Dogs lick each other’s eyes as a form of social communication, grooming, and bonding. It looks strange to us, but in the canine world, licking another dog’s face (including the delicate eye area) carries specific social meaning and serves practical purposes. The behavior is normal in most cases, though excessive licking can occasionally cause problems.
It’s a Social Signal, Not Just Grooming
Dogs communicate largely through body language, and licking is one of their most versatile tools. When a dog licks another dog’s eyes, muzzle, or chin, they’re often sending a clear message: “I’m not a threat.” This is called an appeasement behavior. The licking dog is signaling submission and a desire to avoid conflict. You’ll notice it most often when a younger or more timid dog interacts with a confident one, or when two dogs are meeting and working out their social dynamic.
But submission isn’t the only reason. Dogs also lick each other’s faces as a greeting and a sign of affection. Licking triggers the release of endorphins, the brain’s natural feel-good chemicals, which help both dogs feel calmer and more relaxed. So a dog licking another dog’s eyes might simply be saying hello, reinforcing a bond, or expressing comfort with a familiar companion. If your two dogs do this regularly and neither seems bothered, it’s likely just part of their relationship.
The Grooming Factor
Dogs can’t easily clean their own faces. Their tongues can reach a lot of their body, but not the area around their own eyes. When one dog licks another’s eyes, it often serves as cooperative grooming. The licking dog may be removing dried eye discharge, excess tears, or debris that’s collected in the fur around the eye. This is especially common in breeds prone to tear staining or heavy eye discharge, where there’s simply more material to clean.
There’s also a sensory component. Canine tears contain higher concentrations of potassium and chloride than blood does, along with sodium and other electrolytes. That salty, mineral-rich composition likely tastes interesting or appealing to dogs, which may partly explain why the eye area gets so much attention compared to other parts of the face.
Mother Dogs and Puppies
The roots of this behavior go back to the earliest days of a dog’s life. Mother dogs lick their puppies’ faces and eyes starting immediately after birth. Newborn puppies are born blind, deaf, and completely helpless, so the mother’s licking serves several survival functions at once: cleaning off birth material, stimulating breathing, keeping the puppies warm, and hiding scent from potential predators. As the puppies grow, the mother continues licking their faces and eyes as part of ongoing grooming and bonding.
This early experience likely shapes how dogs relate to face licking throughout their lives. Puppies learn that having their face licked means safety, comfort, and care. As adults, they carry that association forward, both giving and receiving face licks as a way to maintain social closeness.
When Eye Licking Becomes a Problem
Occasional eye licking between dogs is harmless and normal. But if one dog is constantly licking another’s eyes, it can create real issues. The surface of a dog’s eye (the cornea) is delicate, and repeated contact with a rough tongue can cause irritation or even small scratches. Most corneal ulcers in dogs result from some form of trauma, including scratches from other animals. A dog whose eyes are being licked excessively may develop redness, squinting, increased tearing, or pawing at the face.
Dog saliva also carries bacteria. While the risk of infection between two healthy dogs is low, saliva introduced into an already irritated or scratched eye raises the chance of a secondary infection. If the dog being licked already has an eye condition, like conjunctivitis or an existing ulcer, another dog’s licking can make it significantly worse.
What the Licking Dog Might Be Detecting
Sometimes a dog licks another dog’s eyes because something is genuinely off. Dogs have a remarkably sensitive sense of smell and taste, and they may detect changes in eye discharge before you notice any visible symptoms. If one of your dogs suddenly starts obsessively licking the other’s eyes when they haven’t done so before, it’s worth taking a closer look. Unusual discharge, swelling, redness, or a change in the amount of tearing could signal an eye infection or injury that the licking dog has picked up on.
How to Handle It
If the licking is brief and both dogs seem comfortable, there’s no reason to intervene. It’s a natural part of how dogs interact. The dog being licked will typically move away or give a warning signal if they’ve had enough, and most dogs respect that boundary on their own.
If one dog is persistently targeting another’s eyes, you can redirect the licking dog with a toy, a command, or a brief separation. Check the eyes of the dog being licked for any signs of irritation: redness, excessive tearing, cloudiness, swelling, or squinting. These warrant a closer look from a veterinarian, especially if they develop after a period of heavy licking. Similarly, if the licking dog seems compulsive about the behavior and can’t be easily redirected, that pattern itself may point to an anxiety issue worth addressing.
Keeping the eye area clean yourself can also reduce the incentive. Gently wiping away discharge or tear stains with a damp cloth removes the buildup that attracts the other dog in the first place, especially for breeds with prominent eyes or heavy tearing.