Cass licks the inside of Taffy's ears- why?

[ToBeEvergreen]

Cassie was probably used as a brood before we adopted her, said the vet, so it could be a motherly cleaning. I also heard that there is a lot of scent in a dog's ears, so maybe she does it because of that.

Taffy will go up to Cassie sometimes and Cassie gently licks the insides of my other dog's ears. Today after she was done with one ear, Taff turned her head so that Cassie could clean the other one.

Taff's ears seem clean, and she likes it. I had a theory that since Taffy is a greyhound who has racing tattoos in BOTH ears (most I've seen have it in one ear), Cassie feels sorry for her and tries to "heal" them. I also heard that dogs do this as a pack instinct, and it just shows affection.

Whatever the reason, it's very cute to watch. She has done this ever since we got Taffy in February, and will sometimes give one lick to her snout or face too.

[Karen]

Yup, it's standard affectionate, "you are my friend I will make sure your ears are clean" behavior - if you watch documentaries, you can see wolf pack memners, hyena, lion moms - all doing this same thing!

[Taz_Zoee]

My female dog loves to do this to the cats. They let her do it and when she is done they look like they dunked their head in a bowl of water.

[happylabs]

It's a grooming and affectionate thing I would think. I don't remember Casey (my Lab) licking the cats, but the cats would lick her sometimes. Buddy licks Tink sometimes on the head/ear. I love to see this too. Warms my heart.

[wolf_Q]

My dogs all do this...Killer especially loves to clean Keva's ears and she loves it. I think for the most part is affection/pack behavior (or they could also like the taste of earwax yuck ).

[luvofallhorses]

My dogs don't do this but my cat Tiger loves to lick inside of my other cat Angel's ears, lol.

[ToBeEvergreen]

This makes me happy. The two are very close, they will cuddle laying down, play together. Taffy follows Cass around the house.

I don't remember Casey (my Lab) licking the cats, but the cats would lick her sometimes.

AW! That's just precious. All of these accounts are.