My Alsatian didn't try to lick the face first. He always went for the hair- on the head. Yes, the hair... Glad to say that is a thing of the past
My new neighbors came to welcome me with casseroles and were glad to see a positively grinning, friendly dog waiting to welcome them in turn.. until, he went for a blond, shiny, wavy ponytail. The lady kept screaming about conditioners and blow-drying and my dog looked blissful, like he was in heaven. The next time believe it or not, she came wearing grass in her head. Doggy takes one sniff and settles down for a lick on the face ever since. He hates grass and well, if a cat sits on a hot stove once, he'll never sit on a cold one either.