Dear Lickety: The licking of ears and face is a form of communication that goes back to the dogs’ ancestors, the wolves. Wolves needed a method of clear communication that was easily understood and obeyed each time. It was based on their different senses and because it worked every time, it ensured the survival of the pack. No mixed messages from anybody.

Licking for most dogs begins with their mother cleaning them and stimulating certain body functions. But as pups grow, their littermates join in the licking fun. They help each other out with cleaning out-of-the-way places like ears, back and faces. It is an act of friendly cooperation. I imagine your younger pup, still very much in the adolescent phase, is licking your ears and face as a sign that she is trying to be friendly.

On the other hand, she might be licking to gain food. In the wild, mama wolves regurgitated digested food for their puppies. Puppy licking of the face and lips would trigger mama to give it up. But in the modern day domestic dog this reflex is very slight, which is a good thing. Pups in an attempt to quell their hunger might try to elicit some food from you through ear or face licking.

As the puppy matures, licking the face of an adult dog or human could be a sign of respect to the dominant head of the pack, which hopefully is you. A submissive lick lets you know that your dog accepts your leadership role as well as that of the older male. This may also be why your pup licks the older dog in the ears and on the face. Her velocity of licking should calm down slightly with age as a permanent pack order is established and followed.

Keeping Ears Clean

Sometimes the licking isn’t as a result of communication at all. Perhaps the pup is sensing something wrong with the older dog’s ear, such as an infection. The best way to keep ahead of any problems is to do a routine check of your dogs’ ears. Look for red, smelly or swollen ears, discharge, a shaking head or scratching the ear with a rear paw.

To prevent infections before they start, especially with those flopped-eared breeds, use a solution from your vet or groomer for regular cleanings and put cotton in their ears before baths or swimming to keep the inside dry. A moist ear is more prone to infections.

Lisa’s Pick of the Litter

I just received a review copy of The Dog Lover’s Companion to New England: The Inside Scoop on Where to Take Your Dog by Joanna Downey and Christian J. Lau (Avalon Travel, 2004). In the Connecticut section, Newtown and Southbury has its own little slice of doggie heaven listed.

Southbury Dog Park – Twelve acres off Route 67 on the Pomperaug River. Ideal for off-leash romping and with 1,000 feet of river frontage it’s ideal for swimming.

Southford Falls State Park – A great hiking location for dogs on-leash in this 120-acre setting on State Route 188 near the Eight Mile River in Southbury.

Kettletown State Park – Another on-leash park where dogs can walk miles of trails and view the Stevenson Dam. It is located on George’s Hill Road in Southbury.

Paugussett State Forest – (Isn’t that where the bear lives?) on Great Quarter Road, Newtown. Recommendations include the Lillinoah Hiking Trial in the upper forest and the Zoar Trail in the lower forest.

McLaughlin Vineyards – Called “delightfully dog-friendly” as dogs may hike and picnic with you at the vineyard while you sample their wines. Nestled on Albert’s Hill Road, Newtown.

Newtown General Store – This Main Street landmark is listed as a dog-friendly place to eat. According to the authors, “Judging by the crowd that gathers for morning coffee, Newtown is still an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of place.”

I would say so, especially if you have a dog to walk!  To order the book, visit their website at www.dogloverscompanion.com. For more information on state parks and forests visit http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/parks/ and visit www.mclaughlinvineyards.com for the vineyard.

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Ask Lisa questions at ask@lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.