• Babies
• Pregnant women
• The elderly
• Anyone with pimples or open sores or scratches on their face
• Anyone with a compromised immune system, including someone undergoing chemotherapy, AIDS patients, diabetics, and anyone recovering from an illness

Lowering the Risk

You can lower the risk of contracting illnesses from dog kisses by simply being a responsible pet parent. Regular health checks that include fecal examinations, deworming and treatments to control fleas, ticks and other parasites can go a long way toward reducing the chances that your dog can pass an infection on to you. Properly disposing of your dog’s deposits and thoroughly washing your hands afterward can also reduce the risk of spreading disease. Additionally, it’s important that your pup’s food should be cooked thoroughly — never give him anything raw that might be a source of bacterial infection, such as raw meat or a pig’s ear to chew on. Choose a dog food that is balanced and formulated for your dog’s health first and foremost. You should also brush your dog’s teeth^[4] regularly to maintain his oral health, and kill bacteria that might be looming in his mouth.

Putting a Stop to Dog Licking

While it might be safe to allow your pooch to lick you on the face and mouth, if you’d prefer not to take the chance, the best thing to do is nip the behavior in the bud by teaching your dog not to lick your face. Pet trainer Victoria Stillwell, speaking to Animal Planet, suggests that the best way to do so is to get up and walk away from your dog when he starts to lick, ignoring the behavior completely. Doing so will deprive your dog of any reward he receives from licking, and eventually he’ll stop trying altogether.

If you love swapping kisses with your dog, it’s probably safe to keep doing so, as long as your immune system is up to par. But if the thought of your dog licking you on the mouth sends you running for the antibacterial soap, there exists enough of a risk to justify your aversion. Ultimately, allowing your dog to lick your face comes down to the state of your health and your level of risk tolerance. Either way, there are plenty of other ways to share affection with your dog, so don’t feel bad if licking isn’t one of them.