Different Reactions
Caroline Kisko, of the Kennel Club says that “dogs are often considered a part of the family.” They are not humans and therefore may react differently to certain interactions, such as hugging.
Claire Matthews was in agreement with her. She said that a hug is a common social greeting among humans but not for dogs. When you hug your pet, subtle stress signals may be missed. This could result in a negative response.
Get to Know your pets better
The reaction of your pet to hugs can be different. It’s still important to find out if your dog hates hugs. Dr. Stanley Coren is able to help. He is an expert in canine behavior and a Professor of Psychology at University of British Columbia. Coren discovered through his research that dogs show certain signs of stress after being embraced by owners.
The professor analyzed 250 photos of dogs being hugged, and drew conclusions based on the responses. We’re sorry, but most of the dogs displayed signs of stress. The dogs could have flattened their ears or pushed them back, or even had the whites in their eyes visible. Dogs yawn or lick excessively when they are worried.
