13 Weird Reasons Why Dogs Lick Other Dogs' Ears (2024)

FAQs

Why does my dog keep trying to lick my other dogs ears? ›

When two dogs are on friendly terms as part of the same family, they become very comfortable grooming each other. Licking each other's ears is just one way to show that. What's more, it can ward off ear mites, but too much licking can cause irritation and possibly an ear infection.

If your dogs are licking each other's ears, know that this is completely normal. They do this as a sign of love, respect, or even to show that they miss each other or are excited to see each other. Sometimes, it may be a sign of something a bit serious.

Dogs have a simple mind and they always relate by their natural senses such as smell and touch. When you see a dog licking another dog's private parts, it is actually a healthy and normal dog social behavior – just a kind of polite getting-acquainted through grooming and scent of one another.

A Sense of Comfort and Security

Dogs will also groom one another as a way to communicate that they are feeling contented, safe, and that they care for whomever they are grooming. When you dog licks your ears they may just be trying to tell you that they love you and are comfortable when you are around.

Think of this as the doggy equivalent of social kissing. Dogs who are already friends will also trade smooches. Two strongly bonded canine pals will lick and groom each other. They give each other “dog kisses” in displays of affection and friendship.

As far as a dog licking a human, the chances of you developing an infection are pretty slim. If, however, you have an inner ear problem, keep your dog away from this area at all times. The reason is that there is a risk of developing a more serious issue.

When a dog loses a companion, two- or four-legged, he grieves and reacts to the changes in his life. Dogs alter their behavior when they mourn, much like people do: They may become depressed and listless.

Often, this is simply a case of access, or lack of it. If one person spends more time at home with the dog, naturally the dog will want to see and spend time with the other partner, too. When the absent partner rewards that behavior by handing out treats upon return, reinforcement and hardwiring occurs.

Dogs may lick their owners as a way of grooming and cleaning them, similar to how they lick themselves and other dogs. In the wild, wolves and other canines will lick their pack members as a way of grooming and cleaning them.

It picks up on body odors and pheromones, which are invisible chemicals animals release as a way of communicating with one another. "Dogs sniff other dogs' rear ends and human crotches because sweat glands there release pheromones and scents that give canines information," Gerken says.

Why does my dog's mouth shake after licking other dog's privates? ›

Dogs' mouths will sometimes chatter after they've licked something – it's usually just an impulsive reaction and nothing to worry about! Remember dogs' sense of taste and smell is much stronger than ours and sometimes this results in chattering teeth.

Affection for the person or animal they're licking

If the excessive licking is on you or another pet, this is likely behavioral. Many dogs lick as an affectionate way of showing the person or animal that they're fond of them. She might even be picking up on your behavioral cues and attempting to calm or soothe you!

Dogs have several reasons for staring at their owners, like to communicate with and understand us. Some dogs stare to manipulate owners, as in with begging for food or asking to be let outside. Training and dog sports are good ways to turn focused staring behavior into a positive experience.

As a general rule, a dog's level of attention can be determined by watching their ears: Erect ears facing forward indicate that they're engaged, and slightly pulled-back ears signal that they're feeling friendly; but dog ears laid tightly back against the head suggest a fearful or timid reaction.

For the most part, dogs laying on their owners is perfectly normal, and it is their way of showing that they love you. They also want to feel loved, so they require that physical touch. Dogs will often nudge you with their noses while lying on you because they want you to pet them or give them belly rubs.

Yes, Licking Is A Sign Of Dominance

Dogs can attempt to show dominance towards a dog or human by aggressively licking them. This is a determined, deliberate act, and is uninvited or inappropriate for the situation. This type of dog licking indicate an assertion of dominance and control.

They appear bonded – show closeness and repeated/continued physical contact; comfort each other, sleep together, etc. They show signs of affection such as cleaning the ears, licking the face, etc. They refuse to leave their kennel without each other.

The older dog might lick the new puppy for several reasons. It can be a form of social bonding, a grooming habit, or an instinctive response to perceived health issues. Older dogs may also lick to show dominance or establish their place in the hierarchy.

According to Dr. Pike, the saliva from the other dog's mouth could lead to a continually moist ear, which is “a nice environment for yeast and bacteria to flourish.” This can cause otitis externa, an external ear infection.

