If your dog has been licking your other dog’s face, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.
So, why does my dog lick my other dog’s face? Possible reasons why your dog licks your other dog’s face are that your dog is grooming your other dog, your dog is being submissive, your dog has an obsessive disorder, or that it simply likes the taste.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your dog has been licking your other dog’s face and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are a number of things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are a number of things you can do about them.
Reasons why your dog licks your other dog’s face
Below are a number of possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main cause.
Grooming
A dog can’t lick its own face so other dogs will often lick their faces for them. The reason why your dog licks your other dog’s face could be that it is helping your other dog to groom itself. This would be more likely if your other dog also returns the favor and if your dog also licks your other dog in other areas such as its back.
Submissiveness
Licking is often a submissive gesture. The reason why your dog has been licking your other dog’s face might be that your dog is being submissive. This would be more likely if your dog does it more when your other dog is aggressive and if your dog shows other submissive gestures around your other dog.
Bonding
Dogs will also lick each other as a way of bonding. This might be the reason why your dog has been licking your other dog. This would be more likely if your dog licks your other dog in other areas as well and if your other dog also licks it back.
Obsessive behavior
It could also be the case that your dog has been doing it due to an obsessive compulsive disorder. This is where your dog feels an urge to lick your other dog and it cannot stop itself from doing it. This would be more likely if your dog has been licking your other dog’s face constantly. In this case, it would help to get help from a vet.
It likes the taste
The cause could also be that your dog just likes the taste of your other dog’s face. This would be more likely if your dog does not seem to be doing it excessively and it does not show many submissive signs.
Things to consider about your dog licking your other dog’s face
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been licking your other dog’s face.
If your dog has always licked your other dog’s face
If your dog did not always lick your other dog’s face, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it. If your dog started doing it suddenly, the cause could be that it started being submissive or that it learned that it likes the taste of your other dog’s face.
What is different when your dog licks your other dog’s face
If your dog seems to lick your other dog more at a certain time, it would also help to consider what else is different when your dog does it. For example, if your dog does it more when your other dog is being aggressive, it would be more likely that your dog is being submissive.
What to do about your dog licking your other dog’s face
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Avoid encouraging it
It might be the case that your dog has learned that the behavior gets rewarded. Instead, it would help to avoid rewarding your dog when it licks your other dog’s face and to reward it when it has not been licking your other dog’s face.
Give it other things to lick
Another thing to do would be to give your dog other things that it can lick on such as a bone. Doing this should help to distract your dog from doing it.
Get help
If your other dog has an infection on its face, your dog might be making it worse by licking it. In this case, if you cannot get your dog to stop licking your other dog’s face, it could help to get help from a vet. Alternatively, you could try using a dog cone to disrupt the behavior until your dog gets out of the habit of doing it.
Why has my dog suddenly started licking my other dog’s face?
If your dog has started licking your other dog’s face suddenly, it might be the case that your dog has learned that the behavior is rewarded, that it started being submissive or it might have learned that it likes the taste.