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8th grader's award-winning experiment tested if dogs' tongues are really cleaner than ours

Here's what science says about letting your dog lick your face.

Photo credit: Canva

Should you let a dog lick your face?

With nearly half of the households in American having at least one dog, there's a lot people need to know about them. Our furry friends come in wide variety of breeds, each with their own unique traits and needs. "Man's best friend" can be a guardian, a helpful worker, a loyal friend, and a snuggly companion, but there's one thing almost all dogs have in common: Licking.

Some dogs lick way more than others, but it's rare to find a dog who never licks anyone or anything. Many dogs communicate and show affection by licking, which is sweet—if a little gross—depending on how slobbery they are. There's a common saying that dogs' mouths are cleaner than humans', which is a bit hard to believe when you see what some dogs put in their mouths, but it is true? What does science say about dog tongues and saliva? Is a dog licking our face something we should worry about?

 dogs, dog mouths clean, dog tongues, dog licking, should you let a dog lick your face Pooch smooches are sweet if they're not too slobbery.Photo credit: Canva

It turns out, the answer to whether a dog's mouth is cleaner than ours isn't super straightforward.

An 8th grader named Abby tackled this question in a science experiment that won her a Young Naturalists Award from the American Museum of Natural History in 2011. Her family had gotten a dog and her mom kept telling her not to let the dog lick her face because dog mouths are full of bacteria. Instead of arguing, Abby decided to find out herself if this was true.

"I hypothesized that human tongues would be cleaner than dog tongues," she wrote. "I thought this because humans brush their teeth at least once a day. I hypothesized that dogs' tongues would be dirty because they were always licking dirty things like garbage."

After diving into the research about bacteria that live in and on humans and dogs, Abby decided she had a testable hypothesis. But this wasn't any old middle school science experiment. She applied for and got a grant to the State Hygienic Lab at the University of Iowa, where she was assigned a mentor to work with her.

You can read the nitty gritty details of her experiment here, but here was her conclusion:

 dogs, dog mouths clean, dog tongues, dog licking, should you let a dog lick your face Many dogs will lick you if you give them the chance. Photo credit: Canva

"I concluded that dog and human mouth flora are very different. (Flora means the bacteria found in a mouth or anywhere else.) The bacteria found in human mouths are more similar to another human's oral bacteria than the bacteria found in a dog's mouth.

I also concluded that dogs' mouths are cleaner than humans' in some ways, and dirtier in other ways. Humans have more bacteria in their mouths than dogs do, based on the total number of bacteria. Most of the humans had a 'moderate' number of bacteria, and most of the dogs had 'few' bacteria. A possible explanation of this might be that dogs pant a lot, and maybe while panting, bacteria falls off their tongues along with their saliva. But dogs had more types of bacteria. The average number of different bacterial colonies in a dog's mouth was about 5.7. The average number of different bacterial colonies in a human's mouth was about 4.1. I think this is so because dogs sniff and lick a variety of things, like carpets, floors, chairs, grass, etc., so they pick up bacteria from many places."

But what about the licking of our faces? That's a bit of a subjective call, but Abby's results gave her some peace of mind:

"In conclusion, will I let my dog continue to lick me? The answer to the question is yes!" she wrote. "I will feel guiltless about letting my dog lick me because I found out that human and dog oral bacteria are different, so my dog's oral bacteria present no harm to me."

 lick, licking, face, dogs, dog puppy love kiss GIF by Pickler & Ben  Giphy  

What do the experts say?

According to Colin Harvey, professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine and executive secretary at the American Veterinary Dental College, comparing dogs' mouths to humans' mouth is "like comparing apples to oranges." As Abby found, the microbes in a dog's mouth are very different than those in a human's.

The American Kennel Club elaborates:

"Most of the bacteria in your dog’s mouth aren’t zoonotic, which means you probably won’t get a disease from a big old doggy kiss. There are exceptions to this. Dogs that eat a raw diet are at an increased risk of contracting salmonella, which can be spread to humans. You also probably shouldn’t share kisses with a dog that regularly raids the litter box.

In other words, kissing your dog is less risky than kissing another human, but that doesn’t mean that your dog’s mouth is necessarily cleaner than a human’s—they just have a mostly incompatible set of germs."

 dogs, dog mouths, dog kisses, dog teeth cleaning Keep your dog's mouth clean with regular teeth brushing.Photo credit: Canva

Keeping your dog's mouth healthy through regular teeth cleaning and dental check-ups can also help prevent issues that could potentially come from dog licks.