Many owners go as far as to kiss their pets every day. But is it actually safe to lay a smooch on Fido or Fluffy? First, the good news: Odds are that smooching a pet is no big deal, at least from a contagious disease standpoint. "If you have a healthy mouth, you should be safe to kiss pets," emails Dr.

Can a dog's lick make you sick? ›

One of the most common ways to pick up an illness or infection from a dog is through saliva. But, it's important to know that it usually takes a bite or skin abrasion for a dog's germs to cause infection in a person. This means you can continue to let you dog lick your face — if that's your thing.

When it comes to the possibility of their own death, they are at least aware that they are not feeling well or are sick. They can also sense our levels of stress and know that something is wrong. However, canine companions are not as self-assessing as humans about death.

"Dogs forget an event within two minutes," reported National Geographic, citing a 2014 study performed on various animals from rats to bees. Other animals have long-term memories, such as dolphins, but dogs don't seem to have a long-term memory that lasts much beyond those two minutes.

You can also expect a ton of barking, howling, and vocalizations, an attempt by your dog to get your attention about what they know. Watch for lots of following around, extra attention, and melancholy behavior from your doggo, too. Here are a few signs your dog might be giving you if they're sensing death: Barking.

Cuddles & Sleepy Snuggles 💤

Dogs choose to sleep where they feel most comfortable and at ease, so if your dog enjoys sleeping in your bed, or likes to snuggle up to you for a nap, they feel trust in you that they will be safe to do so.

Like their human counterparts, dogs develop favorite people over time based on positive experiences and positive associations with that person. Some people use tasty treats and other rewards to create strong bonds with pets, but the best way to build a healthy relationship with your dog is through play.

Regardless of the dog breed they belong to, most dogs can hear sounds anywhere between 80 feet and one mile away.

The three most common reasons for a dog yawning are regulation of stress levels, out of trust or mimicking our behavior, or tiredness and boredom—just like us pet parents. To figure out the exact reason, you'll need to decipher their behavior and look at context clues.

This calming sensation triggers a specific reaction in their brain that responds to hair follicle stimulation. Dogs, like humans, also release endorphins and oxytocin through methods of touch, so rubbing a dog's belly can help with bonding and affection. Ultimately, dogs like belly rubs because they feel good!

Can dogs smell your arousal? ›

There is no evidence thus far that dogs actually understand what is happening when two people have sex. They likely recognize the smell of pheromones when people become aroused and other scents associated with people engaging in intimacy.

They can trigger all kinds of behavior, sexual and not. Your dog, with their super-sensing nose, can certainly smell the pheromones your body is giving off, and often, they're game to investigate. This means they can stick their noses in places they certainly don't belong.

Due to your pup's keen sense of smell, your dog definitely knows when your lady hormones are acting up. To put it bluntly, because of your dog's acute sense of smell, your pooch certainly knows when you're on your period, when you're having hormone imbalances, and when your female hormones are doing anything different.

While teeth chattering can be a sign of pain, seizures, or a neurological disorder, these are not the only causes. Sometimes dogs will also chatter their teeth simply because they are feeling cold, nervous, or excited. Smelling strong scents can sometimes bring on this response in dogs as well.

Dogs may bare their teeth as an appeasem*nt gesture (which looks like a sheepish grin), during dog-dog play (perfectly appropriate!), or to communicate discomfort or stress (in which case, you should be careful, because he's asking for space).

It turns out that dogs can actually pick up on the pheromone chemical that your sweaty private parts produce, and pheromones hold a lot of information about ourselves: our diets, moods, health, even whether a female is pregnant or menstruating.

Even though licking is usually a completely normal canine behavior, it doesn't mean your dog is weird if he doesn't lick you. It also doesn't mean that he doesn't love or respect you. Your dog may have had a mother who didn't lick much herself so he never picked up the behavior.

Why does my dog lick me more than anyone else? If your dog licks you more than anyone else then it probably means that you're the person they love the most. You give the best strokes, the best tickles behind the ear, you're their best friend and the giver of all tasty foods.

Many dog owners view dogs' licking as a sign of affection similar to kissing. Obsessive licking may be a sign of underlying issues, including anxiety, boredom, or fear. Trick training is an effective way to redirect problem licking in a positive way.

