Hug our dog It can be one of the most pleasant experiences we have on a day-to-day basis. However, the perspective is very different from the animal's point of view. And is that according to a study conducted by the University of British Columbia (Canada) last year, dogs feel uncomfortable with these displays of affection.
Bliss research projects. was carried out by the psychologist's team Stanley Coren, and published by the magazine Psychology Today in April 2016. During the process, the experts took pictures of about 250 dogs just as they were being hugged by their owners. After examining the images, they determined that 81,6% of the dogs showed signs of stress, anxiety, fear or nervousness during the hug. On the other hand, 7,6% seemed to feel comfortable and the remaining 10% maintained a neutral expression.
Coren himself relates this fact to the survival instinct of the animal, because as he explains, “dogs are technically cursory animals, a term that indicates that they are designed for rapid operation. That implies that in times of stress or threat the first line of defense they use is not their teeth, but their ability to run far ”. In conclusion, the animal feels trapped when we hug him, and he knows that in case of danger, it will be difficult for him to escape. This generates strong anxiety.
We can check if the dog is uncomfortable by analyzing its body language. For example, if so, it will avoid eye contact, move its paws, duck its ears, yawn or lick our face. It is also likely to shake or squirm.
In any case, this does not mean that all dogs react in the same way to a hug. As we know, these animals possess a own and independent character well differentiated from other specimens, so that while some may hate this gesture, others consider it pleasant and comforting.