Lip licking behaviour in dogs?

Kellys Heroes

Kellys Heroes

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Is it a submissive behaviour or just a habit? Our Roxy will go to Misty when she's asleep, lay on her back (as she does) and lie down and lick her lips over and over again. Misty will tell her off when she's had enough.

They are the only 2 dogs in the household, Misty is 10 and Roxy is 2.
Any ideas?!
K x
 
I take it Roxy goes up to Misty and licks her lips? Roxy doesn't just lie next to her and lick her own lips?

If a dog goes up to another dog and licks around their mouth, it is generally a type of submissive behaviour as that is what a pup would do when greeting its mum.

General lip smacking on the other hand is a stress signal but usually seen with other signs of stress, like panting, stress lines or yawning.

Sounds like submissive behaviour to me :)
 
Yes CF she goes up to Misty and licks Misty's lips :)
if it is submissive behaviour, that suits us fine as we have always worried about Misty 'having her nose pushed out' as such since we introduced Roxy. Must say though Roxy has always been very good, she's always listened to Misty and never challenged her seriously.
K x
 
Both of our two rescues have always licked their lips in a very submissive way as they both lack confidence. But, our older choc lab, we took her for her yearly check up and discovered she had an abcess and infected tooth/gum. The lip licking would have been a sign - but we didn't pick up on it as its something she has always done (and she was eating fine, showed no other symptoms).
 
It could be submissive and it could also be begging the licked bitch to regurgitate food!:D

Owners do not usually realise that their dogs lick their faces because they are begging (like a puppy would it's mother) for them to vomit a meal for them!:D:D:D

Enjoy your dogs!:)
 
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