A US psychology professor and dog expert has conducted a study that he says shows people should not hug their dogs.
Writing in Psychology Today, Stanley Coren explains how he studied 250 photographs of people hugging their dogs in a quest for “experimental evidence” to backup expert opinion that hugging dogs stresses them out.
“Dogs are technically cursorial animals, which is a term that indicates that they are designed for swift running,” Coren writes. “That implies that in times of stress or threat the first line of defense that a dog uses is not his teeth, but rather his ability to run away.”
“Behaviorists believe that depriving a dog of that course of action by immobilizing him with a hug can increase his stress level and, if the dog’s anxiety becomes significantly intense, he may bite.”
Coren lists the “well established” signs of stress and anxiety in dogs:
• Turning head away. Sometimes also closing eyes, at least partially.
• Show “half-moon eye” where you can see the white portion of the eyes at the corner or the rim.
• Ears lowered or slicked against the side of his head.
• Lip licking or licking a person’s face.
• Yawning or raising one paw.
Image | via Psychology Today
Coren said that 81.6% of the dogs he saw in photos were showing at least one sign of discomfort, stress or anxiety. Only 7.6% could be said to be comfortable with being hugged. And 10.8% were neutral or ambiguous.
Coren finished with this handy piece of advice for anyone who loves their dog but doesn’t want to distress them:
“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.”
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