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Dec
Dogs show affection by licking people and sometimes even other dogs. When a dog licks another adult dog just like in a wolf pack it is trying to communicate deference to a pack member it considers superior or dangerous.
Additionally if one of your dogs is more inclined to lick the ears of.
Why do dogs like to lick peoples ears. There are two primary reasons your dog licks your ears. The first and most common reason is that they like the taste. Sounds gross but some dogs love the taste of earwax.
The second reason is that theyre grooming you. Humans and dogs alike can get ear infections. And if your dog is constantly licking your ears as well as the ears of other animals in the family these types of infections can be passed around.
Additionally if one of your dogs is more inclined to lick the ears of. Dogs show affection by licking people and sometimes even other dogs. Licking is a natural action for dogs.
They learned it from the grooming and affection given to them as puppies by their mothers. Dogs might lick your face if they can get to it. If not they might just dog for any available patch of skin such as hands arms legs and feet.
A dog licking another dogs ears is basically the only chance theyve got of having a freshen up in that area. In some ways similar to when monkeys perform a communal and reciprocal picking through of their fur to remove dirt and parasites dogs lick each others ears as a grooming favor. Youd help your friend out in the same way wouldnt you.
The most common reason a dog may lick their humans ears is as a sign of affection. Back when dogs lived in packs in the wild they would lick the ears of their packmates to show that they accepted the other as a part of their pack. Yeast infections which are primarily caused by an allergytend to begin either in a dogs ears or in their paws.
If you notice this type of licking in addition to other symptoms like sores redness or a slimy often smelly discharge have your dog checked out by the vet right away. This Stacker slideshow offers a list of 51 questions and answers for pet lovers about common dog questions. These include things like answers on why dogs lick people.
Bacterial or fungal infections like a yeast infection can cause a dog to scratch at her own ears. If another dog detects the infection she may offer a much-needed cleaning inside a place that no dog would be able to reach on her own. Bitches lick their pups to communicate affection and to provide necessary care.
Licking can also be used to express a wider range of emotions in dogs. Dogs depend on their mouths to experience the world and ear licking is one way of exploring. If the behavior is excessive though you do need to be careful.
Sometimes continued moisture in an ear can to contribute to an ear infection so it is best to discourage more than the occasional lick. It is not only the mother-pup relationship in which dogs lick other dogs however. When a dog licks another adult dog just like in a wolf pack it is trying to communicate deference to a pack member it considers superior or dangerous.
In fact submissive gestures such as licking the nose or lips of the dominant dog can get the lower-ranking dog out of trouble in tense. Licking ears sometimes is a dogs way of demonstrating he is submissive to the person or dog receiving the ear-licking. The dog who is getting his ears licked is the dominant dog and the pack mate doing the licking is showing him respect.
But sometimes licking is a symptom of a more serious problem. If your dog is licking themselves you or objects excessively to the point that it seems like a self-stimulatory behavior this.