Is ear licking normal behavior between dogs?

Yes. Ear licking is a common social behavior among dogs and often indicates affection, trust, or mutual grooming. It is part of how dogs communicate and maintain social bonds.

How does grooming explain why dogs lick each others ears?

Grooming is a practical reason: some dogs cannot reach certain spots, especially inside the ear, so other dogs help by licking away dirt, wax, or debris to keep each other clean.

Can ear licking be a sign of submission or respect?

Yes. In multi-dog households or packs, one dog may lick another's ears to show submission or respect to a more dominant dog. It acts as a non-verbal signal that helps maintain social harmony.

When should I worry about dogs licking each others ears?

You should be concerned if ear licking becomes excessive, if there is a bad smell, redness, swelling, discharge, or if one dog constantly focuses on another's ears. These may indicate infections, mites, or other medical problems and warrant a vet visit.

What should I do if ear licking leads to problems?

Keep your dogs' ears clean, monitor interactions, schedule regular veterinary check-ups, and if you notice signs of infection or obsessive licking, consult your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

Why Do Dogs Lick Each Other’s Ears?

Sandro
April 23, 2026

You watch your dogs play, and suddenly one is licking the other’s ear. You wonder: is this normal? Should I be concerned? Is there something wrong with that dog’s ear?

The answer is usually straightforward: it’s a natural behavior with several different reasons behind it.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Ear licking is normal pack behavior — dogs use it to bond, greet, show affection, and communicate social hierarchy
Grooming is a legitimate reason — dogs can’t reach their own ears, so they help each other keep them clean
It signals submission and respect — the lower-ranking dog typically licks the higher-ranking dog’s ears as a sign of deference
Sometimes it indicates a health issue — if a dog suddenly starts excessively licking one dog’s ears, that dog might have an infection
Excessive licking can cause problems — repetitive licking irritates skin and can lead to actual infections, so monitor the behavior

Why Dogs Lick Each Other’s Ears: The Main Reasons

Reason	Behavior	What It Means	Is It Concerning?
Social Bonding	Gentle, occasional licking	“You’re part of my pack” — affection and connection	No, unless excessive
Grooming	Focused licking, especially inner ear	Helping clean an area the other dog can’t reach	No, this is helpful
Submission/Hierarchy	Lower-ranking dog licks higher-ranking dog	Acknowledging pack order and respect	No, this is natural
Taste Preference	Repeated, focused licking	Dog likes the taste of ear wax (salty flavor)	Potentially — can become obsessive
Curiosity/Exploration	Quick sniffs and licks	Gathering information about the other dog	No, just investigation
Stress/Anxiety Relief	Repetitive licking	Dog is self-soothing through licking behavior	Yes — indicates anxiety
Infection Detection	Sudden focused licking of one dog’s ears	The other dog can smell an ear infection	Yes — get the dog checked

The Real Reasons Behind Ear Licking

Social Bonding and Pack Behavior

Dogs are pack animals. They’ve been for thousands of years, genetically speaking. Even domesticated dogs still carry those pack instincts.

In a pack, licking is a form of communication and bonding. When one dog licks another, they’re saying, “You’re part of my group. I recognize you. I care about you.” It’s like a dog’s version of a handshake or hug — it’s how they reaffirm social bonds.

Puppies learn this behavior early. Mother dogs lick their puppies to groom and show affection. Puppies watch this and continue the behavior with littermates, then with other dogs as adults. It becomes part of their social vocabulary.

Grooming: The Practical Reason

Here’s the thing: dogs can’t reach their own ears. They can scratch at them with a back leg, but they can’t effectively groom the inner ear area.

Enter another dog. When one dog licks another’s ears, they’re providing a service — keeping that area clean, removing dirt, debris, and earwax buildup. It’s practical grooming, similar to how primates groom each other by picking through fur to remove parasites and dirt.

This is especially true in multi-dog households where dogs are bonded. They’ll engage in mutual grooming naturally, including ear licking. If both dogs seem comfortable with it and it’s not obsessive, this is healthy behavior.

Submission and Hierarchy

In any dog group (whether it’s two dogs or a pack), there’s a hierarchy. Someone’s the boss. Someone’s not.

A dog typically shows submission by licking the ears of the higher-ranking dog. You can usually tell which is which by watching body language:

The submissive dog keeps their tail down, ears back, and gives a “soft” expression
They approach the dominant dog respectfully
The dominant dog usually accepts the licking calmly

This behavior helps maintain pack order without fighting. It’s a peaceful way of saying, “I recognize you’re in charge. I respect that.”