So there you have it. If your dog doesn't eat a raw diet and doesn't go snacking in the cat box (or some other equally fecal-bacteria-ridden place), their kisses are probably not going to hurt you. Guilt-free pooch smooches for the win!

This article originally appeared in April.

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Pets

Tiny dog goes ballistic every time she sees a blueberry and it's truly a must-see situation

People are rolling at Spud's…uh…"enthusiasm" for finger fruit.

Photo credit: Canva

Ever seen a blueberry attack? It's a sight to see.

Every animal has its unique quirks, but some quirks are quirkier than others. Many people think their pets are uniquely strange, but then an oddity comes along that makes you say say, "Okay, now that is truly a one-of-a-kind creature."

Enter Spud, also known as Spud the cryptid, whose over-the-top reaction to blueberries has people cracking up. Or rather, her reaction to a blueberry. When her owner tosses a blueberry her way, Spud goes ballistic. That's the only word to describe it, and it really just has to be witnessed first-hand:

 
@spud.the.cryptid

she loves it

 


This is not a one-off reaction. Spud does this every time, with every blueberry.

@spud.the.cryptid

Replying to @SillyMilly

 

People lost their minds over Spud losing her mind over blueberries.

"This was completely unprovoked hostility towards an innocent, sweet little blueberry."

"And STILL, No blueberries were harmed during the making of this video. NONE."

"This is also how I act around blueberries so I get it."

"That blueberry is probably terrified and confused."

"I am both terrified and in love."

"Hitting pause at any time during this vid is sending me. 😭"

Seriously, try watching those videos again and pausing them at random times. Spud's owner just did that and shared screenshots, and they're as epic as you might expect.

 

 dog, spud the cryptid, tiktok, fruit, blueberry, weird pets TikTok · spud the cryptid  www.tiktok.com  

 


People had things to say about the freeze frames as well, of course.

"I can't stop laughing. She looks taxidermied but also adorable."

 

"Spud was trying to go through the five stages of grief but never made it past anger."

"Like a wee little angel…of death."

"How is this dog both frightening and adorable."

If you're wondering if it's just blueberries that makes Spud go bonkers, no, it's not. While it appears blueberries are her favorite fruit to attack-yet-not-attack, she has similar interactions with radishes, strawberries, and even a pea.

@spud.the.cryptid

this might look like a strawberry and pea but really it’s men who have wronged her

Another thing you should know about Spud is that she has a particular affinity for Grandma. Watch how she "turns into a giraffe," as one commenter put it, when she hears it's time to go to visit Grandma.

 

The blueberry enthusiasm extends to Grandma in real life, judging by the way Spud "attacks" her when she sees her.

@spud.the.cryptid

Replying to @EllieVision 🇬🇧

 

"It’s so funny because we can all be together for days and anytime i say 'is that grandma?!' spud just loses it even if she’s been sleeping on her lap lol," Spuds owner writes. "That word just activates something in her."

If you're wondering what exactly a "cryptid" is, it's a creature that people have claimed exists or existed, but whose existence has never been proven. Think BigFoot or the Loch Ness monster. Spud most definitely exists, but her looks and quirks do make her appear almost mythical, so it's an apropos nickname.

  - YouTube  www.youtube.com  

 

Spud's owner shared the lore about her, saying Spud is 3,000 years old, has a degree in fashion design, hates fascists, and went to "the earth worm university." If you can't get enough of Spud, you're not alone. People are taking note of Spud's spunky and "delightfully creepy" little self, and she's growing quite a following online.

 

 dog, spud the cryptid, tiktok, pup, viral TikTok · spud the cryptid  www.tiktok.com  

 

Spud even has a line of merch, because of course she does. You can get a tote bag with Spud's face on it that says, "I hate fascists," a shirt that has Spud dressed up as a strawberry on it, and more.

As one person wrote, "If Spud were a cult leader I'd be the first member," to which Spud's owner responded, "Don't tempt her to start running another cult." Oh my.

You can follow Spud for more fruity, cryptid, cultish, Grandma-loving adventures at @spud.the.cryptid on TikTok.

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Animals & Wildlife

Why have we domesticated some animals but not others? It comes down to four F's.

An entertaining video explains why we can't ride zebras or breed "war bears."

Photo credit: Canva

Horses were domesticated over 5,000 years ago. Zebras, never.

