Why is my dog constantly licking my other dog until it's wet?

I would approach this two ways. One, get the dog who is getting licked checked by your vet, to see if there is something going on in that area that needs medical attention. Dogs are very sensitive to changes in scent and have been known to detect signs of illness in other animals and people long before any other symptoms emerge. Secondly, to keep the dog from licking to other, you can apply a product called Bitter Apple to the dog getting licked. This product is extremely bitter (wash your hands well after application or you may inadvertently touch them to your face or mouth and find out exactly why it works well in deterring licking, yuck!) and is meant to help protect bandages and furniture from chewing, but I have used it for a similar purpose as yours.

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.

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.

Hello, sorry to hear about your pup. These compulsive behaviors can be associated with stress and anxiety. Occasionally, anti-anxiety medications may be beneficial for your pup so that he does not lick. Alternatively, redirecting the behavior to something he also likes doing (ie playing with a favorite toy, going for a walk, etc.) would help gradually decrease and resolve the behavior. These types of behaviors may be difficult to resolve and could take in addition to medications behavioral classes. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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!

Some dogs are just really enthusiastic about licking. Sometimes it can be caused by their bodies being itchy. I would have Mocha examined by a vet first to determine if there is a cause for itch. Then the vet can discuss itch treatments or behavior modification to help with the social licking.

If the little dog is not neutered, it’s likely related to that. Sometimes male dogs will exhibit this behavior other male dogs. It’s unclear why they exhibit that behavior. Sometimes it can also be a sign of anxiety and the small dog is using the large dog as a comfort blanket. You must read the rest of the body language to know what he is saying. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.