As it turns out, this circling practice is geared towards survival. "Turning in circles before lying down is an act of self-preservation in that the dog may innately know that he needs to position himself in a certain way to ward off an attack in the wild," notes Dr.

What does it mean when your dog follows you to the bathroom? ›

“The main reason dogs follow us to the bathroom is because they like to be where we are,” Dr. Coppola explains. “Dogs are obligate social animals, which means socialization is a genuinely natural behavior for them. This is part of what makes them such fantastically loyal companions.”

Look out for "a hard stare, with unblinking eyes and a stiff posture" from your pup, as this constitutes their threatening staring. If your dog or any dog you come across exhibits this behavior, stay cautious, do not make eye contact and back away slowly.

When you are petting your dog, and he puts his paw on your arm or leg, it is kind of like petting you back. While most dogs can't do an actual stroking action, laying their paw on you is a sign of affection, closeness and trust This is his way of creating a special bond with you.

The ears are a place that can get pretty dirty, and dogs are unable to groom them on their own. If you see a dog licking ears, whether they belong to another dog, a cat, or even you, he or she is saying two things: I am comfortable with you and accept you as part of my pack. I respect and love you.

Yes, dogs like being kissed. Studies show that kissing our dogs raises their level of oxytocin (the bonding chemical) and lowers their cortisol (their stress chemical). What's more, kissing our dogs does the same thing for us. So it's mutually beneficial.

Sitting in your spot when you get up shows your dog's affection for you, but the chosen spot comes back to the master with no unwanted behavior. Your dog may also feel the need to protect you and sitting in your spot gives him the edge over the other animals in the household.

“It's one way a dog shows affection. Think of your dog sitting on your feet as the canine version of a hug or cuddle.” Puppies and adult dogs of any age, size, sex, or breed choose this place to plop because they want to stay close to their new owners.

A dog will push against you because he wants attention, affection, and comfort. They're smart enough to know that they will get a certain response by leaning on their owners. According to dog experts, canines will push against their owners to show love and seek out touch.

Signs of ear mites in dogs include scratching around the ears, head and neck, skin irritation, head shaking, the presence of an ear discharge that is dark and waxy (resembling coffee grounds) and an unpleasant odour from the ears.

Affection and Bonding

Some furry friends will lick another dog's eye, ears, and entire face to show the signs of affection. Showing affection can help enforce the bond between two dogs, making eye-licking behavior a standard part of their everyday routine.

What does earmites look like? ›

They look like tiny white dots, but can barely be seen with the naked eye. Ear mites live on the skin of the ear canal and feed off ear wax and skin oils. An adult normally lives for around two months, but they can multiply quickly.

Contact with other dogs or cats with ear mites is typically what causes ear mites to be transmitted in dogs. Ear mite infestations are more common in puppies than older dogs. When one puppy or dog is infested, the mites can get onto bedding or transfer directly from dog to dog through play and socialising.

“There are many topical, oral, and systemic agents,” Dr. Miller notes, “and most—such as ivermectin—are highly effective. Even one old-time remedy—baby oil—can do the job. A few drops put into an affected ear several times a day for a month or so will usually smother the mites.”

We do not recommend the use of alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean your dog's ears. These products can cause inflammation of the ear canal and further exacerbate infections.

Sugar feeds the yeast that is naturally present in the dog's body, so when a dog consumes too much sugar, yeast overgrowth occurs in the body and around the ear folds or in the canal, causing infection.

The ears often become red and inflamed and develop an offensive odor. A black or yellowish discharge commonly occurs. In chronic cases, the ears may appear crusty or thickened, and the ear canals often become narrowed (stenotic) due to chronic inflammation.

Licking another dog's face or a human's face is a normal social behavior. Licking can be an appeasem*nt gesture that signals a dog's social deference. It can also be a signal to solicit food, more social information, a sign of affection or to solicit attention.

They Show Affection

Just like you imagine, doggie kisses are also forms of affection. That is, it's affectionate when combined with butt wiggles and other signals of happiness. For example, when you come home after a long day at work, your dog wants to say “Hi Mom!

The function of this behavior is to confirm a relationship rather than to settle a dispute. The more self-confident individual will muzzle grab a more insecure opponent and thus assert its social position. The more insecure individual does not resist the muzzle grab.