Do Dogs Like Being Hugged?

Your perfect cosy evening is cuddling up with your canine on the sofa with a blanket and a cuppa. You look at your sleepy pooch nestled in to you and think, does my dog like hugs?

As a parent, you should be mindful of what your dog does and does not enjoy, and that includes if you start to wonder, do dogs like it when you hug them? That isn’t to say you can’t ever give your pooch affection, but if your pup becomes stiff and uncomfortable from a hug then they aren’t benefitting from it as you might be.

Wrapping your arms around a dog and giving them a little squeeze might feel like a normal thing for you to do to show affection, but it can actually be confining and stressful for our four-legged friends. It can trigger anxiety and cause them to become uncomfortable. By learning how to tell when your pup is a little stressed by something you do, you can be more mindful of what they do and don’t enjoy. It’s all about gauging your individual dog’s reaction to your affection and you’ll soon know, do dogs like it when you hug them?

That isn’t to say that every dog absolutely despises hugs, it just means that every dog is an individual and some may enjoy them, some might tolerate them, and some might flee the room at the sight of an incoming squeeze.

You just need to be aware of your own pup’s preferences and never bestow hugs on a pooch you don’t know.

Ever hugged your pooch and thought, do dogs know what hugs are? While some pups might enjoy a cuddle, they don’t really grasp the context of the meaning behind a hug. Even when dogs enjoy a hug, it’s usually through socialising them that they develop this preference rather than anything they’re born with. After a puppy is born, we start to handle it and as it grows, they get used to our physical touch. Part of the developmental period in puppies is getting used to humans and enjoying their company.

If you’ve had your pooch since they were tiny and have given them hugs from day one, they might not have loved them to start but developed a liking for them. Attention from their favourite human is a powerful reward. While they don’t understand hugs, they can get used to them and even start to enjoy them. Warming cuddles can be rewarding and a means of getting to be extra close to you.

Do dogs hug humans? If a dog starts to understand a hug as a positive thing, then they can even start to seek them out. It’s very unlikely your dog can reach up and hug you like humans do, but if you’re wondering how do dogs hug, your pooch may show their affection towards you in different ways. Dogs are more likely to show affection by wiggling their tail at you, jumping up for a fuss or even just settling down at your side to be near you. Many dogs will fall asleep while maintaining some physical contact with their favourite people and that is more like their version of hugging you, they’re showing you how comfortable and safe they feel around you. 

Hugs don’t always go down hunky-dory with your pooch pal. Why don’t dogs like hugs? Research suggests that hugging your dog is probably causing them more stress than you think! After University professor Stanley Coren analysed hundreds of pictures of dogs being hugged, he was able to spot different stress indicators presented in dogs in over 80% of the cases. Signs of stress in dogs include:

-        Head turned to avoid eye contact

-        Ears turned down

-        Lip licking

Having a good grasp on dog body language, including what different tail wags mean will tell you exactly where you may or may not be going wrong. If your pooch starts to show any appeasement behaviours such as lip licking or turning their head away to avoid the contact, they might not be enjoying your cuddles as you think they may. If they do a full body shake after your release them from a hug, then they’re taking a moment to physically shake off their stress from the gesture.

If you’re unsure is your dog is uncomfortable during or after a hug, there’s a few ways they will show you their discomfort:

1.     They’ll be vocal, whether it’s more barking than usual or crying.

2.     They’ll start panting.

3.     They’ll excessively groom themselves.

If you notice they displaying signs of discomfort because of a hug, you’ve learnt that cuddles might not be for them and that’s okay! A comfortable dog is a happy one, so keep the cuddles at bay.

While dogs don’t really give hugs in the same way we do, you may notice that some bigger breeds love to jump up and balance their paws on your shoulders. It’s exactly the same as your pup being excited and jumping up on you, bigger dogs just have the advantage of being able to reach up higher and give what seems to be a real hug!

Dogs love when we talk to them, they love when we touch and fuss them so jumping up will usually get these responses from you. Even if you don’t like to be jumped on, you will usually tell them to get off and your hands will naturally move to touch them, even if it’s to move them away.

While it might not be a hug in the same way we think of them, your pup jumping up on you is a way of trying to instigate physical contact so they aren’t worlds apart. If you enjoy your pooch jumping up for a fuss, you can even encourage the behaviour by giving them a reward every time they do it. Giving your pup a treat for initiating contact will mean they repeat the behaviour more often.

Some dogs enjoy a hug while others would rather, we show our love in different ways. For our beloved family pets who don’t enjoy a squeeze, here are some other ways you can show love:

1.     Talk to them! Your pet loves to listen to your sing-song voice, or hear their favourite phrases or compliments.

2.     Maintain eye contact! This is a key form of communication for your pooch, and long exchanges of eye contact give you both a boost in the hormone oxytocin. They’ll really feel loved and cherished after a staring contest!

3.     Treat them to something new. Whether it’s a new toy or treat, they’ll feel pampered and excited in no time.

For more canine essentials to keep your furry friend happy and healthy, discover our wide range of pooch products available in store and online!