Dog licking ears....?
Discussion
Our 3yo (full) male staffy licks the ears of our 5mth EBT pup a lot.
I'm thankful that he's moved on to her ears from her... ahem... lady parts, but does he have to lick any of her at all?
They'll be playing (and it's her ears that he goes for when they're playing), then, when they're taking a breather, he'll just lick and lick and lick and lick and lick and lick... and she just stands there and lets him.
I thought it was a submissive thing? Why is it this way round?! Is there something we can do, or do we just have to accept that the 5mth pup is top dog around here?
If it helps, the staffy was the runt of his litter, whilst Ella was one of the bolshy ones of her litter... is Clyde (staff) destined to be puppy-whipped?
I'm thankful that he's moved on to her ears from her... ahem... lady parts, but does he have to lick any of her at all?
They'll be playing (and it's her ears that he goes for when they're playing), then, when they're taking a breather, he'll just lick and lick and lick and lick and lick and lick... and she just stands there and lets him.
I thought it was a submissive thing? Why is it this way round?! Is there something we can do, or do we just have to accept that the 5mth pup is top dog around here?
If it helps, the staffy was the runt of his litter, whilst Ella was one of the bolshy ones of her litter... is Clyde (staff) destined to be puppy-whipped?
Karyn said:
Our 3yo (full) male staffy licks the ears of our 5mth EBT pup a lot.
I'm thankful that he's moved on to her ears from her... ahem... lady parts, but does he have to lick any of her at all?
They'll be playing (and it's her ears that he goes for when they're playing), then, when they're taking a breather, he'll just lick and lick and lick and lick and lick and lick... and she just stands there and lets him.
I thought it was a submissive thing? Why is it this way round?! Is there something we can do, or do we just have to accept that the 5mth pup is top dog around here?
If it helps, the staffy was the runt of his litter, whilst Ella was one of the bolshy ones of her litter... is Clyde (staff) destined to be puppy-whipped?
ha ha karyn your not on your own my 3 yo bull terrier does the same thing to my 2 yo bI'm thankful that he's moved on to her ears from her... ahem... lady parts, but does he have to lick any of her at all?
They'll be playing (and it's her ears that he goes for when they're playing), then, when they're taking a breather, he'll just lick and lick and lick and lick and lick and lick... and she just stands there and lets him.
I thought it was a submissive thing? Why is it this way round?! Is there something we can do, or do we just have to accept that the 5mth pup is top dog around here?
If it helps, the staffy was the runt of his litter, whilst Ella was one of the bolshy ones of her litter... is Clyde (staff) destined to be puppy-whipped?
h i just thought jenson had a gender problem, half dog half mother lol. i think its just a bonding thing could be wrong but cant see any harm in it My two seem to spend their spare time chewing each others ears. Milo in particular will spend so much time chewing Millies ears that she looks like a drowned rat some days.
The Smooth people tell me its an affection thing, which I take onboard as Milo regularly tries to lick my ears, and if I let hime, will again settle in for a session.
Dont worry about it.
The Smooth people tell me its an affection thing, which I take onboard as Milo regularly tries to lick my ears, and if I let hime, will again settle in for a session.
Dont worry about it.
Licking has become a problem in our house.
The act of licking releases the happy endorphins - the more you lick the happier you are - if you are a dog. Its not just about licking for cleaning purposes.
It started when we put our young Irish Setter in the boot with the older English Setter whilst on a touring holiday - the first holiday with the Irish. By the end of the holiday the English was quite sore from being licked - all over - especially on his back.
Basically the Irish just loves to lick - he is a loving dog - our old Collie lets him lick her eyes - she would normally have attacked rather than allowed a licking.
What did happen though is that the English has realised that its nice being licked and has started licking himself - through his skin !
He at one point had FOUR sore legs. All had to be bandaged up. We used an Elizabethan Collar - but need to largest available as he can stretch his legs around to his tongue.
We now have it fairly manageable after three years. He wears bandages on both back legs all the time and its the only answer. It doesn't bother him - although maybe the pink spotty bandage is a bit too much !
So - the licking may not be a problem in your dog - but in certain circumstances it can become a problem. This is really just a 'beware' based on what we have experienced.
The act of licking releases the happy endorphins - the more you lick the happier you are - if you are a dog. Its not just about licking for cleaning purposes.
It started when we put our young Irish Setter in the boot with the older English Setter whilst on a touring holiday - the first holiday with the Irish. By the end of the holiday the English was quite sore from being licked - all over - especially on his back.
Basically the Irish just loves to lick - he is a loving dog - our old Collie lets him lick her eyes - she would normally have attacked rather than allowed a licking.
What did happen though is that the English has realised that its nice being licked and has started licking himself - through his skin !
He at one point had FOUR sore legs. All had to be bandaged up. We used an Elizabethan Collar - but need to largest available as he can stretch his legs around to his tongue.
We now have it fairly manageable after three years. He wears bandages on both back legs all the time and its the only answer. It doesn't bother him - although maybe the pink spotty bandage is a bit too much !
So - the licking may not be a problem in your dog - but in certain circumstances it can become a problem. This is really just a 'beware' based on what we have experienced.
well typical most breeds i should imagine, mine licks my hands & feetThanks to all for speedy responses!
-the staffy did have the common staffy problem of excessive licking -trained out of him, for the main part.
I just worried that it was a submissive trait on the staffy's part, with the pup, because it's just her ears, rather than everywhere.
Good to know it's not just our dogs, though! She looks like a drowned rat, half the time, with all the slobber on her head!
