One of mine did the licking thing with me... I gave a bit of time for them to get over it, which didn't happen. So I grabbed her face by the beard and whiskers, to avoid a bite, (new to me doggy), and I started planting kisses all over her face and head! I would stop and ask, 'Okay, you want some more' and I'd continue a bit longer. And I'd say stuff like, oh sweetie, I love you too! And give a nice long hug. It worked, so now I get greeting kisses and random kisses, but no constant licking.
Peek A Boo wouldn't kiss at all, or even look at me when I first got him. I thought maybe he just wasn't a kissing dog. No bonding, nothing. Now I believe he had shut down at the time. I thought well I'll kiss you then. So I started giving him a kiss on his cheek every night. This went on for a few weeks, till one night, it was like after I kissed him, he turned his head as if to get one on the other side of his face, so I giggled and obliged him. I'd always ask him if he needed or wanted more kisses, something about his body language let me know.
Then, after 8 whole, long months, he turned and gave me a single kiss on my cheek! I cried, I was so happy for that one little kiss. Now sometimes he goes overboard, so I'm very careful and tell him Thankyou for your sweet kisses, I love you too. But you don't need to be licking me all the time! I will still love you, you're my boy! And I give him a big hug and some kisses on his face. I don't think he's offended when I ask him to stop, I would never want to hurt his feelings!
I do think with both of these dogs, the kissing/licking was more that they wanted reassurance from me... when they got it they were fine. And Yes, this post is a bit over the top... seems to be where I'm at alot!
