What does this mean in dog (pack) language?

[redhen]

If you ever watch a show on wolfs.. you will see them licking the alphas lips and even making little whiny noises to them......

 

[redhen]

Gritty.. even though you are their alpha.. they still will have a pack order type thing...
The order is sometimes very obvious.. and other times you cant even really tell which one is the more submissive one... the signals are so slight to us humans.
But trust me... THEY know..

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I don't think this behavior between the two dogs has anything to do with submissiveness. The submissive greeting ritual done by dogs greeting an alpha isn't what this is.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
it could just be..
Yum.. yo have left over treats stuck to your lips...

ETA: i always listen to Jamie..she really knows her stuff! *

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

LOL thanks Wendy. It could be a lot of things, but I just think its a grooming thing. They both enjoy it a lot

 

[Tala]

I read somewhere.......prolly should try to find it again.
Anyway, the gist of it was that the most confusing body language thing to a pack of wolves was if their leader did NOT allow them to lick his face.

I don't give my dogs tons of attention and dote on them with "kisses"
but for some reason when I go in the bathroom my Lab mix always comes up to me and licks my lips when I'm sitting down, then usually just walks back out of the room. I let him do it, coz I think he's treating me as his leader.

Dusti the Chow mix (more stubborn and dominent, though not bad) only licks at my face whenever I'm doing something that would be "imposing" body language. She's quick to go "submissive" but only if you enforce your rule. She does make you work for your position

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
LOL I don't kiss my dogs, though i know DH sometimes does. Jax is very submissive, but more towards my DH than me. He just recently grew out of peeing when he greets DH home. He'll still pee is DH raises his voice a certain way. Come to think of it, when DH uses that tone, it makes me want to pee.

They're not allowed in the bathroom, at all. Kane sometimes pushes that rule by laying down right outside the bathroom door (like he was taught) but putting one foot over the line. He still refuses to "speak" though DH has been trying to teach him that for quite awhile now. Jax speaks almost before you can ask him to. Kane would rather use his smarts to find another way to get the treat.
Challenging, but so much fun.

 

[Mrs. Green Thumbs]

It's the same as when they lick your mouth! Pups in the wild gained most of their protein through their parent's. The pups would run up to the pack after they had returned from a hunt and lick the sides/corners of their mouth's this would cause the adult pack members to vomit and the pups would eat. It's a sign of submission/affection like "Hey I know your above me but I love love love you!!!"

 

[TwistedSerpent]

Often between pack members submission is a mutual thing, in play one will often submit to the other then later on the other one will get on its back. Licking lips isnt a total flat out submission but it is a submissive act, however depending on the body language often only dogs notice tells just exactly is ment by it, whether its an "I'm sorry please forgive me" lick or "lets be friends and play" lick. Dogs arent always going to treat alphas the same way they do others closer to their ranking. Slight differences to the meaning behind the lick that body language and energy make clear. Maybe a better way of putting it isnt so much being submissive but telling the other dog theyre not a threat and want to be on good terms. In this situation its not so much saying I submit, but that I'm here to be a friend and respect your place in the pack.