Expert opinions vary on whether dog kisses carry any serious health risk for people. Still, dogs can carry harmful germs, and some can pass through saliva and close contact.
Basic hygiene practices are the preferred ways to avoid these germs, even for those who agree that avoiding dog kisses most of the time is best. You should wash your face with soap and water afterward, before touching your mouth or eyes. Take extra care if you have open cuts or scrapes on your skin where a dog's tongue may lick you.