You’ll never want to reject your dog’s love again after hearing how it makes them feel.
If you’ve got a dog, you’ll know that they love nothing more than attempting to lick you. While some dogs will settle for being able to lick your hand, others will keep trying to go for your face.
Letting a dog lick your face has been a hotly debated topic for years. Some people don’t see a problem with it, and others feel that it’s unhygienic and don’t allow their dog the satisfaction.
But one vet has now claimed that our furry friends do actually feel emotions when they aren’t allowed to lick us – and it might make you think twice the next time you go to push your pooch away.
The topic resurfaced after a video shared on TikTok by a woman named Amaya Kianna went viral. In the clip, she showed her dog, Molly, attempting to lick her face before Amaya leans backwards so she’s out of the dog’s reach.
Molly then appears to be visibly upset, and Amaya pets her as she asks: “Are you going to cry?”
Feeling sorry for the poor pooch, Amaya wraps her arms around her dog and Molly buries her face in her owner’s chest, just as a child might do when they’re upset.
Commenters on the video – which has over 8 million likes – were quick to tell Amaya to let Molly kiss her. Many said they would never own a dog if they didn’t want kisses, while others claimed dogs “feel rejection”.
One person said: “Dogs feel rejection when this happens and it puts them in distress. Just let her kiss you. Her life is so short, and you’ll be fine. I’ve never been sick from my dog giving me a kiss.”
Another added: “Apparently, for dogs, the only big way to show affection is kissing and so when we reject them, they don’t understand why you dislike them, since they don’t grasp the concept of smell and dirty mouth.”
Can dogs feel rejection?
Dogs cannot show the same range of emotions that humans can, but we know they can experience things like joy, excitement, fear, and even frustration. And according to information backed by a vet, dogs can also feel rejected.
In an article shared on Dogster that was reviewed and fact-checked by vet Doctor Marta Vidal-Abarca, dogs can get upset if you tend to dismiss or overlook their efforts to connect with you.
The experts shared: “A dog will try whatever they can to make up for being rejected or unloved if they feel that way. They can interpret our facial expressions and vocal clues and understand how we are feeling towards them.
“If they don’t feel loved and protected, they may exhibit behaviours such as tucking their tail between their legs. Their ears may also droop. This is because they are trying to make themselves small.”
How to tell if your dog is feeling neglected
It’s important to make sure you’re treating your dog correctly, as not giving them the attention and affection they need can lead to depression. It can also make them more likely to exhibit bad behaviours. Experts suggest looking out for the following:
- Increased barking
- Destructive behaviours, such as chewing
- Moaning, crying, or howling
- Nudging and pawing at you
- Play-biting and nipping you
- Shifts in body language
- Potty accidents (even after being taught)
If you’re concerned about your dog’s behaviour, you should speak to a vet to identify the root cause of their distress and take steps to prevent it from recurring. You can also get in touch with the Behaviour Support Line at Dog’s Trust, either via their website or by phoning 0303 003 6666.
