National Hug Your Dog Day is in April
As ever, though — hugging your dog is best done everyday, all year, for both your sakes!
Or at least ‘making a fuss’ of your dog, I should say.
It would seem there is a hormone called ‘oxytocin’ that is released both in the human and in the doggo when they have a hug. It’s actually called ‘the cuddle hormone’ or the ‘bonding hormone’.
Hugging is good for bonding. Most humans, and some dogs appreciate a good hug. Oxytocin is good for you!
But hugs aren’t always the best bet …
Not all dogs like to be hugged. In fact, many dogs don’t like it because it makes them feel trapped.
If you consider that they can’t get away from you when they want to, then it’s understandable that they might not like to be captured and held hostage.
If you hold a dog in such a way that he/she can get up and move away if he/she wants to then it’s okay because they can go, or they can stay if they want to. I call it an ‘open hug’.
I’ve seen too many people holding their dogs in such a way they have no choice in the matter. This can sometimes lead to disaster.
It’s easy to mistake what a dog likes if we’re thinking in human terms.
In the painting above this Jack-Russelly doggo looks long-suffering but isn’t struggling to get away. Yep — not wildly comfortable, though.
This doggo — above — is actually lying on top of his human so he’s just fine because the choice to be there is entirely his.
Give your dog the choice to leave or stay and he’ll be more likely to stay, but he needs to know he can leave.
This doggo — above — is chuffed to sit on his human’s knee. Her arm is around him but that’s for courage and he stays there because he needs courage, too.
That’s because they’re watching ‘Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell’ and have frightened themselves silly.
Every little noise in the night frightens them more.
Giving your dog a pat, or a scritch behind the ear, or anywhere that doesn’t involve holding him in place will always be welcome. Well — if it isn’t, then there might be something wrong.
Your company — with or without hugs — is what a dog wants more than anything.
Well … plus snacks.
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