I like to believe that it is love
, but after going through the training class with Chloe, and seeing how dogs greet each other, I tend to think most licking is a form of friendly greeting. Dogs experience their world in a much more sensual way than we do, so I think the majority of it is their way of receiving signals of mood, the food we've eaten, hormones (you know they can smell and taste things we can't).
But...I still want to believe her licks are a sign of affection. Either way, she still has to put up with me kissing the side of her furry little face.