Understanding canine behavior is essential for establishing harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships with our four-legged companions. One of the behaviors that we frequently observe in dogs is the licking of the chops of their fellows. Why do they do it? The answer is based primarily on dogs' social and communicative instincts, although the exact motivations may vary from individual to individual.

Instinctive Roots

In dogs, licking their lips is an instinctive behavior that has its roots in their first interactions with their mothers after birth. In fact, puppies lick their mother's lips to stimulate the regurgitation of food, allowing them to feed themselves. As they grow, this behavior tends to disappear, but it can sometimes persist into adulthood, especially when they seek to express affection or attachment to another dog or human.

Non-verbal communication

Dogs, like many other animals, use non-verbal signals to communicate with each other. Licking your lips is one of them.

A dog may lick the lips of another dog to send specific messages. For example, to avoid a showdown. It's a way of saying, “I'm not a threat to you.” This is often the case when a smaller or younger dog licks the lips of a larger or older dog.

In some cases, licking your lips can also be a sign of stress or anxiety. If a dog feels uncomfortable or threatened, He may lick the lips of another dog in order to ease the situation and to defuse any potential for conflict.

Licking lips in dogs is a complex behavior that can have a variety of motivations, ranging from simple affection to more complex forms of nonverbal communication. Understanding these motivations can help us better understand our canine companions and respond more effectively to their emotional and social needs.