Dog Behavior: Why Do Dogs Lick Each Other After Fighting? The Answer Might Surprise You!
Okay, so, the other day, I was watching my two dogs, Max and Bella. They’re usually the best of friends, you know, always cuddling and playing together. But this time, they got into a bit of a spat. It wasn’t anything serious, just some growling and snapping over a toy.
Now, here’s the interesting part. After they’d calmed down and the toy was forgotten, they started licking each other. I mean, like, really going at it, licking each other’s faces and ears. It got me thinking, “Why do they do that after a fight?”
My Curious Observation
- First step: I grabbed my phone and started searching the web. You know, just a simple search like, “why do dogs lick each other after fighting?”
- Next: I found a bunch of articles and forum posts. Seemed like a lot of other dog owners had noticed the same thing with their pups.
- After that: I started skimming through the information. There were a few different ideas out there. Some folks said it was a way of apologizing or making up. Others mentioned it could be about checking for injuries or calming each other down.
Diving Deeper
To get a better handle on this, I spent a good chunk of my afternoon reading more carefully. I even watched a few videos of dogs interacting after fights. And I have to say, it’s pretty fascinating!
What I Found
- One theory: Dogs lick each other to show submission or appeasement. Like, “Hey, I’m sorry, let’s be friends again.”
- Another idea: Licking can release endorphins, those feel-good chemicals. So, it might help them relax after a stressful situation.
- Also: Dogs have a super sensitive sense of smell. Licking might be a way for them to gather information about the other dog’s emotional state or any injuries.
I started paying even closer attention to Max and Bella’s interactions. And sure enough, whenever they had a little disagreement, they’d follow it up with some intense licking. It seemed to help them reconnect and move on from the conflict.
So, after all this, I’m not a dog expert or anything, but it seems like this licking thing is a normal part of how dogs communicate. It’s their way of sorting things out and maintaining their bond. Pretty cool, right?
