hi, have got a jackrussell  dog 2 years old ,lovely nature, nuetered and have just rehomed a 14 year old parsons dog nuetered.this dog came to us not from kennels but from  loving home whos circumstances have sadly changed. they have been getting on well except for the fact that the older dog has just started to exsessivley licking the  younger one. can anypne throw any light on this . many thanks terri

Hi Teri, it strenghtens their bond together it's like you scratch my back and i scratch yours.

Warm regards Susan

I would be interested to know why they do it and in my household it seems to be more of a case of pack heirarchy.  The top dog licks poor pup until he has no fur left given half a chance.  I have to physically stop them, especially if there are any scratches, sores or bumps.  It certainly isn't reciprocal - nobody licks the boss!

Oh thats interesting, my 4yr old flattie often licks my old goldie round the face and ears. Mind you she is a licky dog anyway :D

my bullie pup does this to my rottie who is 4, the bullie sometimes is inside my rotties mouth licking and we say to him are you sure you are far enough down his throat, when the rottie has had enough he grumbles and walks off, and the pup is quite happy, but my border collie is a terrible licker, he took the hair off our other border collies ear when they where left together , it gradually came off over a few weeks , the other collies ears where always wet and we thought it was because of playing then we caught the older collie lick lick lick, and we have to actually step in and stop him as he seems not to know when to switch off the licking.
Carol

My Harry licks his brother's ears and teeth. For as long as he can. It's a method of bonding.

Jack will lick Harry's teeth and muzzle for ages and ages - good thing Harry loves it!!!

Partially it's bonding, partially it's hierarchical. Usually seen with the subservient dog excessively licking the dominant dog, mimicking puppy behaviour.

Interesting because it's the other way round in our house. Dominant dog definitely does the licking!