A veterinarian has issued a caution against ‘hugging’ your dog, suggesting that it may not have the comforting effect on them that it does on humans.
There’s a special joy in returning home after a long day to find your pet eagerly rushing to welcome you at the door.
Typically, the instinctive reaction is to crouch down and envelop them in a warm embrace. While it might appear that they’re enjoying it, their true feelings could be different.
Experts in canine behavior are now advising pet owners to explore alternative ways of expressing affection.
A veterinarian shared with Psychology Today that hugs can actually induce anxiety and make a dog feel confined. This reaction stems from a dog’s instinctual defense mechanism, which is to flee from threats.
Psychologist Stanley Coren explained: “Yes, your dog may leap into your lap and kiss your face, cuddle against your neck, and beg you to rub her belly.
“But that’s not ‘hugging.’
“In my experience, many dogs don’t enjoy having a human move one or two arms around their shoulders and squeeze.
“That’s the hug we are talking about.”
Lauren Novack, a Behavior Vets author, notes that dogs who genuinely enjoy hugs are rare exceptions, as reported by Daily Paws.
She stated: “When dogs don’t like something and politely ask for space over and over again to no avail, they’re likely to escalate their communication to growling or biting.
“I don’t want dogs to be stressed, and I don’t want humans to get bitten. For most dogs, hugs are stressful.”
Stanley previously conducted a study of 250 photos of dogs being hugged and discovered that in 80% of the images, the dogs exhibited signs of stress.
Indicators of stress in dogs include lowered ears, closed eyes, or turning away from the source of anxiety.
He has proposed alternative methods of showing affection that are more suitable for dogs.
He advised: “The clear recommendation to come out of this research is to save your hugs for your two-footed family members and lovers.
“It is clearly better from the dog’s point of view if you express your fondness for your pet with a pat, a kind word, and maybe a treat.”
Given this insight, it’s evident that we should consider this advice to ensure we don’t unintentionally distress our beloved pets.