Small Dogs Licking?

[gemini9961]

I have a Maltese/Rat Terrier and she is constantly licking me when she is near me. Granted I like the kisses but she does it excessively. My aunt has a Shih Tzu and he licks a lot too. We had heard that small dogs do this because of the the salt, but why only small dogs?? Is this true?? Why do small dogs lick so much?

[Bigyummydog]

MAXIMUS will lick you clean if you
let him...if we come in from working
up a sweat, he just won't stop until
you get out of the shower...i think
it's the salt...:confused:

[PJ's Mom]

Bailey does this to me first thing in the morning. Both my hands must be spotless before she'll leave me alone. Since I don't sweat in my sleep, I don't think salt is the reason she does it. :)

[dragondawg]

For sure they probably don't find the salt on the skin unpleasant, but ya gotta go back to the wolf on this one. Wolf pups greet the adults with licking as a sign of submissiveness usually around the mouth. My previous Daisy dog had this almost artistic knack of giving strangers a smooch right across the mouth. She'd nail em if they were with in a short jumping range. Her weight was 74 lbs, not too small. ;)

Of my two current puppies, Clover 65-70 lbs the larger is more reserved, but that's just her nature. If given a chance however she is definitely into licking ears. Whereas Barney the smaller of the two at 55 lbs is a licking machine that starts on the fingers, or arm, and heads for the face. He is also a lot more hyper in energy level. While typing this he attacked me with his licking. Cause: He wants his piece of rawhide to chew on. :cool:

My speculation on the licking is that possibly the smaller the dog, the more they feel obligated to be submissive around us.

[PJ's Mom]

Bailey isn't small either. (48 lbs) I can't understand why she licks me first thing in the morning. Is that the only time she's feeling submissive? ;)

[gemini9961]

I have another dog, a 3 yr old Rat Terrier, Sadie, and she only licks to give kisses and you have to ask her for those, whereas Maggie, the little one licks constantly, all the time. Sadie is much calmer than Maggie, but always has been. Thanks everyone for posting their stories. Sadie is the alpha so maybe she doesn't feel she needs to lick anyone. Maggie is more submissive around us too.

[sammy101]

Kodie licks me when i put lotion or sunblock on:rolleyes: lol weird boy,i guess he likes the tase of it:p he could easily lick my legs clean,and plus he's very affectionate.
you got some great advice already.i honestly dont know,but probably she's submissive or very affectionate.