show their love, dogs will frequently lick their owners before bed. In the wild, a pack’s members will groom one another in order to maintain social order and demonstrate their support for one another.
What Lies Behind the Licks?
Dog owners often fall prey to those googly eyes or sudden love rush. For dogs, they have many tools to communicate, such as snuggling, teething, and, above all, licking. Licking is one of the most versatile forms of communication for dogs, and it serves a myriad of purposes. A dog’s gentle licks often signal their love and loyalty and strengthen their emotional connection.
Dogs have an effective way to distinguish one another and mark their territory thanks to their scent-enhanced olfactory system. When a dog licks you, they are essentially claiming you as a member of their pack by smelling your distinctive scent. This behavior has its roots in their ancestors when packs would mark one another to foster a sense of belonging and unity.
These furry monsters have been shown to experience calming effects from licking, so it makes sense that they would do this behavior frequently before going to bed. Licking causes the release of endorphins, which enhance feelings of comfort and relaxation.
A few tender licks as they curl up for sleep may be your dog’s way of releasing any pent-up tension from the day’s events.
Furry Love All the Way
The act of puppies licking us before they go to sleep is a multi-faceted act rooted in both emotional and biological factors. It showcases their deep affection, reinforces their bond with us, and presents an experience of protection and relaxation.
Dog parents cherish these moments of unspoken communication and reciprocate their affection, nurturing the lovely dating between humans and their furry companions.
So, the following time your canine gives you a warm, wet lick earlier than bedtime, recall the intensity of affection and agree with what they may be expressing.
Embrace the instant and revel in the specific connection that only you and the one that you love, dog pal, can percentage.
