If you love hugging your dogs then we have some bad news for you. They hate it.
That's according to new research by Dr. Stanley Coren. Contrary to popular belief, hugging your dog actually raises its stress and anxiety levels and makes them unhappy.
Dr. Coren analysed 250 photos of dogs being hugged, looking out for signs of anxiety and stress. He noted that dogs are designed for swift running and that this is the first line of defense when they feel threatened. When you hug your dog you're depriving them of their ability to run away and in turn could be increasing their stress level.
Common indicators of a dog being stressed are when they turn their head away, when they close their eyes or show a “half-moon eye” which is where you can see the white portion of the eyes at the corner of the eye. Other signs include when their ears are lowered, when they are licking their lips or yawning.
Over 80% of the photos that Dr. Coren analysed included a dog which was displaying one ore more of these signs of discomfort while being hugged.
“The clear recommendation to come out of this research is to save your hugs for your two-footed family members and lovers."
“It is clearly better from the dog’s point of view if you express your fondness for your pet with a pat, a kind word, and maybe a treat,” Dr Coren wrote in Psychology Today.
Via The Irish Times
