|
|
Reactions to Hugs Between Humans
Dogs vary in their responses
Hugging is very human. Actually, this behavior occurs in our species as well as quite a few other primate species, as we primates seem to seek out and enjoy ventral-ventral contact with one another. Dogs are quite different, as they typically don’t enjoy hugs, no matter how accommodating they are to the humans in their lives who insist on it. To see a dog look displeased, or even disgusted, giving one a hug is often all that’s required. Of course, I would not recommend hugging a dog for a very important reason that is related to but extends beyond that fact that dogs typically detest it. Many dogs bite when they are hugged. The bites are sometimes motivated by fear, and sometimes a reaction along the lines of, “Don’t you dare do that to me. Again. Ever.” It’s pretty straightforward to me. Humans like to give and receive hugs. Dogs don’t. When we hug them, most tolerate it in much the same way that children tolerate having their cheeks pinched by aging relatives—grudgingly and with an understanding that the people doing these dreadful things really can’t help themselves. What’s far less clear to me is what dogs make of observing humans hug each other. I’ve known dogs with a variety of responses to hugs between the human members of my family or our visitors. Some dogs join the hug by jumping up and leaning into the action. Some leap onto the huggers repeatedly and with increasing vigor. Others place themselves between the huggers, causing them to separate. I’ve seen dogs spin in place or circle around the huggers, and I’ve known dogs who bark and growl when two or more humans hug in their presence. It’s unusual to have a dog who runs away, perhaps out of the room when they observe hugging, but I do know of a couple of dogs who did respond in exactly that way. What does your dog do when you hug someone?
|
Photo by cobalt123/Flickr
| Comments | Post a Comment |
For gift subscriptions, 
Copyright © 1997-2013 The Bark, Inc. Dog Is My Co-Pilot® is a registered trademark of The Bark, Inc
What a surprise. I hug on my dogs often during the day. I learned something new today. I have four dogs. They are my family.
My 5 year old dog has always wanted to be near but not touched till the past 18 months, which is not too long after we got a 2nd dog (who came to us at 8 weeks of age). Now he wants to be snuggled, and crawls into my lap for full on body hugs. The 2nd dog, now 2 years old, has literally been a hugger from day one - she wraps her paws around your neck & leans in - fully ventral to ventral. One of her nicknames is monkey girl so maybe she thikns she is part primate :).
Both my dogs loved to be hugged. They wag their tails and lean into me. One even purrs a bit. I think the author of this article might be wrong about "most dogs" just tolerating a hug.
I am retired and live with my wife on an acreage. We raise german shepherds as i have in the past. My wife was a city girl and she liked the dogs but they were so big to her. At 120 lbs. My male was only 5 pounds lighter than my wife. I was surprised to hear my wife tell me she wanted to feed the dogs, but,, sounded good to me. She soon took over the dogs. But,, she was out side much longer than necessary; in my opinion. When i asked her what took her so long, she told me i wasnt giving the dogs what they needed most!! When i asked her what that was she replied, "your'e not hugging them!!". I laughed and told her dogs didnt need to be hugged and even disliked being hugged. Well, when she had carpal mtunnel surgery on both wrists and elbows, she was off 6 weeks. After 3 days i noticed the dogs were not eating their food. Then the males started to whine and bark. The biggest sat in his kennel door and just stared at me. I knelt down to check for health issues and he literally laid into my arms. I heard a voice yell, "i told you!!". Make your own conclusions, but i have to leave. Time to hug, er, ah,,, i mean feed my dogs; before my wife does. Not only did they all start eating immediately, but i actually like to hug them, one at a time, in their own kennels. Every day. (I have a folding chair i take with me now. Seriously theraputic. Bdwoo
my question is, why does my border collie jump on me,or the other person when we hug? he has also nipped me a little but not to the point it hurts, but he did bite my husband once for hugging me, but also not very hard,he loves my husband as well, but seems to be more of my dog, he follows me every where even when i go to the bath room or take a bath, he usually lays beside the tub till i am thru.