Humans have domesticated several kinds of animals over the millennia, from trusty horses and mules to livestock for milk and meat to our favorite furry companions. But why those specific animals and not others? What is it that led us to those particular choices? Why can we ride horses but not zebras? Why don't we purposefully breed "war bears" to fight for us?

That last question comes straight from the always-interesting and often-hilarious CGP Grey, whose YouTube videos explore all kinds of things we wonder about but don't necessarily take the time to research. In the video "Why Some Animals Can't Be Domesticated," Grey explains the four main elements that make an animal a good candidate for domestication, which excludes bears (and many others) from the list.

Grey alliterated the four elements to make them easier to remember: Friendly, Feedable, Fecund, and Family-Friendly. Let's dig into what those mean.

 

  - YouTube  www.youtube.com  

 

Domestication requirement #1: Friendly

This one is fairly self-explanatory, but basically an animal has to not post an inherent, immediate threat. We have to be able to catch them if we're going to domesticate them, so that eliminates all of the "carnivores whose day job is murder" as Grey puts it, as well as the large, nervous prey animals that are too afraid of us to let us get anywhere near them.

 wild animals, domesticated animals, gazelle Good luck trying to catch a gazelle.Photo credit: Canva

Domestication requirement #2: Feedable

Every animals is feedable, of course, but that doesn't mean it's easy or cheap to feed them, especially in large numbers. This category pretty much eliminates pure carnivores and some omnivores, leaving mostly herbivores (and some unpicky omnivores) that are easy and cheap to feed. And that aren't dangerous (see #1).

 wild animals, domesticated animals, chickens, chicken feed Chickens will eat just about anything.Photo credit: Canva

Domestication requirement #3: Fecund

This requirement is all about breeding and babies. Some animals are extremely slow to breed, like pandas and elephants, making them undesirable candidates for domestication. Animals that have mate frequently and have relatively short gestation times and/or large litters are more suited to domesticated life. They also need to grow up quickly, which also takes elephants out of the pool.

However, as Grey points out, humans can still tame other animals like elephants. But taming is not the same as domesticating. The basic rule is: If it's on a farm, it's domesticated. If it's in a circus, it's tamed.

Domestication requirement #4: Family-friendly

This is where the horses and zebras question comes in. Horses were domesticated in Eurasia, but if humans started in Africa, why weren't zebras domesticated first? Grey explains that while horses tend to live in hierarchical herds, zebra are more independent with no family structure. Humans can capture the lead male horse and get the rest of the herd to fall in line. Zebra herds are more of a free-for-all and they're kind of jerks to even one another.

 horses, zebras, domesticated animals, wild animals There's actually a big difference between horses and zebras besides just the stripes.Photo credit: Canva

Barnyard animals have inherent family structures that humans have figured out how to fit into. These animals learn to see the humans who own them as a lead cow or top chicken or whatever.

Way back in the hunter-gatherer age, when humans were just figuring out animal domestication, animals had to have all four of these requirements. Today, we have the ability and technology to domesticate more animals if we want to, but we also have less of a need to. Some breeds of foxes have recently been domesticated, bred to be friendly with humans. How fun would it be to have a pet fox?

  - YouTube  www.youtube.com  

 

Technically, a lot more animals could be domesticated if people really wanted to put in multiple human lifetimes of time and effort, but why?

You can follow CGP Grey on YouTube for more fun and informative videos.

This article originally appeared in April.

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Pets

17 outrageous, side-splitting photos from the Comedy Pet Photo Awards

The 2021 crop of winners remains legendary.

via © Jakub Gojda/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021 and © Zoe Ross /Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021
17 of the funniest photos from the Comedy Pet Photo Awards

If kids say the darndest things, it's safe to say that pets do the darndest things. One of the great joys of having a cat, dog, or other small animal to call your own is the endlessly entertainment they bring you. The way we communicate, and miscommunicate, with our pets is magical and hilarious. When you're lucky enough to capture some of that magic on film, you get the memory of a lifetime.

Taking photos are also an expression of love. It's no secret that pet owners are obsessed with snapping candid photos of sleeping dogs, yawning cats, and anything that looks cute, cuddly, or hilarious.

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are a fun-filled competition created by Tom Sullam and Paul Joynson-Hicks to promote positive awareness of animal welfare issues. Past winners include a well-timed shot of a monkey who appears to have hurt the family jewels on a suspension wire. (Don't worry folks, no monkeys were harmed for the awards.) The competition has been so successful, the duo decided to branch out and create the Comedy Pet Photo Awards, where photographers can submit pictures of their furry friends for a £2,000 ($2650) prize.