The Taste Factor

Here’s the reality: ear wax smells and tastes distinctive to dogs. It’s salty. It’s got a strong scent. And some dogs are genuinely attracted to it.

Dogs experience the world through their noses first, then their mouths. The ear area offers interesting chemical information that a dog’s incredibly sensitive nose finds appealing.

If your dog is frequently licking another dog’s ears, they might just really enjoy how the ear tastes. This isn’t harmful in small amounts, but excessive licking can become a problem.

Stress and Self-Soothing

Licking releases endorphins in a dog’s brain — the same feel-good chemicals that calm humans when we’re anxious. Dogs know this instinctively.

If a dog is feeling stressed, anxious, or uncertain, they might lick another dog’s ears as a way to soothe themselves. It’s self-directed behavior that calms their nervous system.

You’ll usually notice this licking is more repetitive and compulsive than social licking. If your dog is engaging in excessive, obsessive ear licking, anxiety might be the culprit.

The Red Flag: Detecting Health Issues

This is important: if your dog suddenly starts aggressively or obsessively licking another dog’s ears, that dog might have an infection.

Dogs can smell infections that haven’t even shown symptoms yet. The discharge, odor, or yeast from an ear infection is incredibly attractive to other dogs. If a dog who doesn’t normally lick ears suddenly can’t leave another dog’s ears alone, that’s a sign the ear-receiving dog needs a vet visit.

Same goes if one dog has noticeably itchy or irritated ears. That’s potentially an infection or allergy signaling itself.

When to Intervene

Normal ear licking: Occasional, gentle, both dogs seem comfortable, happens as part of natural bonding and grooming.

Problem ear licking:

Excessive and repetitive licking that the other dog tries to avoid
One dog’s ears become irritated, red, or infected from the licking
The licking seems compulsive or anxiety-driven
The behavior increases suddenly (suggesting a health issue in the licked dog)
One dog seems distressed by it

What to do:

Check the ear-receiving dog for infections. Have a vet examine their ears. Look for redness, discharge, odor, or inflammation.
Redirect the licker. If your dog is compulsively licking ears, interrupt the behavior and redirect to a toy or activity.
Separate if needed. If one dog’s ears are getting irritated, separate the dogs when unsupervised and monitor.
Monitor behavior. Watch for whether the licking is getting worse, better, or staying the same.
Consider underlying anxiety. If the licking seems obsessive and stress-related, talk to your vet about whether your dog is experiencing anxiety.

FAQ: Dog Ear Licking Behavior

Is it normal for dogs to lick each other’s ears?

Yes, completely normal. It’s a natural pack behavior used for bonding, grooming, establishing hierarchy, and communication. Most dogs do it occasionally.

How much ear licking is too much?

Occasional ear licking (a few times during play or interaction) is fine. Constant, obsessive licking where the other dog is trying to avoid it is too much. Same with licking that causes irritation or redness.

What does it mean if my dog suddenly starts licking another dog’s ears?

Could mean several things: they’re bonding more, they’re establishing hierarchy, they’ve noticed something tasty or smelly about the ears, or — importantly — they’re detecting an infection or health issue. If it’s a sudden change, get the ear-receiving dog’s ears checked by a vet.

Can excessive ear licking cause an infection?

Yes. Repetitive licking irritates the skin, removes protective oils, and can create a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. Monitor and intervene if you see redness or irritation.

My dog obsessively licks ears. What should I do?

First, rule out medical issues in both dogs. Then consider whether your dog is anxious or stressed — excessive licking is sometimes a self-soothing behavior. Redirect to toys, increase exercise, and talk to your vet or a trainer about anxiety management if needed.

The Bottom Line

Dogs lick each other’s ears for natural, usually harmless reasons: bonding, grooming, establishing hierarchy, curiosity, or taste preference. In most cases, it’s a healthy sign of pack behavior and connection.

The key is monitoring. Occasional ear licking? Normal and fine. Obsessive, compulsive, or causing irritation? Intervene. Sudden change in behavior? Get the ear-receiving dog’s ears checked.

Keep ears clean, watch for infections, and let your dogs be dogs — which includes the occasional ear lick as part of their social language.

If you’re concerned about your dog’s ear health or behavior, we can help. Come see us for grooming and ear care, or just to talk through what you’re noticing with your dogs.