To find dogs licking people’s faces a bit grim?

[betterthanbutter]

Ok, firstly, I’m not a dog person, and I’m an emetophobe. Both of which might explain a lot!

We have a dog to stay with us this week (me and 2 DC, age 10 and 8). Dog is super cute, and the kids love her, which is great as they are not used to dogs at all and we were all a bit worried as to how the kids would get on with the dog.

However, they all like each other a lot, and there appears to be a mutual enjoyment of face licking. Including licking on their lips.

I feel rather 😱 about it all. My main concern is that it’ll make the kids ill. AIBU, or is that a genuine concern? I’m aware that with my emetophobia I’m prone to overestimating risk, hence posting here to get opinions on whether I’m BU or justified in my worrying.

What are people’s feelings on dogs licking kids’ faces?!

There are some people that will spout 'a dogs saliva is antiseptic' (my adult step daughter believes this after being told it for a number of years by her mums family)

No way! I've two dogs, but any licking of humans is an absolute no, no.

One of mine likes doing it.

I'm not a fan, but sometimes he gets me.

To put it in perspective, there are so many dirty objects we touch every day, supermarket trolleys, money, traffic lights buttons, train door buttons, handles, and so on that I really don't think a dog's tongue is the worst thing you can be in contact with.

Worms can be transmitted from dogs to humans. Not so much of a problem if the dog is up to date on a regular worming schedule, but I still discourage it anyway

POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING - sorry!

I knew someone would come along and allude to 'kisses'. It isn't.
Puppies lick at their mother's mouth to get them to regurgitate food.
This behaviour is a throwback to that.
Unless anyone is planning on vomiting on demand for their dogs to eat it, it's a habit to be discouraged - and I love dogs.

Dogs lick their arses. It's disgusting to let one lick your face.

It's the grimmest thing ever. I saw a story in the news last week about a man in America who was infected with some kind of bacterial infection after his dog licked him and ended up with sepsis and part of all four limbs amputated (yes, I know this is extremely unlikely to happen!)

It's gross. I don't have a dog at the moment but we did have family dogs as kids

I've seen what dogs lick and eat . No way is that tongue going near my face . I don't even let dogs lick my hands. Sometimes they get my legs if they are particularly persistent.

No dogs in humans beds either - hairs, drool, fleas..

Maybe I'm better off not being a pet owner

Dog saliva is antibacterial (apparently) It won't harm you but frankly, its been licking its anus and eating Christ knows what, but it is a healing agent.

It's disgusting and makes me incredibly irritable. I can feel my face contorting in to all sorts of disapproving shapes if I see it happen.

Another dog lover, but hate hate face locks not cos it makes you ill just really really dont like it, they can groom/kiss my arms etc but not my face!

YANBU and I’m a dog lover.
My dog does not lick faces. We had it easy though, he’s a rescue and came that way. He does lick my hand or arm when I get home from work - which I can deal with, hand/arm washed straight. I don’t like dogs licking faces, it’s not behavior that should be encouraged in a dog - like jumping up on people, pushing people off sofas/beds etc, they need boundaries.

That said I don’t think your DC will get sick from it, though I would be getting them to wash their faces and telling them to not encourage the dog to lick them

Bloody hell GreatRailwayMaps!!

Ok, so widely accepted here that it’s not always the best thing to do.

How can I discourage children from wanting the dog to lick their faces, without upsetting the owner (who doesn’t mind face licking at all)?

I don't think it will make them ill, my son ate half a worm the other week before I batted it out of his hand 🙈

But it's vile !

Yuk! I hate it! I love dogs but hate their licking. I was squirming last week as I have to visit people in their homes for my job and a dog was licking my toes in my sandals whilst I was talking and I felt I couldn't say anything! Baby wipes in the car thank goodness! It's so unhygienic and their saliva is NOT antiseptic FGS!

No way it's disgusting. I have a dog who I love dearly but don't let her lick my face or the kids. It's unhygienic as she sniffs around the floor and other dogs bums/pee/poo when we are out! Lovely x

I guess I'd just say to the kids, "Try not to let dog lick your face you don't know where that tongue has been". But I wouldn't worry about it at all, not done me harm, the odd dog still gets a lick on me nowadays (we don't even own one).

YANBU .. it's horrible .. just tell the kids to push them away . I'm a cat person . I really like dogs , I don't really mind them licking feet and such , but never faces , yuk !

Agree, it’s disgusting. My friend’s dog occasionally eats its own shit (nevermind licking his hoohaa!) and i dont know how she lives with it tbh, i’d be bleaching the house on daily basis.
Yanbu

I have 2 dogs and have always owned 2 dogs from an early age. I don't allow them to lick my face - ever.. 🤢

I'm a dog person and own 4. I don't let my dogs lick my face. I see them licking each other's arses on a daily basis.

We’ve got a dog, who we love dearly, but hell to the no do we let her lick our faces!! I’ve seen what else she licks with that tongue 🤢 (not envy!!)

I’m not a dog lover on the whole, there are a couple that I know and am quite fond of and will look after though. The dc LOVE the dogs and even they won’t put up with face licking! I don’t like ANYONE licking my face, human or otherwise.
It’s not something I would be accepting of!
Gross! Slobbery dog tongue

I always try and avoid dog kisses. It's disgusting when you think about it.

I think having a dog in a house is disgusting. Licking just makes me shudder.