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Questions
- Do Dogs like Being Hugged?
- Do Dogs Know What a Hug Is?
- How Do Dogs Give Hugs to Humans?
With National Hug a Dog Day coming on April 10th, it poses the question, do dogs like hugs? It’s such a natural thing for humans and we hug for so many different reasons. We might give hugs to congratulate, to greet or say goodbye to someone, to offer sympathy or condolences or even just to comfort them and show affection.
Hugs are pretty much a universal gesture among people, but you’ve never seen two dogs greeting each other by exchanging a big old hug. There’s a lot of discourse out there as to whether dogs actually like to be hugged.
There are countless videos online of dogs being climbed on and squeezed by children that are often met with criticism, but do dogs like being hugged in any context? We’ve gathered some information to help you decide if your dog enjoys a cuddle.
Do Dogs like Being Hugged?
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While we love hugs, not all dogs do and as an owner, you should be mindful of what they do and don’t enjoy. 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.
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.
It’s all about gauging your individual dog’s reaction to your affection.
Every Pooch is Unique!
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.
Do Dogs Know What a Hug Is?
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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.
If a dog starts to understand a hug as a positive thing, then they can even start to seek them out. 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.Â
How Do Dogs Give Hugs to Humans?
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.
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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.
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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, find other ways to show your love with our wide range of doggy products available.