Why Do Puppies Love Licking Your Feet?

No, your pup isn’t trying to give you a free pedicure 😂. 

Dogs lick feet for a few surprisingly sweet reasons:

“I love you” in dog language

Licking is how puppies bond with their moms and siblings. When they lick you, it’s often their way of saying you’re family.

Salty snacks, anyone?

Your feet have sweat glands, and to dogs, that salty taste is basically a snack.

Comfort & routine

At our partner shelter, new rescues lick… everything. Hands, feet, even the floor. For dogs who’ve lost so much, licking is a soothing habit and a way to connect with the people giving them care.

So next time your pup licks your toes, it’s not weird—it’s love (and maybe a little snack craving). 💛

Back to blog

Collections

1 4

Other Bartenders' Notes

View all
  • 300 Souls and a Two-Year Clock

    300 Souls and a Two-Year Clock

    A massive apartment development has officially begun right next door to our no-kill shelter, and I’m worried.  The Two-Year Clock While our lease is secure for another two years, the...

    300 Souls and a Two-Year Clock

    A massive apartment development has officially begun right next door to our no-kill shelter, and I’m worried.  The Two-Year Clock While our lease is secure for another two years, the...

  • There’s a reason we’re saying "no" to adopters for her

    There’s a reason we’re saying "no" to adopters ...

    If you saw her today, you’d want to take her home in a heartbeat. Her fur has finally grown back thick and white, and she looks like a little cloud....

    There’s a reason we’re saying "no" to adopters ...

    If you saw her today, you’d want to take her home in a heartbeat. Her fur has finally grown back thick and white, and she looks like a little cloud....

  • They call him a "little monster"

    They call him a "little monster"

      I’m going to be blunt: some people are monsters. We found this boy with half his face gone. It wasn’t an accident or a fight; the marks were clean,...

    They call him a "little monster"

      I’m going to be blunt: some people are monsters. We found this boy with half his face gone. It wasn’t an accident or a fight; the marks were clean,...

1 3
View all