Resident dog is "grooming" the new dog -- problem ?

[hippiechick]

HippieDog Hank has decided that he likes to smell and sometimes lick Ray the Beagle's ears (on the outside).

Call me neurotic but is this a sign of 'acceptance' or 'nurturing' (they're both +5 years old but Ray's only been with us for 2 months),
or is it some kind of aggression/submission thing, or is Hank just coming out of the closet ?

Here's Hank:



... and here's Ray:




Thanks !

[radfringe]

1. it's acceptance

if it were some sign of aggression or dominance thing - you would have seen nipping,snapping, barking and growling long before now

[ET Awful]

2. I think it's acceptance, and might I add . . .

AWWWWWWW. Such wonderful faces on those two.

Hanks a cool dog (with a name like HippieDog how can he not be cool?)

That, and I've always been a sucker for beagles, Ray has that classic beagle face that just demands adoration :).

[ernstbass]

3. I love the pics

They are beauties!! I love hounds. I think Hippiedog is nurturing Ray

[Sanity Claws]

4. It's love, brotherly love

Animals living together often groom each other. My two cats groom each other. I have a friend whose cat and dog groom each other.

[hippiechick]

5. Thanks everyone !

I feel better .... I was worried because Hank has had me all to himself his whole life, and he's alot more passive than Ray ... and I thought maybe Ray was intimidating him a little bit: "I'm the new kid on the block, bow to my wishes" ... but it sounds as if this is regular ole' dog behavior.


:)

[NMDemDist2]

6. my dogs groom each other all the time and they are all bestest pals

it's a "pack acceptance" thing I bet

[IndyOp]

7. Happy dogs! My Golden and Lab lick each others' ears

Frankly, my experience of this brotherly love is "Ick - don't rub up against me with those slobbery heads."

They look like they are in a state of bliss after a good 'ol mutual ear licking session.

:)