Why Does My Dog Lick Other Dogs Privates? (Simple Dog Behavior Explained!)

Okay, so the other day, I was at the dog park, just chilling and watching my dog, Buster, do his thing. He's usually pretty chill, you know, sniffing around, playing fetch. But then this new dog showed up, and Buster went straight for its, um, backside and started licking. It was... awkward.

I've seen him do this before, a quick sniff and lick, but this was a bit more, shall we say, enthusiastic. It got me thinking, "Why does he DO that?" I mean, it's gotta be more than just saying "hello," right?

My Deep Dive into Dog Butt Licking

So, I did what any concerned (and slightly embarrassed) dog owner would do: I hit the internet. My First action is find some usefull imformation and data on Internet. I spent hours, went through many websites, articles and datas.I've try to filtered and summarized *’s what I found from many data:

• It's all about the scent. Apparently, dogs have these things called anal glands. And I learned these glands secrete all sorts of smelly information. It's like a doggy Facebook profile, telling other dogs about their age, sex, health, even their mood. A quick lick can read all message above.
• It's a communication thing. Dogs learn about each other through smells, and those private areas are packed with *'s like they're downloading data with every *'s not just random.
• Sometimes, it's a dominance thing.. A more submissive dog might lick a more dominant dog as a way of saying, "Hey, I respect you, you're the boss." . I'm not sure if that's what Buster was doing, but it's possible.
• It might be a medical issue. I also read that excessive licking could be a sign of impacted anal glands or some other infection. That freaked me out a bit.

What I Did Next

First, I observed and record Buster's actions at home and Park for next several days. I kept a close eye on Buster for the next few days. I watched how he interacted with other dogs, and how often he engaged in the, ahem, behavior. I also checked his own backside for any signs of redness or swelling, just in case.

Thankfully, everything seemed normal. He wasn't licking excessively, and he didn't seem to be in any discomfort. Phew!

Then, just to be extra sure, I called my vet. I explained what I'd observed and what I'd read online. She reassured me that some licking is normal, but she also said it's always a good idea to rule out any medical problems. So, I booked an appointment for a check-up.

At the vet's, Buster got a clean bill of health. The vet said his anal glands were fine, and there were no signs of infection. She basically confirmed what I'd read online – it's usually just a normal dog thing.

My Takeaway

So, while it might be a little gross to us humans, dogs licking other dogs' privates is usually just their way of communicating and gathering information. It's like their version of a handshake and a quick chat. Of course, if it seems excessive or if there are any other signs of a problem, it's always best to check with a vet. Now, I can go back to the dog park a little less mortified and a little more informed.