If you are a dog person like many others, you might find it hard to resist their cute faces and not smother them with cuddles and pettings. So, fellow dog lovers, have you ever wondered if your four-legged fur friend enjoys the pats you lavish it with? Fear not, in this article we will delve deep inside the fascinating science behind pet behaviors to answer this.
Do Dogs Want To Be Petted By Humans?
Short answer – Yes, but not always. Long answer – You need to look out for the subtle signs to understand when to give them space and when to shower them with ear scratches and belly rubs. Here are some signs to look out for –
- Nudging his head on your hand or lap
- Moving into your space
- Leaning into you
- Droopy and Relaxed Eyes
But how do you know when they don’t want to be petted?
Well, dogs usually show even more obvious cues to indicate if they are not feeling comfortable. Here are some,
- Stiff body posture – Holding their head high and having a rigid back while they are being petted is a sign that they want to avoid having body contact.
- Growling or snapping
- Tail tucking – Dogs that are scared or anxious tuck their tails inside their legs to take a defensive stance. This is a clear telltale that they don’t want pets.
Did you know that certain breeds of dogs prefer being petted more frequently than others?
Here are some breeds that you might like to adopt in case you are looking for an affectionate companion, –
- Bulldogs – The name squishface fits them more. Bulldogs are one of the most lovable and friendly dogs out there. Due to being short haired they thrive on cuddles as it keeps them warm.
- Pugs – Your search for a small dog to easily bond should end with pugs. They are naturally clingy and eager to follow you pretty much everywhere.
- Golden Retrievers – Quite the obvious indeed. They are unbelievably friendly and love to spend quality time with their owners. Goldens Retrievers are known for enjoying curling against humans and being playful.
What Does Petting Mean To A Dog?
Petting can mean an affectionate way of bonding to a dog. Research has shown that dogs prefer to be petted as a reward. It’s a good idea to train your dog with petting coupled with treats as a reward. Over years through natural selection and genetic adaptation dogs have evolved into social animals. This explains why dogs enjoy being close to their owners. Petting reinforces the companionship between humans and dogs. Additionally petting can be a soothing and calming way of receiving physical contact for dogs.
Where Do Dogs Like To Be Petted The Most?
Did you know that dogs enjoy being petted on certain spots more than others? Most furry friends enjoy being gently petted on these sweet spots,
- Lower back near the base of the tail
- Under the chin
- Under the neck
- Top of head
And unless you are really sure, you should avoid scratching or petting dogs on areas like,
- Face
- Tail
- Genitals
- Legs
- Paws
Health Benefits Of Petting A Dog
Research from John Hopkins states that petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol and at the same time increases the feel-good oxytocin hormone. It can also help with lowering blood pressure which in turn reduces hypertension. There are numerous advantages of petting a dog besides these, such as, mood boosting and providing comfort. Strange but yes petting a dog is much more than just a social interaction between a human and an animal.
Best Way To Pet A Dog
Although dogs are social animals, they also have their boundaries. It’s even more so in case of strangers. If you come across a dog that you don’t know, it’s for the best to approach it gently and cautiously. To gain the dog’s trust, ensure that while petting it, your hand is visible to the dog. Only pet the head at first. Keep an eye on its body language and back away if it resists or moves away.
Do not approach a dog that’s snarling, growling or barking. These are clear indications of the dog being unwilling to be petted.
If it’s someone else’s dog, it’s for the best to ask for its owner’s permission first. Most dogs prefer soft pats on their back or chest. Once you get more familiar with the dog you can go for petting the lower back and even some belly scratches.
As for petting your own dog, it’s a bit easier. You aren’t a stranger to your own pet. Which means you are already a familiar companion to the dog. As long as you pay attention to its body language you are good to go.
How Much Petting Does A Dog Need?
While dogs certainly don’t require any form of physical affection to survive, they do crave and benefit from regular petting from their owners or caregivers. Regular petting and touch reinforces a healthy bond between the owners and their dogs. It can help your dog feel safe and comfortable around you. If you have taken in a dog who had previously experienced abuse or trauma, petting or any other form of physical touch can ease their fear and anxiety. In short, to deepen the bond between you and your furry friend, reward it with lots of pets.
The amount of petting a dog needs can vary depending on the dog’s age, breed, previous experience with humans as well as their emotional and physical state. An useful rule of thumb is to give your dog about 10-15 minutes of undivided attention and physical touch regularly.
Why Do Dogs Raise Their Paws When Being Petted?
Dogs use their paws to communicate how they are feeling. Dogs can raise their paws while being petted for a plethora of reasons. It can be a sign of excitement or anticipation towards more physical affection or a way to seek comfort and reassurance. It could also be that it’s trying to stop you. You can stop petting it for a while to correctly gauge what it’s truly trying to communicate. Dogs at times also mirror their owner’s body language to show affection. So it could be that while you are petting your dog it’s merely copying you or at least trying to, by putting its paws on you.
Why Do Dogs Want To Be Petted Constantly?
Dogs usually enjoy some form of affection from their owners. It reduces their anxiety, soothes their muscles and calms them down. If you have a clingy dog it’s not surprising if it wants constant pets. Over the years certain dog breeds were bred to be social human companions. This has led to them seeking physical contact from humans as a way to reinforce and strengthen their bonds with humans. Petting a dog not only releases oxytocin in humans but also in the dogs themselves. When a dog is being petted it might feel a sense of reward or pleasure.
If a dog was trained before, it might have learned through observation that it gets rewarded by treats when it constantly gets petted.
Another rare possibility is that your dog has separation anxiety. This can especially be the case if your dog mostly wants to be petted before or when you leave the house. There are a couple more signs which can help you pinpoint that. Such as,
- Destructive behavior – Chewing and destroying furniture near the exit
- Constant howling
- Excessive excited when you return home
- Trembling without any apparent reasons
- Repetitive behavior – circling, pacing
If you notice any such signs in your dog you can take the following measures to gradually ease it out of its anxiety,
- Every time you leave, pet or cuddle your dog and give it treats. This would make you leaving the house a less stressful situation for your dog.
- When you return home don’t greet it over-enthusiastically. This will let your dog understand that you will definitely return back everytime you leave and it’s not a huge deal.
- While you are out of the house leave some worn out clothes that smell like you.
To wrap it up, the question of whether dogs like to be petted by humans or not is a complex one. However, as long as you are empathetic and open to understanding your furry companion, it won’t be that hard to get a grasp of when to pet your dog and when to give it the space it needs. It’s important for dog owners to understand and respect a dog’s individual personality and preferences when it comes to receiving or showing physical affection. Just being attentive to a dog’s nonverbal communications, we can better cater to their needs and provide them with the amount of care and attention they desire. Ultimately the foundation of the bond between humans and dogs is based on the pillars of mutual respect, trust, love and care.