Now that Al is down in Lowestoft and it's just me, home alone, with three dogs I think that there is some shaking down of the pack order below me going on.

One of the dogs has started compulsively licking one of the others, last night from head to tail, the lickee was soaked. Is this one of them trying to dominate the other? If so, is the licker the higher placed dog in the pack?

And is there anything I can do to stop it, other than separating them? The slurping sound is doing my head in! :p

It wouldn't be Loki that's doing the slobbering would it????? :D

Fiona
x x x

You haven’t got the makings of a skin problem coming up have you 9th? The only time I had anything similar was immediately before the "Lickee" developed eczema! Cause or effect? Don't know but it stopped when the eczema cleared up!

Regards, John

Could be I suppose. Last night, Carrie was nuts and prancing about like a thoroughbred on oats. She and Loki kept having play fights. When that stopped, Carrie just kept licking and licking Loki, who lay there with a long suffering look on her face. It started again this morning.

I'll keep an eye on her skin. But to be honest I am wondering if it is related to the fact that yesterday was the first day the three of us were completely alone together and if Carrie is trying to enforce a place as pack no. 2 ?

Isn't Carrie Al's dog? Maybe she's feeling a little stressed because he's gone? My parent spreveious Cocker was my dads dog and whenever my dad was away overnight she'd lick her feet obsessively until he returned.

Bess never licked anyone else but she licked her feet raw one weekend when Dad was away.

Fiona
x x x

For some wierd reason, I'll hear the slurpy sound, look down and here is Chienne giving Samma a complete face wash. She'll stop when I tell her to, but after several moments will begin again. It has nothing to do with what they ate for dinner either It happens about two times in a week, then it stops for months and then starts up again. Chienne is subordinate to Samma. I don't think Samma ever "washes" Chienne. Purely onesided and it's when everything is quiet and still.

Perhaps it's soothing and also the equivalent of Apes/monkeys grooming? The subordinate primate always cleans the higher up. It's an acknowledgement of rank, but also a relaxation techique.

When my lot have been for a wet walk, they have a licking session in the boot - apart from Holly, no one licks Holly and she doesn't lick the others. Goldy (eldest) will lick Lucky (middle) and Lucky will lick Harvey (pup) - Harvey won't lick anyone. He just sits there looking a bit puzzled.

Also, if Lucky has been off working and I bring the dogs into the house, Lucky will start licking Harvey.

Helen

I asked the clumber list about eczema (not that I'm a panicky owner or anything ). And they also said that a subordinate dog will lick the Alpha dog, which tallies in with something I once read about Alpha dogs having clean ears, because the other dogs lick them.

Hey, hey. That means the towel hound is in charge :D

You've only just worked that out Kate :D LOL :D

Fiona
x x x