My three will lie in a big pile and groom eachother for a half hour...lol.
I also think its totally cute. They dont have the ability to wash themselves like we do so this is how they clean themselves...you cannot keep them from doing this because its just what dogs do.
The problem is that we take our human emotions put it on the dogs...fact is that what we consider inapropriate behaviors is totally normal in the animal word. Not only does this help keep them clean but it is a way for animals to bond (foxy stole my fire...lol) You are basically telling your dog its wrong to clean themselves and you are punishing them for totally normal dog behaviors. How would u like it if someone took away your toilet paper and told you that you werent allowed to clean urself after you go potty or clean ur ears if you get some wax in it. Better yet, how would u like to be punished for trying to clean urself after u use the bathroom or take a shower. Dogs licking themselves is just like us taking a shower....a shower is the human way and licking is a dogs way....doesnt matter how gross u think it is...its normal.
I totally agree with foxy...I use to work for an animal behavorist and this is a very normal, very healthy thing your dogs are doing and it is very wrong for you to try to stop them. Dogs are in a constant state of establishing a pack order and this is one of the ways to do so. The less dominant ones will groom the dominant ones and so on...it establishes who is in charge, it also serves as a bonding experience....my oldest chi Tequila is the alpha, but she will still groom Ginger and Kylie because they are part of her pack. All three of them will try to groom me as well...lol. I will be sitting on the chair and Tequila will try to lick my ears, Ginger and Kylie try to lick my feet. I dont allow them to do this often because it tickles me but the reason the do this is not because they are showing effection...they are just letting me know that they see me as the alpha and this is a way to show their submissivness.
Again, please stop punishing your dogs for cleaning themselves. Its cruel.
I also think its totally cute. They dont have the ability to wash themselves like we do so this is how they clean themselves...you cannot keep them from doing this because its just what dogs do.
The problem is that we take our human emotions put it on the dogs...fact is that what we consider inapropriate behaviors is totally normal in the animal word. Not only does this help keep them clean but it is a way for animals to bond (foxy stole my fire...lol) You are basically telling your dog its wrong to clean themselves and you are punishing them for totally normal dog behaviors. How would u like it if someone took away your toilet paper and told you that you werent allowed to clean urself after you go potty or clean ur ears if you get some wax in it. Better yet, how would u like to be punished for trying to clean urself after u use the bathroom or take a shower. Dogs licking themselves is just like us taking a shower....a shower is the human way and licking is a dogs way....doesnt matter how gross u think it is...its normal.
I totally agree with foxy...I use to work for an animal behavorist and this is a very normal, very healthy thing your dogs are doing and it is very wrong for you to try to stop them. Dogs are in a constant state of establishing a pack order and this is one of the ways to do so. The less dominant ones will groom the dominant ones and so on...it establishes who is in charge, it also serves as a bonding experience....my oldest chi Tequila is the alpha, but she will still groom Ginger and Kylie because they are part of her pack. All three of them will try to groom me as well...lol. I will be sitting on the chair and Tequila will try to lick my ears, Ginger and Kylie try to lick my feet. I dont allow them to do this often because it tickles me but the reason the do this is not because they are showing effection...they are just letting me know that they see me as the alpha and this is a way to show their submissivness.
Again, please stop punishing your dogs for cleaning themselves. Its cruel.
