Five interesting things dogs use their tongues for

We as dog owners often overlook the incredible versatility of our dog’s tongues. Beyond slobbery kisses, a dog’s tongue plays essential roles in eating, drinking, vocalising, and much more. This powerful muscle helps your canine companion in ways many owners might not realise.

In this article, we explore five fascinating things dogs use their tongues for and explain why. Let’s dive into understanding this vital tool your dog uses every day.

To keep their cool

Most of us recognise panting as a way dogs cool down after exercise or in warm weather. Panting is the primary mechanism dogs rely on to regulate their body temperature and prevent overheating.

The tongue is central to this cooling process. It has a large surface area packed with blood vessels and capillaries close to the skin, enabling effective heat exchange. When your dog pants, cooler external air flows over their tongue, cooling the blood in the vessels. This cooled blood circulates through the body, lowering the dog’s core temperature.

Drinking water also serves a cooling purpose. The wet tongue surface and blood vessel network help rapidly dissipate heat, making hydration an essential part of managing temperature, especially on hot days.

To taste things

Although dogs have fewer taste buds than humans, they can detect sweet, salty, bitter, and sour tastes. However, dogs primarily rely on their exceptional sense of smell to appreciate food flavours rather than taste alone.

The tongue’s taste buds help your dog differentiate safe and pleasant foods from potentially poisonous or spoiled items. This tasting ability is a vital survival trait aiding in healthy dietary choices.

To groom and clean themselves and others

While cats are known for their grooming habits, dogs also use their tongues to clean and soothe themselves. Dogs will often lick their fur to remove dirt or alleviate minor irritations.

Social grooming is common too. Dogs may lick trusted humans or other dogs as a sign of affection and to help clean their companions. This behaviour promotes bonding and social harmony within their group.

To communicate emotions

Decoding dog body language can be challenging for owners, but the tongue is an important communication tool. Recent veterinary and animal behaviour research reveals that lip licking and quick tongue flicks are subtle signals conveying a dog's emotional state.

When dogs lick their lips or flick their tongues, it often serves as a calming signal during stress or uncertainty, showing non-threat and submission. For example, a dog being scolded or feeling nervous might lick its lips to communicate peaceful intentions and avoid conflict.

This lip licking may also occur in response to human facial expressions. Dogs appear to use this behaviour to manage social discomfort and communicate their feelings effectively.

Conversely, dogs may also lick their lips or flick their tongues when happy or relaxed during positive interactions with their owners. These quick, subtle cues are key to improving understanding and bonding between dogs and humans.

To help scent things

A dog’s superb sense of smell is enhanced by their tongue. Moistening their nose with their tongue helps scent particles adhere better, intensifying the scents they detect.

Additionally, dogs have a specialised scent organ called Jacobson’s Organ (the vomeronasal organ) located in the roof of their mouth near the nasal cavity. When dogs stick their tongues out or open their mouths wide, scent particles can travel to this organ, enhancing olfactory information and helping dogs analyse complex smells.

Understanding these functions highlights how your dog's tongue is not just for taste or cooling, but also a vital tool for social communication, hygiene, and scent detection, reflecting the remarkable nature of canine biology.