Dog licks lips when commanded...why?
#1
11-05-05, 09:42 PM
Dog licks lips when commanded...why?
This seems strange, but whenever I issue any commands to my 9 year old border collie/black lab mix, she looks away and starts licking her lips. What does this mean?
Thanks!
Thanks!
#2
11-06-05, 09:16 AM
Forum Topic Moderator
This is just a guess, but when training her did/do you use treats? Often this will trigger this sort of response, as the dog thinks they are going to get a treat for performing a specified command.
If you haven't used treats, I don't know what to tell you...
Do let us know if you figure it out as I, for one would like to know.
If you haven't used treats, I don't know what to tell you...
Do let us know if you figure it out as I, for one would like to know.
#3
11-06-05, 11:16 AM
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Licking lips and lookingaway are both signs of submission. Is this a behaviour that has always happened? or is it new? If it's new, make suere the dog is eating and drinking adequately, as often, excessive licking, drooling, etc can be a sign of stomach upset. From a behavioural point of view, does your dog obey the command?
Courtenay
Courtenay
#4
11-06-05, 08:10 PM
Thanks to both of you for the replies. Courtenay, I think you hit it head on. Yes, she is eating and drinking as she should. We crate trained her when she was a puppy, and this behavior often happens when we give her the command to "go in your house". She licks her lips, keeps looking away, then slowly slinks into her house. She also does this if we catch her doing "something bad", like digging in garbage, grabbing a dinner plate from the sink, etc.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
#5
11-08-05, 09:46 AM
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Just out of curiosity, what method did you use to train her? With a submissive dog, I find that luring methods or clicker methods tend to produce the fastest, most accurate results. Consider switching methods if this isn't what you're using already, and I think you may find the "slinking" will turn into bounding into her kennel, awaiting her praise, toy and/or treat!
