My small dog won't stop licking my big dog's elbow. What's wrong?

I’m wondering if the other dogs are intact (not spayed/neutered) as well and if some of this licking is related to hormones. Licking can also be a sign of submission. If the other dogs don’t seem bothered I’d let them sort it out themselves. If the other dogs snap and you’re worried about a fight I think unfortunately the only thing to do is to monitor them closely and continue to call and distract Pickles as you’ve been doing.

It would be hard to say. It is a good idea to bring the affected pup into your vet to rule out any health issues or irritation that could be causing the excessive licking by your other dog, such as urinary infections, inflammation, etc. If your pup checks out healthy, distraction with other toys and treats, placing an Elizabethan (cone) collar on the licker so they can't lick things, and separating if it does happen may help break the habit.

This could be a sign of affection, or that the older dog rolled in something gross and the younger dog likes the taste and wants to lick it off. The younger one could be grooming your older dog, or doing it as a sign of social status.

The dog who is licking that spot is probably doing so because the skin there had a very small lump that smelled different or the skin itself had an infection. Take the dog with the affected spot to your vet to have this area examined. You can also put an E-collar (cone) on the dog who is licking it, to prevent him from being able to do so. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not necessarily uncommon behavior and typically does not have a medical implication. This is sometimes seen as a display of submissive behavior. I recommend you discourage this behavior as much as possible but I would not be concerned about this. Good luck!

It is not sexual, but it is behavioral. This is how they are establishing which will be the dominant, leader of the pack, dog. You do not have to stop some things but I would keep a close watch on the growling and make sure it does not progress to biting or attacking. From there it the behaviors will likely improve as they adjust more

If Zeke is not neutered that could be part of the reason. Intact males are more likely to exhibit this behavior but it is all variable. Even if both males are neutered, it’s possible Zeke smells a female in heat (even some neutered males will react to that) and is changing his behavior towards Zen because of it. Don’t leave them together if there’s a concern for Zen to get hurt. Make sure Zeke gets extra exercise right now. The more tired he is, likely the better his behavior will be. Make sure to correct the unwanted behavior as soon as it happens. Lastly, give Zen a good bath including cleansing his ears (with a pet ear cleanser). This will help to elimate any smells he may have walked through. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.