Donations generated by the competition go to Animal Support Angels, an animal welfare charity in the U.K. The 2024 winner features a dog shoving his head through a way-too-small cat door. In 2023, the champion was a kitten caught redheaded trying to sneak attack his brother.

But even several years later, the crop of winners from the 2021 contest remains one of the best ever. The overall champion was Zoe Ross for "Whizz Pop," a photo of her labrador puppy Pepper who appears to be tooting bubbles.

“We never ever thought that we would win but entered the competition because we loved the idea of helping a charity just by sending in a funny photo of Pepper," Ross said in a statement. "She is such a little monkey, and very proud of herself, bringing in items from the garden and parading past you until you notice her. She is the happiest puppy we’ve ever known and completely loved to pieces.”

Here are the rest of the winners of the 2021 Comedy Pet Photo Awards.

Overall Winner: Zoe Ross "Whizz Pop," Penkridge, U.K.

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Overall Winner: Zoe Ross "Whizz Pop," Labrador puppy, Penkridge, UK  © Zoe Ross /Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

Did this puppy swallow a bubble? Either he drank some bubble solution or this photographer just happened to have remarkable timing.

Best Dog Category: Carmen Cromer "Jurassic Bark," Pittsboro, North Carolina

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Best Dog Category: Carmen Cromer "Jurassic Bark," Pittsboro, North Carolina  © Carmen Cromer/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"My golden retriever, Clementine, loves to stick her face in front of the hose while I water the plants. Her expression in this photo made me think of a tyrannosaurus rex, hence the title, "Jurassic Bark." Duh nuh nuuuh nuhnuh, duh nuh nuuuh nuh nuh, dun duh duuuh nuh nuh nuh nUUUUUUhhhh." – Carmen Cromer

Best Cat Category: Kathrynn Trott "Photobomb," Ystradgynlais, U.K.

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Best Cat Category: Kathrynn Trott "Photobomb," Ystradgynlais, U.K.  © Kathrynn Trott/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

Jeff stealing the limelight from his brother Jaffa. What is it that cats love so much about photobombing?

Best Horse Category: Mary Ellis, "I Said 'Good Morning,'" Platte River State Park, Nebraska

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Best Horse Category: Mary Ellis, "I Said 'Good Morning,'" Platte River State Park, Nebraska  © Mary Ellis/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"I like to visit the stable horses before I begin my hike at the State Park. This is the reply I received when I said 'Good morning.'" – Mary Ellis

When they say you should never look a gift horse in the mouth, maybe this is what they had in mind.

All Other Creatures Category: Sophie Bonnefoi, "The Eureka Moment," Oxford, U.K.

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition All Other Creatures Category: Sophie Bonnefoi, "The Eureka Moment," Oxford, U.K.  © Sophie Bonnefoi/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"Cutie and Speedy are two chicks hatched from eggs placed in an incubator at home in August 2020. They spent their first few weeks indoors. In the photo, they are just over two weeks old. They were curious about everything. This is the day they discovered their own shadow. It was hilarious to see them wondering and exploring that 'dark thing' that was moving with them!" – Sophie Bonnefoi

Junior Category: Suzi Lonergan, "Sit!" Pacific Palisades, California

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Junior Category: Suzi Lonergan, "Sit!" Pacific Palisades, California  © Suzi Lonergan/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"Our granddaughter gave the command to sit. Beau is very obedient." – Suzi Lonergan

Anyone who's ever owned an oversized dog has been here before. This snapshot absolutely reflects the hilarious reality of keeping a gentle giant in your home.

Pets Who Look Like Their Owners Category: Jakub Gojda, "That Was a Good One!" Czech Republic

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Pets Who Look Like Their Owners Category: Jakub Gojda, "That Was a Good One!" Czech Republic  © Jakub Gojda/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"This photo was taken by accident during the photography of my ex-girlfriend with her beloved mare. For this cheerful moment, I thank the fly that sat on the horse's nose and he instinctively shook his head." – Jakub Gojda.

The resemblance is uncanny!

Highly Commended: Chloe Beck, "Hugo the Photobomber," Walsall, U.K.

