Pet owners like to know appreciation for their animal friends in a number of ways. One of the most common gestures are hugs, which is understandable since it's common among humans. With that said, are hugs necessarily as comfortable for canine animals as they are for their owners? After you're done with this piece, you might be surprised to learn that there are better ways to show your pet that you care, as I'm sure Assisi Animal Health can attest as well.
Chances are that you have given your dog a traditional hug, which makes sense. After all, you might be overjoyed when your pet learns a new trick or when they take part in an action that might be deemed positive. However, companies such as Assisi Animal Health will tell you that traditional hugs are not exactly the best for dogs. As a matter of fact, the way that humans should show affection are worlds apart from how pet owners interact with their animals.
Think about some of the most common ways that dogs exhibit affection; tail-wagging and face-smelling are parts and parcel of their behavior. On the other hand, a hug around your dog might be taken by them as a sign of dominance, which isn't the case in your mind. After all, hugs are seen as positive gestures. A number of canine pets tend to let hugs slide but in order to show your animal friend that you care, there are better ways to go about it.
First of all, you have to understand that not all dogs dislike hugs, which means that you have to be a more observant pet owner. If you're embracing your pet and you see that they're leaning away or tensing up, it's time to ease off. Instead, try to focus on petting your dog's head or gently scratching behind their ears. Not only are these fun to do but your dog will enjoy them, increasing his or her level of happiness by proxy.
To say that your dog's happiness can vary would be an understatement, especially when various methods are put into effect. Some methods will be more useful than others, so make sure that you closely observe your pet's behavior. At the first sign of discomfort on your dog's end, change up the methods in question. The more observant you are, the better of a pet owner you will become.
Chances are that you have given your dog a traditional hug, which makes sense. After all, you might be overjoyed when your pet learns a new trick or when they take part in an action that might be deemed positive. However, companies such as Assisi Animal Health will tell you that traditional hugs are not exactly the best for dogs. As a matter of fact, the way that humans should show affection are worlds apart from how pet owners interact with their animals.
Think about some of the most common ways that dogs exhibit affection; tail-wagging and face-smelling are parts and parcel of their behavior. On the other hand, a hug around your dog might be taken by them as a sign of dominance, which isn't the case in your mind. After all, hugs are seen as positive gestures. A number of canine pets tend to let hugs slide but in order to show your animal friend that you care, there are better ways to go about it.
First of all, you have to understand that not all dogs dislike hugs, which means that you have to be a more observant pet owner. If you're embracing your pet and you see that they're leaning away or tensing up, it's time to ease off. Instead, try to focus on petting your dog's head or gently scratching behind their ears. Not only are these fun to do but your dog will enjoy them, increasing his or her level of happiness by proxy.
To say that your dog's happiness can vary would be an understatement, especially when various methods are put into effect. Some methods will be more useful than others, so make sure that you closely observe your pet's behavior. At the first sign of discomfort on your dog's end, change up the methods in question. The more observant you are, the better of a pet owner you will become.
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This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
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