Puppy Kisses.....or are they??

I absolutely adore getting all the licks & tongue lashings, from our current doggies, on a daily basis. They are always so forthcoming and the pups gaze longingly into my eyes when they do so. I absolutely do not mistake this for anything other than a pure and loyal display of love and affection. That big slobbery tongue slathering my cheek, chin or neck, or even hands.......most definitely means....."You are my best human, what would I ever do without you, and I adore you more than anything on the planet!"

Or does it...........??????

Apparently even Charles Darwin would write about his dogs showing affection and it's meaning; "the dogs have a striking way of exhibiting their affection, namely, by licking the hands and faces of their masters." Was Darwin correct?? All this slobbery and licky attention.....is it true love?
According to Alexandra Horowitz's research in her new and heart warming book, "Inside of a Dog", she states that scientists and researchers of wild species of dogs; coyotes, wolves, foxes, have observed that puppies lick the face and muzzle of their mothers upon return of a hunt.....in order to persuade them to regurgitate some of their dinner.
Boy.....Fudge and Boomer must be extremely let down and dissapointed on a daily basis that I have not once regurgitated any grub for them!! However they both do always come to me AFTER I have fed them, and give me a "Thank you" lick on my hand or chin! Maybe it is good enough for them!

And apparently, Horowitz goes on to say, that our mouths just simply taste great to our pack. Dogs, like us humans, have similar receptors for salty, sweet, bitter and sour tastes. Hmmmmm.......has most of the "kissing" been going on after a delectable and quite scrumptious meal on my part? I'll have to take note of that next time. (again...I think they are just hoping I will share! Not a bad idea....I might finally lose some weight!)

The best news of all though, Horowitz writes, is that most of the "kisses" our dogs relinquish on us has to do with genuine happiness to see us or to once again greet us when we come home from our hunt; or work. In addition to muzzle licking in a way to ask for food, many dogs and wolves lick each others faces in a ritualized greeting. "Sibling" dogs may greet each other after a time apart; a mother will lick her pup not just to clean but upon reuniting after a time apart. A young or timid dog may give a more dominant overbearing dog a few licks on the muzzle to appease him for the time being. And most always these licks; "kisses", are accompanied by tails wagging, excitement, and mouths open....displaying a true happiness.....too see you again.

I personally......will always still see them as "I love and adore you" kisses!!!! ( And will give serious thought to that new weight loss idea!)