licking genitals

Basil · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject: licking genitals

I just posted a thread about Basil but as I typed it I realised this was a whole different question I have.

Poor Basil has always been a dog that gets humped. Usually if multiple dogs meet him he has to stand and be inspected for longer than seems comfortable for him.

He has never been a bottom sniffer and never liked the fact that dogs sniff his behind, often looking very worried.

But now I've come to realise a new thing for the poor fella, some dogs meet him and dive straight for licking his genitals (often small dogs) and the poor dog is stood looking horrified and tense.

I've not really noticed this before with any of the dogs we've had- what does it mean? Is it the other dog displaying a dominance signal?
Does it happen to anyone elses dog? Confused

Feebarn · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:49 pm Post subject:

Both of mine do it to each other. Don't really know what the significance is as there is certainly no malice or dominance in it. More a.... oh let me take care of that for you kind of thing? Huds in particular has a particularily drippy willy!!! Laughing

Scubabe · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:06 am Post subject:

Pudding and Ozzie are best buds and they are always licking each others willies Smile

It's certainly not a negative thing for either of them as they have never spoken a cross word. I think it's more of a greeting/bonding thing for them Question

Margaret · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:23 am Post subject:

Yes Tara gets humped a lot,only certain dogs.She is a very placid dog and always greets dogs by going on the ground,so they don't always have a chance to hump.It could be they sense our dogs are easy ,because they are placid i don't know. Smile

Basil · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks Ness, Fee and Margaret.

I would think it's normal between dogs that live together but for Basil it's happening the second a dog runs up and greets.....it's just happened again today with a choccy lab (who also tried to mount), poor boy looks like he daren't move a muscle, ears go back etc so I don't think it's a friendly greet.....or at least he doesn't think so stood there with a dog underneath him in a sensitive place! Confused

I sort of just pulled the other dog out of the way and then they went on to play chase.

Feebarn · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:06 pm Post subject:

I suspect they are just trying to get a good whiff of essence de Basil. Espescially if he is giving off not happy vibes. If they went on to play nicely then I would say there was no malice in it.... perhaps Basil doesn't like it.... but he needs to convey that himself more effectively to stop it happening. Even if that means he has to get grumpy to do so.

Basil · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject:

Yes I think you're right Fee, I think it all stems from his overly submissive greet by licking faces. it's normal for pups to lick bigger dogs chops but not for an adult is it?

So he licks chops and then the other dog takes it as a cue for a full on inspection of his undercarriage which then makes him squirm as it can last a good 20 seconds.

I guess he'll figure it out, though he's obviously sending some iffy signals as I've never seen it before but then in the last month it's happened 4 or 5 times Confused

Feebarn · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject:

Sounds like he needs a wee boost to his social skills, bless his cotton socks. Are there any classes nearby you could go to? Particularily with a lot of younger dogs?

Basil · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:25 pm Post subject:

We go to gundog training and agility already Confused

He's always been a face licker rather than a bottom sniffer Laughing

If he doesnt face lick he'll usually turn his head submissively before approaching....unless of course the other dog is already in play mood then he'll just kick off with chase!

We see lots of dogs (typically a dozen or so a day) but walk in different parks at different times so rarely the same ones and he's fine. But then every now and then one will do this to him, it's nearly always an intact male.
I know your dogs do this to each other but would they ever greet a dog in this manner? Isn't it a bit of a full-on greeting? Confused

Topseyt · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject:

It is a bit of a full-on sort of greeting, and one I have to try and watch Charlie for. He is known to do it to other dogs, and he can be a full-on sort of character too.

It is natural in one way because dogs give out quite a bit of information about themselves via the scent from their rear ends and genitals. As far as I can see some dogs don't seem to mind having it done, and others might do.

Charlie is an awkward customer. He likes to do it to other dogs but does not like it being done to him. Rolling Eyes

We were out with some friends today whose dalmatian pup (12 weeks old) was licking Charlie's willy. Charlie had enough of that and gave the pup a very vociferous warning. Shocked

Running around in a field down the road for a short time they got on fine, and again back in our garden. It was just when they came in and willy-licking started. Shocked

I think with Charlie it is a dominance issue tbh, as that is the type of dog he is.

Helen.