A new study indicates that dogs don't like hugs, which could be surprising to a lot of dog owners.
According to an article published in Psychology Today, hugs stress dogs out. Canine behaviorist Stanley Coren wrote than when a dog gets hugged, they interpret it differently than humans.
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According to a "Today" show article, humans get a surge of hormone oxytocin when they hug. But a happy dog is one that approaches someone and doesn't feel immobilized by someone's arms.
"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 said.
The following are signs of stress in your dog:
- Turning his head away from whatever is bothering him
- Closing his eyes (full or partial)
- Eye whites (dogs have them, but we only tend to see them when the dog is stressed)
- Lowered or slicked-back ears