Snarling and face licking. What was that?

[Anthony8858]

Today Kira met an 8 month old Malanois. It was a friendly meeting, and both dogs were leashed.
As the dogs sniffed each other, Kira just stood there, head and shoulders high, with her TEETH in a SNARL. She wasn't snapping, she just stood there. The other dog took this as an in vittation to lick Kira's mouth.
Each time Kira snarled, the other dog licked. It was a form of ritualistic greeting.

Anyone familiar with this?

[Lesley1905]

The other dog was maybe being submissive to her. Saying "hey we can be friends!"

[onyx'girl]

The other dog obviously was submitting to her. Licking is a calming signal Dog Body Language: Lip Licking
http://dogtime.com/dog-speak-face-li...n-safford.html
If your dog continues to show dominant behavior, she better hope all dogs will submit and not challenge her! I would watch her very carefully and not let her be so close that dogs have the option of licking or biting her. Body language for both dogs should be observed before you let them greet each other.

[PaddyD]

Originally Posted by Lesley1905

The other dog was maybe being submissive to her. Saying "hey we can be friends!"

This ^^^
However, Kira may be fear agressive. There was no need for her reaction like that with a submissive puppy.

[onyx'girl]

I agree, Kira probably was showing fearfulness...how was her tail set? If she wasn't wagging, it wasn't friendly. Most dogs are dominant/aggressive out of fear...the fight or flight. And because they were both on leash there was no way for the flight to occur.

[Anthony8858]

Some of you know her history. As much as it was peaceful, this is why I posted it. I had a suspicion that this could be a problem down the road.
Kira was pinned in the past, and maybe this is the signal that she was sending, and the reason why it happened.

Two things here that I'm concerned about.

1) if this is a form of dominance, the other dog may not always submit, and there could be a problem.

2) since Kira was pinned a couple times, many of us here had a concern that she may become fear aggressive. Hopefully, this isn't the first sign of this.

[PaddyD]

If she has been traumatized it could take a long time for her to get over it.
If she is just warning and allowing the puppy to lick her face, that's not so bad. Using warning gestures isn't always bad because most dogs realize that your dog is just saying she is not in a mood to be messed with. It doesn't necessarily mean she is going to attack.

[Lucy Dog]

Was she standing stiff with her hackles (hairs behind her neck and down her back) standing straight up?

[Twyla]

You may have already but if not, locate a good behaviorist that has a strong background in GSD. It goes without saying but will anyway check references. Save you a lesson I've learned the hard way.

Your pup will learn coping skills, you'll learn the signs to watch for to give her direction before it gets to the teeth showing point.

[onyx'girl]

I should add, a slow wag is not a friendly wag. It is up to you, Anthony to help her get thru the pinning and carry on. Just don't let her be put in situations where she is the one that has to decide how to act. You need to be her brain on some of these new exchanges until she can get over it. Have treats and stay upbeat during the greetings, then walk her away without play/interaction for the first few times.
Personally, I don't care if my dog ever greets another, as long as there is no reactive behavior, it is all good. I don't need them to play with strange dogs and they don't need it either.