Introduction
What could be better than snuggling up with your furry friend and wrapping your arms around them to show how much you care? As humans, we often exchange hugs to signify our love and empathy for one another. This gesture is easily recognizable as affectionate, loving, and kind.
But does your canine companion feel the same way about hugs? Is this behavior welcome and enjoyed, or foreign and tolerated?
In the canine world, you won’t see dogs hugging other dogs. Unlike humans, it’s not a natural part of their behavior. So, can your beloved pooch actually understand hugs and appreciate your loving embrace? Read on to find out!
How to tell if your dog understands hugs
The best way to tell if your puppy pal understands the affection you’re showing them is to watch their body language. Do they tense up with your arms around them or remain relaxed? If a dog is comfortable with a hug, their ears should remain forward and their tail high.
However, some news reports have suggested that dogs don’t love being hugged, and that humans have a hard time telling when their dog seems stressed or anxious. That said, this isn’t true for all dogs, and many dogs enjoy getting hugged by their pet parents.
Upon receiving a hug, an anxious dog who doesn’t recognize this gesture as a sign of affection may:
- turn their head away
- break eye contact
- expose the white edges of their eyes
- slick their ears back against their head
- partially close their eyes
- lick your mouth and face
- growl
- bare their teeth
Certainly, reactions can vary from one dog to another. For example, puppies are much more tolerant of most forms of interaction, and Golden Retrievers are known for their fondness for any kind of physical contact. Still, hugging is a behavior not naturally exhibited by dogs and is typically not understood as a sign of affection.
A dog may hug may interpret a hug as a threat, as they may feel trapped and unable to flee from danger. This can cause confusion for your canine companion, who is unable to understand why their trusted human would exhibit a threatening gesture. When dogs are uncertain or confused in a social setting like this, they may exhibit canine displacement behaviors, like yawning and lip licking.
Don’t fret, though — there are many other ways to show your best pal you care, like a good brushing, couch cuddling, a walk, or their favorite engaging activity. Many dogs will tolerate a hug despite the discomfort it causes them, especially when they love and trust you.
The history of dogs and hugs
The evolutionary history of canines versus primates (like humans) can help us understand why dogs don’t quite understand receiving a hug.
Over time, humans and canines have co-evolved, resulting in a cooperative relationship between two species. However, you must consider the millions of years that dogs evolved independently from humans.
Hugging is hard-wired into our history as a species. From a young age, humans express affection, empathy, and love for others with this gesture. Research shows that even in our closest primate relatives, like chimpanzees, hugging is a way of expressing concern and providing comfort.
Dogs evolved to interpret the behavior of a leg over their shoulder or body as an assertion of dominance. When a dog puts one or both legs over the shoulders of another, called standing over, it’s usually a display of social status and is perceived as controlling and assertive. Historically, this behavior was likely to occur when dogs were competing for resources.
This major difference in the evolutionary history of dogs and humans makes it easy to see why dogs may not interpret a hug as being affectionate.
The science behind dogs and hugs
Dogs are cursorial animals, meaning they are designed and adapted to run. In times of distress, their first instinct is to flee. When you hug your dog, they may feel trapped and like they can’t escape. This can lead them to feel anxious and uncomfortable.
Though dogs don’t hug each other, they do show affection in different ways. In nature, dogs have the tendency to lick other individuals they are attached to — this is called allogrooming. This gesture signifies social bonding and companionship. If your dog often licks you, this may explain why.
Dogs may also display their affection through playing, staying close to you, and following you around. These acts of affection are considered affiliative behaviors, or gestures between individuals sharing a social bond.
Though your dog may not understand a hug, they still love you and will show you in other ways!
Training your dog to tolerate hugs
Some dogs may be totally fine with receiving a hug! However, some may feel threatened, scared, or anxious, especially if the behavior comes from a stranger. With a little effort, you can train your dog to accept hugs.
This can be extremely beneficial in the context of going to the vet, when your dog may need to be held steady to receive vaccines, or interacting with children, who often don’t know better than to lean on or throw their arms around the neck of a furry friend!
Positive reinforcement is the way to go when training your dog to accept hugs. You can do so by gradually linking hugs with something your dog loves, like treats or belly rubs. You should also know how to hug your dog the right way to ensure they feel comfortable and safe.
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Start by simply resting your hand on their shoulder while you sit side by side and reward them with treats and praise, especially when they react calmly.
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Gradually move your arm farther around your dog’s shoulders, rewarding them with treats every step of the way.
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If your pup pulls away or displays signs of discomfort at any time, don’t force them to remain in contact. Just take a break and try again another time.
Keep at it, and over time, your woofer will start to associate an arm over their shoulder with something good.
If you’d like your pooch to be comfortable accepting hugs from others as well, it’s important for you to have several people practice this training method. However, be sure they are people your dog is already comfortable with and go very slowly to ensure safety.
Training your canine compadre to accept hugs is possible and most effective when initiated at a young age. Be sure to be patient, too! After all, you’re teaching your dog to accept something that goes against their social instincts!