Returning the grooming favor?

[kateinspace]

Whenever I scritchy Willow and stop, he nibbles my hand lightly, is this him grooming me back or getting mad cuz I stopped?

 

[CJR]

I always think that it's them grooming back... Bess will do that to me, or just nibble at the thicker skin on my knuckles.

Just watch out if he tries to groom your eyebrows... cause you won't have any left!

 

[3CsMommy]

Yep. Since grooming is a mutual reinforcement of the bond in a herd of chins (or rabbits, horses, dogs, greater and lesser apes... lots of creatures) I've always figured it was some kind of "your turn" behavior.

 

[Jenn]

Tinkerbell does the same thing. We go back and forth we me giving her scritches, and her grooming my hand, my arm, my feet...whatever is closest to her!

 

[Terbear24]

I always took that as a loving gesture! Even though it probably doesnt feel as good to us as it does for them!

 

[starleomach]

it is reciprocal social animals will do that you groom me I groom you.

 

[kateinspace]

Aw yay =) so its a huge step in our bonding together

 

[Marie5656]

I agree. I guess Trixie felt I needed a lot of grooming last evening when I had her out for play. She sat on my head grooming my hair...and then onto the picture on my shirt,

 

[Stackie]

Several of my chins groom me in return. Roo will sit on my shoulder and groom my hair and eyebrows all the time...but he does expect scritches in return.