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  • A dog who licks another dog on the face probably doesn't feel like he is in the power position when deciding who'll get first dibs on a certain resource (a toy, food, etc) at a given moment. Dogs frequently lick the faces of other canines that they perceive to be stronger than they are, but also higher on the totem pole socially.
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  • A dog who licks another dog on the face probably doesn't feel like he is in the power position when deciding who'll get first dibs on a certain resource (a toy, food, etc) at a given moment. Dogs frequently lick the faces of other canines that they perceive to be stronger than they are, but also higher on the totem pole socially.
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When a dog licks the face of another, the behavior probably can be traced to the puppy stage. A puppy's display of licking signaled a desire to be fed. In adult dogs, it could be a sign of respect. Wild dog puppies lick their mother's lips when she returns from a hunt, her belly full of predigested meat.

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