-the staffy did have the common staffy problem of excessive licking -trained out of him, for the main part.
I just worried that it was a submissive trait on the staffy's part, with the pup, because it's just her ears, rather than everywhere.
Good to know it's not just our dogs, though! She looks like a drowned rat, half the time, with all the slobber on her head!
Seems to be quite a common behaviour between many dogs but as to why I have no idea!
My friends lab who I used to have when they went on their hols (sadly he is no longer with us
) used to do this to our whippet Jimmy, both neutered males. Jimmy never seemed to mind but his ears would end up soaked and the base of his tail!
So I don't think your doh is being particularly odd just got to keo his obsessive trait.
My friends lab who I used to have when they went on their hols (sadly he is no longer with us
) used to do this to our whippet Jimmy, both neutered males. Jimmy never seemed to mind but his ears would end up soaked and the base of his tail!So I don't think your doh is being particularly odd just got to keo his obsessive trait.
I don't know about the pecking order. I would have said that Benson (the lab) was actually more submissive than Jimmy (yet Jimmy is generally very submissive aswell) only because he would let Jimmy mount him. Jimmy only used to do this when Benson first arrived and Jimmy was excited about having a playmate!! (So maybe Benson was only being submissive initially due to being in another dogs house? Benson never seemed to start licking Jimmys ears until about a day or two into his visit. Benson usually ignored most other dogs in fact I only ever saw him play with Jimmy in all the years I knew and walked him.
I'm sure that has probably just confused things not helped!
I'm sure that has probably just confused things not helped!
Does anyone want two wilful, stubborn, naughty dogs? Free to a good home?! It's either that or I get myself two little furry rugs...
Ella, the pup, is teething in the most horrific way... pools of blood, savaged soft toys lying everywhere, complete with blood patches (I meant to take a photo of one last night - it's a goat, and it looks like it's been savaged - blood stains round the neck, with matching blood patches on Ella's mouth....), mentally running around, biting anything near her, teeth scattered right and left on the carpet...
And for the 20 seconds or so that she's stood still of an evening (thereby just dripping blood, rather than flailing it everywhere), Clyde's on her like a glove, licking, licking, licking, licking, licking, licking, licking...
'cos blood's SO tasty!
She lost two teeth just last night, the poor toothless monster.
Ella, the pup, is teething in the most horrific way... pools of blood, savaged soft toys lying everywhere, complete with blood patches (I meant to take a photo of one last night - it's a goat, and it looks like it's been savaged - blood stains round the neck, with matching blood patches on Ella's mouth....), mentally running around, biting anything near her, teeth scattered right and left on the carpet...
And for the 20 seconds or so that she's stood still of an evening (thereby just dripping blood, rather than flailing it everywhere), Clyde's on her like a glove, licking, licking, licking, licking, licking, licking, licking...
'cos blood's SO tasty!
She lost two teeth just last night, the poor toothless monster.
Dogs lick ears (or any part of the others body) as part of a grooming ritual, as an expression of affection, as part of canine courtship, or simply because many dogs enjoy the taste of ear wax!!
Only problem really you need to look out for is that the lickee doesnt get an ear infection. Moist and slimy surfaces are a perfect environment for an infection. Everytime he goes to lick her ears distract him with food, favourite toy etc and praise him. Or even better, take him straight out for a walk. Some people also suggest putting roll on deodorant on the dogs ears! One lick and he will back off for sure!
With the teething tho, this just takes time. Give her plenty of hard chews to play with, bleeding is totally normal. One of my labs who is 7 years old still bleeds when chewing a bone etc so thats nothing to worry about.
Hope this helps!
Only problem really you need to look out for is that the lickee doesnt get an ear infection. Moist and slimy surfaces are a perfect environment for an infection. Everytime he goes to lick her ears distract him with food, favourite toy etc and praise him. Or even better, take him straight out for a walk. Some people also suggest putting roll on deodorant on the dogs ears! One lick and he will back off for sure!
With the teething tho, this just takes time. Give her plenty of hard chews to play with, bleeding is totally normal. One of my labs who is 7 years old still bleeds when chewing a bone etc so thats nothing to worry about.
Hope this helps!
Thanks MissMarple.
I hadn't considered about the possibility of infection... will keep an eye out for that.
I was just worried in case it was a pecking order thing. Affection is fine!
... she's got lots of chews (she found one of my bras last night...a white one, obviously... that's now a blood-stained write-off
)... going to try the ice-cubes tonight!
I hadn't considered about the possibility of infection... will keep an eye out for that.
I was just worried in case it was a pecking order thing. Affection is fine!
... she's got lots of chews (she found one of my bras last night...a white one, obviously... that's now a blood-stained write-off
)... going to try the ice-cubes tonight! Some of the attraction is the ear wax, dogs love it.....maybe we should get antibiotics in ear wax flavour, could solve some problems (note to self, patent that idea), see what happens to the cotton wool after cleaning a dogs ears...yummy. Some of it is the scratching of an itch you can't reach. However, if it goes on for any length of time, then it does more harm as mentioned previously with the warm moist bacterial culture concept. HTH
We have a licky cat - if you stroke her, she licks you, very determinedly. Strange, affectionate, clingy, wandering-around-the-house-shouting, attention grabbing cat who if necessary will ensure your compliance with being licked by grabbing and holding with pins (and will take swipes at you as you walk past if you ignore her). She doesn't even have the excuse of being an oriental pedigree and hence mental as standard, she's a commmon or garden moggy.
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