Dogs usually lick other dogs’ ears as a mix of grooming , affection, communication, and sometimes as a response to health issues like ear infections. It’s often normal and even bonding, but obsessive licking or signs of discomfort are a reason to call your vet.

Why Do Dogs Lick Other Dogs’ Ears? (Quick Scoop)

1. The Main Reasons (In Plain Language)

Dogs have a whole social world built on body language, scent, and small rituals, and ear-licking is one of those rituals.

Common reasons include:

  • Grooming and hygiene (helping clean hard‑to‑reach ears).
  • Affection and bonding between buddies or housemates.
  • Submission or respect toward a more confident dog.
  • Self-soothing when they’re anxious or stressed.
  • Boredom or habit when they don’t have enough to do.
  • Attraction to taste/smell of earwax or discharge.
  • Noticing (or even causing) an ear problem or infection.

Think of it like a doggy combo of “I love you,” “you’re the boss,” and “your ears smell interesting today.”

2. Mini Breakdown: What Each Motive Looks Like

2.1 Grooming & Affection

In many cases, ear licking is basically canine spa service.

Signs it’s about grooming/affection:

  • Dogs are relaxed, loose body, soft eyes, wagging tails.
  • They live together or are friendly playmates.
  • Licking is occasional, not frantic or nonstop.

In the wild and in social groups, dogs often groom each other’s faces and ears to keep clean and strengthen social bonds, and pet dogs carry that instinct into the living room.

2.2 Social Hierarchy & “You’re in Charge”

Sometimes the licking dog is actually saying, “You’re the boss, and I’m cool with that.”

Likely signs:

  • The licking dog lowers their head, ears back, body slightly crouched.
  • The other dog stands tall, looks confident, and doesn’t lick back as much.

This falls under submissive or appeasing behavior, a way to avoid conflict and keep the peace in the group.

2.3 Self-Soothing & Anxiety

Licking can release calming brain chemicals for dogs, so some use it to cope with stress.

Clues it may be anxiety/self‑soothing:

  • The licking ramps up when you leave, when there are loud noises, or during changes at home.
  • The dog also licks paws, furniture, or themselves a lot.

In these cases, it’s less about the ear and more about the repetitive motion making the dog feel safer.

2.4 Boredom & Habit

If a dog is under‑stimulated, they’ll invent hobbies—ear licking can become one of them.

You might see:

  • A dog that doesn’t get much exercise or mental play.
  • Licking mostly when nothing else is going on.

Over time, this can become a habit loop: bored → lick → feels mildly rewarding → repeat.

3. When It’s Cute… and When It’s Not

Moderate ear licking between friendly dogs is usually harmless. But there are clear times when you should step in.

3.1 Normal / Usually Okay

  • Short, occasional licking sessions.
  • Both dogs seem comfortable and calm.
  • No redness, swelling, or foul smell from the ears.

In these situations, the behavior can help with light cleaning and bonding.

3.2 Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Watch for:

  • Constant or obsessive licking that’s hard to interrupt.
  • One dog trying to pull away or looking annoyed, tense, or yelping.
  • Red, inflamed skin, head shaking, scratching at the ear, or a bad odor.
  • Brown/yellow discharge, scabs, or the ear feeling warm.

These can be signs of:

  • Ear infection (bacteria or yeast).
  • Ear mites or another parasite.
  • Allergies or irritation.

Excessive licking can actually make an ear infection worse or even trigger one, because moisture and saliva create a great environment for microbes in the ear.

If you see these red flags, it’s time to call your vet for a proper ear exam.

4. Simple Safety Checklist For Owners

Here’s a quick way to think through what to do if you’re watching this behavior at home.

  1. Observe the vibe
    • Are both dogs relaxed and happy?
    • Is it brief and casual rather than intense or frantic?
  2. Inspect the ears
    • Look for redness, gunk, any bad smell, or flinching when touched.
    • Check both dogs; sometimes the “licker” is reacting to something you can’t see yet.
  3. Set limits if needed
    • Gently interrupt if the licking goes on more than a few seconds at a time, several times a day.
    • Redirect to toys, training games, or a chew.
  4. Boost enrichment
    • Add walks, sniffy outings, puzzle toys, or short training sessions to reduce boredom and stress.
  5. Call your vet if:
    • The ear looks or smells off.
    • The licking is obsessive or suddenly much more frequent.
    • The dog appears in pain, shakes their head, or scratches their ear.

5. Different Motives, Side by Side

Here’s a quick table of what might be going on and what you can do:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Likely Reason</th>
      <th>What It Looks Like</th>
      <th>Is It Normal?</th>
      <th>What You Can Do</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Grooming & bonding</td>
      <td>Relaxed dogs, short licking sessions, mutual comfort[web:1][web:3][web:5][web:7][web:9]</td>
      <td>Usually yes</td>
      <td>Let them interact, just keep an eye on ear health[web:1][web:3][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Social submission</td>
      <td>One dog licks while staying lower or more deferential[web:1][web:3][web:4][web:9]</td>
      <td>Usually yes</td>
      <td>Monitor to ensure no bullying and both dogs seem comfortable[web:4][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Self-soothing / anxiety</td>
      <td>Repetitive licking, especially during stress or when owner is away[web:1][web:3][web:8]</td>
      <td>Can be a concern</td>
      <td>Address stress, add enrichment; ask vet or trainer if it continues[web:1][web:3][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Boredom / habit</td>
      <td>Licking mostly when nothing else is going on, low stimulation[web:3][web:8]</td>
      <td>Needs management</td>
      <td>Increase exercise, mental games, and structured activities[web:3][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Ear infection or irritation</td>
      <td>Redness, smell, discharge, head shaking, dog resists touch[web:3][web:7]</td>
      <td>No</td>
      <td>Stop the licking and see your vet for ear treatment[web:1][web:3][web:7][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

6. “Trending Topic” Angle & Forum Vibes

People talk about this a lot online, especially in pet forums and comment sections, because the behavior is so noticeable and kind of weirdly endearing.

You’ll often see posts like:

“My younger dog is obsessed with licking my older dog’s ears—should I be worried or is this just gross dog love?”

The usual community replies line up with what behavior experts and pet health sites say today:

  • It’s common and mostly normal.
  • It can be a sign of a close bond.
  • But you should always watch for ear problems and stop it if it gets excessive.

That mix of “aww” and “eww, stop that” is exactly why “why do dogs lick other dogs ears” keeps popping up as a small but steady trending topic in pet spaces.

7. Quick TL;DR

  • Dogs lick other dogs’ ears to groom, bond, communicate, and sometimes to soothe themselves.
  • Occasional, relaxed licking is usually fine.
  • Constant licking, bad smells, redness, or discomfort mean it’s time to step in and call your vet.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.