Why Exactly Do Dogs Lick One Another?

Which dog has the cleanest ears? That's the one in charge!

The real reason why dogs lick each other is because that's how they communicate. It's social bonding at its finest.

It's a sign of friendship. It's one dog's way of letting another know that they are accepted as part of the pack.

Showing affection is the main reason, but there are also two other reasons. One is that dogs can't lick/clean their own ears, so they need a friend to do it.

Licking can also be a sign of submission.

If you find that only one of your dogs does all of the licking, this is their way of accepting their role in the pack; meaning the recipient (aka the one with the clean ears) is in control and the licker is okay with that.

I bet if human adults in relationships could communicate like this instead of opening their mouths and saying the wrong things....there would be a lot more great relationships, lol!