licking behavior

Question
We have a 5 year old neutered schnauzer and a 3 year old neutered australian shephard.  The schnauzer continually licks the anus of the aussie.  The aussie doesn't seem to mind this behavior but it's becoming rather disgusting to see it happen.  The schnauzer started this behavior about 6 months ago.  We have had the schnauzer since he was 9 months old in 2001 and we adopted the aussie in 2003 at the age of 2 months.  I've tried using bitter apple to discourage him, but that doesn't seem to bother him.  They get along very well and the aussie does acknowledge that the schnauzer is 'in charge'.  Anything you can suggest would be helpful.  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Sandie;
That bitter pple is supposed to work really well. I sprayed it on my furniture once, because one of the male dogs Iwas fostering would mark my couch and upholstered chairs. I was really tired of spot cleaning my furniture every day, so I got some bitter apple.
He loved it and licked the furniture I sprayed it on.
My other dogs also licked it.
You would have thought it was steak flavored. LOl
the licking you describe could be a domination thing, but I have never heard of it before.
I would have the Aussie seen by his/her Veterinarian. It could be an issue with the anal glands, and the Schnauzer may just be trying to heal it.
You don't say if the Aussie is male or female.
Ask your Veterinarian what he/she thinks about the licking.
If it is not the Schnauzer trying to heal something that is wrong, and the Aussie is a male too, and it isn't a frustrated neutered male, then I can't imagine what it is, other than a dominance thing, which could be cured by YOU and your husband establishing that YOU are the alpha abd beta, and that lill critter is just one of the kids, and NOT the boss of the Aussie.
I think Australian shepherds are very easy for other dogs ( smaller ones ) to dominate.
I have one that was just a year old when my son brought us a tiny Lhasa mix that he rescued from an abusive house. The aussie took over that puppy and acted like he was it's mother.
That little jerk has ALWAYS bossed the aussie, and Rowdy not only takes it, he resents my correcting Max for doing it.
Max and Rowdy are now 7 and 6, and Max still tries to dominate.
Every once in a while I have to say "MAX!, do you want to go to time out", and then he behaves himself because he hates time out.
But Rowdy gives his " baby" some lovin because mean old mommy corrected him. He spoiled that little runt rotten.
Rowdy is also very nurturing of all the dogs i bring here as fosters.
My son took an aussie/huskie mix that the woman's husband was abusing, and he is at our house for awhile because he is too big to be allowed at my son's apartment. He is the same temperament, basicaly, as Rowdy.
He is very sweet and nurturing to smaller dogs, and the the grandchildren.
I think that aussie personality is one of the sweetest I have ever experienced.
When we took Rowdy, he was a rescue that I was going to fosterm then take to our adoption clinic, and my grand daughter was here with us awaiting the birth of her first child.
He was so protective of her, and so gentle with our grandchildren when they visited, and he was only 6 months old. I was too busy with the last week of her pregnancy, so rowdy didn't go to clinic, and when she had the baby and brought it home, he took up residence under the baby's crib, and even checked out the baby's dad every time he oicked her up.
He seemed to know just how much roughness each child's age could handle, and adjusted his play acordingly.
My husband agreed that was way too much dog to pass up, so we kept him.
We have never been sorry. He is such a love, and such a CLOWN! LOl
That little schnauzer is going to take full advantage of that aussie's good nature.
If the checkup comes out fine, and there is no medical problem, then I recommend teaching that habit out by correcting, and putting him in time out every time he does it.
Whe he learns it is not in his best interest to do that gross thing, he will stop.
Time out at my house is 30 minutes in the smallest bathroom, with no toys, nothing but boredon, and he can hear what is going on he is missing out on.
Max has spent far more time in time out that all the other three put together.LOl
Charlotte
I see now you said the aussie was neutered, so it can't be a sex thing.LOl