Male dogs lick females in heat primarily to detect and assess the female's readiness to mate by analyzing her hormonal signals.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Hormonal Detection: Females in heat release pheromones and hormones in their urine and vaginal secretions. Male dogs have a highly developed sense of smell and can detect these subtle chemical signals. Licking allows the male dog to get a concentrated sample of these hormones.
- Assessing Readiness: The male dog isn't just detecting the presence of hormones; he's also assessing their levels. This helps him determine how close the female is to ovulation and her most fertile period.
- Flehmen Response: After licking, the male dog may exhibit the Flehmen response (a lip curl). This action facilitates the transfer of pheromones to the vomeronasal organ (Jacobson's organ) in the roof of the mouth, further enhancing the detection and interpretation of the female's hormonal status.
- Instinctual Behavior: This licking behavior is a deeply ingrained instinct that drives male dogs to find and reproduce with receptive females. It ensures the continuation of the species.
In summary, the licking behavior displayed by male dogs towards females in heat is a complex process involving hormonal detection, assessment of mating readiness, and instinctive reproductive drives.
