Showing Affection

Why does a dog try to lick its owner's face? Basically we do this to show affection. It also shows that the owner is the boss. Maybe I did something naughty, like chew your library book. You tell me off (rightly so.) Well I can't talk back and tell you how sorry I am; so instead I try and lick your face. Now, you might not want me to lick your face. Please don't push me away. That will confuse me and make me feel insecure. All I'm trying to do is show my feelings and also show that I am submissive to you. If you don't want me to lick your face, then let me lick your hand instead. Us dogs feel comfortable when our owners accept our small gestures of affection. That's how we would behave if we lived in the wild in a pack.