Tag Archives: submissive dogs

Why Do Dogs Lick?

This morning, before the alarm went off, I was awakened by Mister Moose licking my feet. He’s big on foot licking. Actually, he’s just big on licking in general. So why do dogs like to lick? It’s a behavior they pick up from birth! The mother dog will lick the puppies clean (partly to get nutrients from the placenta), and the puppies will lick each other. Part of this is grooming, and part of this is bonding. As the puppies are weaned, they may start licking at their mother’s mouth to request food. In the wild, puppies eat regurgitated food … Continue reading →

Omega Dogs

You may have heard about the “alpha dog”, the leader of the pack. But do you know what an omega dog is? Does your dog go belly-up when she meets other dogs? Does your dog piddle when she meets other dogs or people? The omega dog is the low pup on the totem pole. This is the dog who gives up treats and sleeping places to the alpha dog. This is the dog who gives up first at tug-of-war and lets toys be taken right out of her mouth. Your omega dog may not like to make eye contact, or … Continue reading →