Why does he do this?

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by Naellik on 05 May 2009 - 19:05

Ever since Zach was a little guy, he would lick our older dog in the face....excessively, she would show her teeth, and he'd keep right on a lickin'. Now she's a patient old gal and deals with it until we catch it & tell him stop. We figured it was a sign of respect????

So we live in the COUNTRY, he doesn't have many other 4 legged friends. Well, my sister-in-law just got a dog & they met Saturday & once he was comfortable with her....he did the SAME thing to her dog. Lick lick lick lick lick...right in the mouth. Anyone know why he does this??

Is this the dog version of a hug?

by Okie Amazon on 05 May 2009 - 20:05

Watch some wolf pack footage. This is saying, "I'm lower ranked than you, I'm no threat. You're top dog and I'm not and don't want to be."

by Two Moons on 05 May 2009 - 20:05

Its partly communication and partly seeing what the other dog had for breakfast....:)

If I let a dog in and give it any kind of treat, then let it out the door with the others, thats the first order of business seeing whats on the dogs breath, what did it get that the others didn't....LOL

Licking means many things to a dog. Most revolve around curiosity and affection.
Moons.

by GSDguy08 on 05 May 2009 - 20:05

It can mean submission or respect, also watch the ears. In my Husky pack...they don't do things with Anubis, but I have Buck, he's the same age as Anubis. He is very submissive to Max and to me. He lowers his ears back all the way, licks him and almost lies down while doing it. Max just tolerates it, and goes on lol.

by JRANSOM on 05 May 2009 - 20:05

My dog does that too.
Mostly to dogs her size or larger.
I too, also thought it was a respect/submissive thing.

by Naellik on 05 May 2009 - 20:05

That's what I thought...But then last night we got them 2gether again...he tried attacking her. She's a 60lb German Short hair Pointer. He's a 90 lb GSD.
I'm well aware he's not very good w/other 4 legged critters (until he has time to smell them out) but I thought he would remember her. They played ALL day Saturday. I was cautious bringing them 2gether, b/c I wasn't sure if he would remember......he seemed to be okay and I didn't read his body language fast enough, & he lunged @ her (MY FAULT I KNOW).
I went all "Cesar Millan" on his butt (on the ground in a submissive state before I let her aproach him) and then he was fine. Licker her in the face once as kind of like an "I'm sorry" and then they were off like romper room! Running all over chasing eachother. (Well him trying to keep up with her, she's a bit faster than he is!)

by triodegirl on 05 May 2009 - 20:05

I also think it's a sign of submission. My young female will lick the faces of both the older males but neither of the males will reciprocate.If they growl at her she usually continues licking but puts her ears back and squats lower to the ground.

by Princess on 05 May 2009 - 21:05

My girl 3yrs does it too, but only with her mate. She has been with other lg males but does it only with him , as well as he is the only male she would allow to breed with her. So Im not so sure if it is submission. He is lg ,but so were the others.

by Kinolog on 05 May 2009 - 22:05

Puppies lick their mothers around the muzzle to signal that they are hungry. The female will then regurgitate what she just feasted on so the puppies can have a meal. It is a submissive behavior, however submission is adaptive rather than a sign of weakness. (Ever try keeping quiet and walking away when someone is cursing you out over nothing. I some situations its best to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.)

Also, if your dog is still doing this, it could be a behavior he is hanging on to in part because it has been positively reinforced - he's getting some kind of pay off even if it is attention.

by Jamille on 06 May 2009 - 05:05

Sometimes when it is excessive like that , it is really an insecure, unstable behavior. I personally would correct the excessive licking. Which is probable why he went on the defense to the other dog. He figures since he is insecure with the new situation, he will attack before getting attacked.

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