I think it's disgusting but some people clearly like it!
Do you think it's safe to let the dog do this?

My dog isn't a great one for licking but on the odd occasion she does decide to give me a wee kiss I must admit I quite like it that she wants to show some affection. Since I'm still alive and haven't succumbed to any horrible illness then I'd say it is quite safe.

Of course.

Your right it is disgusting. And yes you can catch nasty diseases from dog juice.

Yuk, I have a dog but would never let him lick my face, my sister's pug went through a period of eating dog sh!t, so no kisses from him either thankyou.

Dogs do it because of instinct, pups beg food from their parents by licking their mouths to stimulate them to regurgitate food and they're simply carrying this behaviour over to their human care givers.

Do I let them do it? Not if I can help it.

Nope. Luckily my whippet isn't a very licky dog.

Very close The first part is correct, the second is not.
Most juvenile behaviours actually take on new meanings in later life. They change and take on new ritualistic properties with maturity and life experience.

In an adult dog, licking is not a request to regurgitate food. It has different significance depending on the context, but is typically a sign of insecurity, friendliness or used as part of a greeting. It could be a learned behaviour simply as a way of gaining our attention if they've learned this is successful. It is also possible they just enjoy the salty taste of of skin/sweat/oils, or are attracted to whatever scent is left on our lips from whatever tasty food last passed over them.

Ever seen two friendly dogs lick each others faces? Same again, they are not requesting food of one another, they are communicating things like mutual friendliness, or if the gesture is one way, one is accepting the higher dominance of the other in order to prevent conflict.

I allow it. I enjoy bonding with my dog in every way possible. It's lurrvve!

Totally understand where the poop-eaters are coming from though. "you're not kissing me with those lips" is a phrase I sometimes use! But largely, with strong Leave It training I can generally stop my dog from burying her face into filthy things.

Yes there is the risk of picking up a parasite or infection, but I don't have hygiene OCD's and it's just another small risk along side putting on shoes, touching toilet handles, handling raw meat or touching anything in a public place.

Pick up a copy of the books "How to Speak Dog" and "The Evolution of Canine Social Behaviour" if you're interested in learning more about this kind of stuff.

Only on the cheek but I've had a few swipes across the mouth and it's not the end of the world. I've also been on the receiving end of doggy kisses from licky customers too. Being slurped on by your own dog is nothing compared to face smooches off other people's pets. As for catching things, you can catch things from kissing people too but that doesn't stop anyone from doing it.

Yes, my dog is trained to act upon the word 'kiss'

If he's sat with his big, puppy eyes at the side of me wanting me to stroke him, then I ask for a kiss first. Never the lips, though.

I wonder if it's the same with cats too. When they are kittens, cats kneed their mothers nipples to stimulate the flow of milk.

My cat still does this as an adult, but I don't think that she is asking for or trying to stimulate milk from me.

I don't let Heidi lick my face she eats her own shit dirty cow lol

Ugh, you do right!

This is one of many reasons why people should not let animals lick their faces.

There are many ways to communicate and show affection to our pets, without resorting to dangerous practices.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.

I do. I am still alive.

After licking their balls, then your face, I'd rather not thank you.

Hell, I wouldn't even let myself do that.

My dog doesn't have any balls. The Vet saw to that. You need to get to know my dog better! Perhaps I might see you out and about when I walk him

Not as an everyday occurrence thank you very much, but I do love our dog licking my feet, I only wish she would do it more at least half an hour (should be enough to relax me lol).

One of my dogs loves feet licking too

Yes I do let one of my dogs lick my face. Now, we aren't talking a full on mutual tongue session here ..... but I ask him for a kiss and he drops a delicate one on my face. Very occasionally he jumps into my arms and smacks one on my lips before I can move - and I don't mind.

Now my other dog eats horrible things ... and I wont let her anywhere near my peachy skin.

I used to have a dog that would happily lick my feet for hours, she would even gently nibble the hard skin away. So relaxing.

Unfortunately my present dog isn't interested in licking anything apart from his own privates.

Face? - No.
One is partial to feet though, and the other likes to lick hands.
And they both strangely seem to like the taste of soapy water, judging by the way they try to lick my lower legs when I get out of the shower

Yes always have done never caught anything. But bloody humans spreading germs every were seem to catch everything off them.

Sometimes our bulldog will kiss on command, otherwise I just grab his big squishy head and kiss him on the lips. Since he can't lick his own bum or willie a few kisses aren't going to bother me.

Urgh ... I love dogs and have had them all my life but never, ever have I allowed our dogs to lick our faces. My kids were told as babies that this was out of the question and were always made to wash their hands after fussing around the dogs.

Watch a dog on a walk and it will lick grass with other dogs pee on it, some eat other dogs poo, they will eat rotten food laying around and I have seen a neighbours dog eating a big pile of another dogs vomit!!

Then of course there's the fact that they lick their bums and genitals and their fur which may contain flea eggs and their paws after they've walked through anything and everything.

I think people who kiss their dogs are in serious need of psychiatric help as they either can't distinguish between humans or animals or they are on the slippery slope to bestiality.

I most certainly do not.Though she does try.A dogs mouth contains all sorts of bactaria

My dog does not eat any of those things and is kept meticulously clean, by me, who wouldn't allow her not to be. And to be honest, people can't say much, look at what they get up to and willingly put in their mouths. At least I know where my dog has been!

Why on earth should someone who shows love and affection for their beloved pet needs psychiatric help because it's not hygienic? Babies and little kids that crawl all over the floor with their sticky hands, snotty noses, and bits of food splattered all over them are quite possibly the most unhygienic, germ filled thing you can find, yet people still kiss them and no one says anything.