Possible Reason for ‘Why Does My Dog Lick My Other Dog’s Face’
Imagine this: you threw a small-scale party to celebrate your dog’s birthday. Your friends’ furry friends graced the occasion. All of a sudden, you saw your dog licking the face of a guest dog — someone it didn’t even meet before. What could be the reason?
If you, like several other dog parents, are wondering, ‘why does my dog lick my other dog’s face’ or a stranger dog’s face, you’ve come to the right place! There are several reasons for your dog’s apparently odd behavior (rest assured, it is completely normal in a dog’s world).
Let us have a look at the possible reasons for your dog’s actions.
Reasons for a Dog’s Licking Behavior
In the list below, we have shared some of the most common reasons for a dog’s licking habit:
Vying for Attention
Some dogs lick the faces of other pups to get their attention. This is usually a dog’s instinct. Wild dogs lick their moms and siblings to get their attention. If your dog (regardless of its age) is acting this way, you need not worry. Just listen to what it has to say.
Hunger Cries
Some dogs lick other dogs’ faces because they are hungry and would like to have food or treats. In the wild, puppies wait for their mothers to bring food for them. Some dogs carry this instinctive habit even when they age.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that you are a bad dog parent and that you’re keeping your dog hungry. It is just an instinct that your dogs follow.
To Show Respect
Animals have their unique ways of telling how much they appreciate/respect someone. Dogs lick the faces of other dogs or even their humans to let them know that they respect them and to acknowledge that they are in a dominant position.
Dogs do this to comfort themselves as well as they want to believe that they have someone who would protect them. In the wild, dogs do this to their mothers to let them know that they are looking up to them. Dogs may imitate the same behavior in front of other dogs. So, don’t freak out if your furry friend is giving sloppy kisses to other dogs.
How to Make Your Dog Get Rid of Its Licking Habit
One great thing about dogs is that they are quick learners. You can teach them how to act in different circumstances, and they will gladly follow you. On that basis, here are some tips that can help you deal with the dogs maturely. Follow them and see if your dog shows any difference:
Distract Them
Whenever you see your dog approaching another dog with the intent of licking, you should distract them. This can be done by giving it a command or a toy to keep it busy. Dogs get distracted easily and get involved in other activities, leaving their ‘licking business’ altogether.
Train Them
Dogs require professional trainers to make amendments to their behavior. You can ask a trainer to train your dog and help it get rid of the annoying habit. But this could be tricky.
The habit that you are not liking is something that comes naturally to the dog. Also, it is a positive behavior. As mentioned above, dogs use this particular behavior to tell the other dog that they appreciate and respect them.
In that scenario, it could be a little difficult (even though it is possible to do so) to train them. Another downside of training could be your dog’s clinging behavior towards you. If it is disallowed to show its affection to other dogs, it will try to show it to you. The key is to be careful when it comes to training a dog for this specific habit, and you have to be a lot gentler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My dog has suddenly started licking my other dog’s face. What should I do?
Ans: Dogs take time to develop bonds with each other, but once they do, they are quick at building relationships. Licking each other’s faces is a sign of respect in a dog’s language. So, if you see your dog doing it, you should think that it is doing so out of respect for the other pooch.
So, let your dog give sloppy kisses to his furry siblings or friends and enjoy their natural behavior. Pets are extremely expressive and love showing their love and respect for others.
The Final Word
Have you had a sigh of relief? It is understandable that any change in your dog’s usual behavior will make you stress out a little. As dog parents, you need to learn one thing: not all dogs are the same. Yes, they have similar traits, but their overall behaviors may differ significantly.
But there is always hope at the end of the tunnel, even if your dog starts acting strange. A professional trainer can help you get rid of your dog’s habits efficiently.
Bonus Tip
While it is perfectly okay to feel that your dog shouldn’t have certain habits, expecting them not to lick other dogs’ faces is a bit unfair. Dogs use this behavior to show that they respect the other dog, so it will be difficult for them to understand why their behavior is strange and why they need to work on it. However, if it isn’t creating much of a problem for you, you shouldn’t force your dog to mend its ways.
