Dogs need personal space. Hugging a dog can lead to stress and make the pet uncomfortable and anxious, according to a report in the New York Times. Dogs don’t like to be wrapped up and confined. A study by Dr. Stanley Coren and posted on the Psychology Today website suggests it is best for dog owners to keep their hands to themselves when it comes to handling their pets.
Dr. Coren’s main argument is that dogs are cursorial animals. In other words, dogs have a flight instinct that makes them want to run away when threatened. When dogs are hugged, they are confined and restricted from relying on their natural instinct. They might want to run away if they are hugged, but they can’t because they are confined.
Dr. Coren observed 250 images of people hugging dogs on Google and Flickr. His research showed that about 81 percent of the images showed the dogs exhibiting at least one sign of anxiety or stress. Using body language is one way dogs can communicate with humans and other animals. Dr. Coren identified several signs of body language dogs use to say they were uncomfortable or anxious.
Baring their teeth is one signal dogs use to communicate stress.
Turning its head away or closing its eyes to the source of its stress is another way dogs communicate when they are feeling anxious.
Licking or yawning is another stress reliever dogs use when they are uncomfortable. Dogs will also raise a paw to create a barrier between itself and the source of stress.
Dr. Coren suggested instead of hugging dogs, give them a pat, a kind word or a treat. A scratch behind the ears is much more relaxing than a hug to a dog. Even better, invest in some doggie biscuits.