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Highly Commended: Chloe Beck, "Hugo the Photobomber," Walsall, U.K.  © Chloe Beck/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"This is my best friend Faith, her husband Alex, and their cheeky Sproodle, Hugo. Faith wanted a photograph to mark a special occasion—her first outing after shielding at home for 14 months. Hugo jumped into the frame at just the right moment!" – Chloe Beck

Highly Commended: Luke O'Brien, "Mumford and Chum," Coventry, U.K.

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Highly Commended: Luke O'Brien, "Mumford and Chum," Coventry, U.K.  © Luke O'Brien/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"Losing the opportunity to play with my human bandmates during lockdown, Flint, my rescue dog, soon taught me that we didn't just have sharp bones in common, but musical ones, too. He soon became the perfect substitute for a collaborative stomp up at home, so much so that we felt we deserved our own band name (Muttford and Chum). With my camera set up remotely during this shoot, I think it's fair to say that the image is proof that his conviction as a performer matches my own." – Luke O'Brien.

Luke and Flint could have been strong competitors in the lookalike contest, if you ask me.

Highly Commended: Kathryn Clark, "Wine Time," Cichester, U.K.

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Highly Commended: Kathryn Clark, "Wine Time," Cichester, U.K.  © Kathryn Clark/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"It's that time of day again! Little Blue enjoys it almost as much as me." – Kathryn Clark.

This cat just gets it.

Highly Commended: Diana Jill Mehner, "Crazy in Love With Fall," Paderborn, Germany

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Highly Commended: Diana Jill Mehner, "Crazy in Love With Fall," Paderborn, Germany  © Diana Jill Mehner/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"This is Leia. As you can see, she definitely loves playing with all the leaves in autumn. It was really tricky to take this picture because you never know what the dog is going to do next." – Diana Jill Mehner.

Highly Commended: Christine Johnson, "Boing," Crosby Beach, U.K.

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Highly Commended: Christine Johnson, "Boing," Crosby Beach, U.K.  © Christine Johnson/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"I was busy playing with my dog on the beach and this dog came to play. I liked the shapes he was making in the air." – Christine Johnson

Highly Commended: Manel Subirats Ferrer, "Ostrich Style," Platja del Prat de Llobregat, Spain

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Highly Commended: Manel Subirats Ferrer, "Ostrich Style," Platja del Prat de Llobregat, Spain  © Manel Subirats Ferrer/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

Nuka playing hide and seek at the beach. Hey, we've all buried our head in the sand at one point or another.

Highly Commended: Colin Doyle, "Nosey Neighbor," Bromsgrove, U.K.

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Highly Commended: Colin Doyle, "Nosey Neighbor," Bromsgrove, U.K.  © Colin Doyle/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"According to Ozzy, we need a new fence panel ASAP. He is fed up with Chester our nosy next door neighbor spying on him every time he has a meal." – Colin Doyle.

There's a lot going on in this one, but the hidden camera is what really makes it a winner.

Highly Commended: Corey Seeman, "A Warm Spot on a Cold Day," Michigan

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Highly Commended: Corey Seeman, "A Warm Spot on a Cold Day," Michigan  © Corey Seeman/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"Two of the morning regulars at the dog park are Gary (hound mix with the jacket) and Kona, one of the most chill dogs ever." – Corey Seeman.

Highly Commended: Lucy Slater, "So What?" San Diego, California

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Highly Commended: Lucy Slater, "So What?" San Diego, California  © Lucy Slater/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

"This is how I like to sit!" – Vincent the cat

Highly Commended: Mollie Cheary, "Photobomb," Poole, U.K.

 pets, animals, wildlife, comedy, dogs, cats, funny, photography, photos, viral photos, photography competition Highly Commended: Mollie Cheary, "Photobomb," Poole, U.K.  © Mollie Cheary/Animal Friends Comedy Pet Photo Awards 2021  

'"Bailey was so excited to see her friends, she couldn't sit still for a photo!" – Mollie Cheary

The photos are hilarious and adorable, but you might wonder: What's the point of all this?

The founders have actually given that quite a bit of thought. According to the website:

"Lots of people ask us why we do the competition and what we are trying to achieve. This is an epic question. So, we’ve had a really good think, (with tea and biccies obvs) and come up with this: 'Through the Comedy Pets, we want to promote positive awareness of animal welfare issues and celebrate the incredible and valuable contribution that pets can and do have on our lives.'"

So you're actually doing a lot of good by viewing, laughing at, and even sharing these photos. Great work!

This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.,

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