I have heard many behaviorists say that when you dogs lick you they are in on no way showing affection. They are showing submission or begging for food, or whatever.

I know I may not be educated in such matters, but when one of the dogs in playing, stops, runs across the room to give you a kiss, and goes back to what they are doing, I think they are showing affection. When you are petting then, and they turn and give you a kiss, I think they are saying thank you. And when theit whole bodies wag when you get ome, I think they are showing how happy they are to see you. If those aren't real emotions and real feelings, they are still good enough for me. And if that isn't true love, well then maybe true love isn't so important.