do dogs really like to be petted?
- Thread starter yoko
- Start date
L
i think they like the petting. attention can be given in so many other ways, but when a dog walks over...puts his/her nose under your hand...and moves your hand up over their head...
it seems to me like they want to be petted. Tira will keeep nudging and pushing until you either pet her of your own free will...or she gets your hand on top of her head. lol...it's very cute, but can get annoying when you're trying to type. ya can't help but love 'em!!!
it seems to me like they want to be petted. Tira will keeep nudging and pushing until you either pet her of your own free will...or she gets your hand on top of her head. lol...it's very cute, but can get annoying when you're trying to type. ya can't help but love 'em!!!
I read that they do not like being hugged and that it isn't a natural feeling for them so tho we like to hug it makes them uncomfortable. I disagree, i think once they know what it is about they like it very much indeed! I know Bronki did for sure.
Another source said that CAts like to be petted and Dogs like to be scratched. That i think is mostly true. I have been doing t-touch massage with both my dogs for more then a year now and i can say without a doubt that they find it very very nice. It is suppose to help Mary with her arthritis and has been priceless in helping calm Victor down his first few months when he was going through his post stress trauma.
There are some pressure points that once found make for happy dogs too. One is on the side of the neck below the ear half way betweeen front and back. If you sort of gather up the skin in your fingers and rub in a pattern going up the neck slowly (like your gathering the fold of skin working it up the body) they go into a blissful stage. Close their eyes and groan with pleasure. Every single dog i have ever done this to has the same reaction. Behind the shoulders and right before the hips are others.
For young puppies first seperated from the mother and scared, or too riled up from play i like to take a warm washcloth wet and wrung out (warm is important) and wash the puppy's face the same way a mother dog would lick with her tongue. Making sure to get the inside of the ears and go over the stop and up between the eyes in one long smooth stroke. SAme over the crown of the head. The results are instant. The puppy relaxes and becomes much less stressed.
Touch is so important in training too. We never used treats to encourage at the kennel where i worked. Praise and touch were all the rewards any dog received and it made them very very happy when they did a good job to be rewarded with a big all over scratch, good pats and a big hug. (Kisses in the ears don't hurt a bit either!)
One thing i noticed at the kennels is that parent dogs kiss puppies mouths and vise versa (for weaning purposes as an instinct but i have watched it as an affection too), and adult dogs do not kiss muzzles but ears instead. Bronki would wash Mary's ears for long periods of time and she would do the same. So when i want them to know i especially love them i fold their ear back and give a gentle kiss there. It is Vic's favorite game to play with me where he tries to hold still and i will lean over but if he moves i will pull back..Finally he will lay his head down and stay so still, all but his tail which is thumping wildly and i will give him a gentle kiss on his cheek. OH That is another pressure point they really like especially with the Tellington Touch. That pad of muscle right over the jaw joint. Mine like it when i bath them and hold the shower attachement pouring warm water right on that spot over the joint. That was what Vic liked the most and helped him not be scared during his first bath.
Another source said that CAts like to be petted and Dogs like to be scratched. That i think is mostly true. I have been doing t-touch massage with both my dogs for more then a year now and i can say without a doubt that they find it very very nice. It is suppose to help Mary with her arthritis and has been priceless in helping calm Victor down his first few months when he was going through his post stress trauma.
There are some pressure points that once found make for happy dogs too. One is on the side of the neck below the ear half way betweeen front and back. If you sort of gather up the skin in your fingers and rub in a pattern going up the neck slowly (like your gathering the fold of skin working it up the body) they go into a blissful stage. Close their eyes and groan with pleasure. Every single dog i have ever done this to has the same reaction. Behind the shoulders and right before the hips are others.
For young puppies first seperated from the mother and scared, or too riled up from play i like to take a warm washcloth wet and wrung out (warm is important) and wash the puppy's face the same way a mother dog would lick with her tongue. Making sure to get the inside of the ears and go over the stop and up between the eyes in one long smooth stroke. SAme over the crown of the head. The results are instant. The puppy relaxes and becomes much less stressed.
Touch is so important in training too. We never used treats to encourage at the kennel where i worked. Praise and touch were all the rewards any dog received and it made them very very happy when they did a good job to be rewarded with a big all over scratch, good pats and a big hug. (Kisses in the ears don't hurt a bit either!)
One thing i noticed at the kennels is that parent dogs kiss puppies mouths and vise versa (for weaning purposes as an instinct but i have watched it as an affection too), and adult dogs do not kiss muzzles but ears instead. Bronki would wash Mary's ears for long periods of time and she would do the same. So when i want them to know i especially love them i fold their ear back and give a gentle kiss there. It is Vic's favorite game to play with me where he tries to hold still and i will lean over but if he moves i will pull back..Finally he will lay his head down and stay so still, all but his tail which is thumping wildly and i will give him a gentle kiss on his cheek. OH That is another pressure point they really like especially with the Tellington Touch. That pad of muscle right over the jaw joint. Mine like it when i bath them and hold the shower attachement pouring warm water right on that spot over the joint. That was what Vic liked the most and helped him not be scared during his first bath.
One of my dog enjoys physical contact of any kind - petting, scratching, patting and especially hugging. I have never met a dog that likes hugs as much as Dakota does.
On the flip side, I have a dog who doesn't enjoy petting very much. He accepts it, but he isn't happy about it until he gets a butt scratch.
Both of my dogs completely melt if I do what Smkie mentioned and rub right behind their ears, and both of them looove getting their butt (not literally their butt, but that's what we call the area around their hips) scratched. We recently introduced Ripley to the bamboo back scratcher and if we hold it over him, he'll start doing this weird little writhing movement to self-scratch. It's hilarious.
On the flip side, I have a dog who doesn't enjoy petting very much. He accepts it, but he isn't happy about it until he gets a butt scratch.
Both of my dogs completely melt if I do what Smkie mentioned and rub right behind their ears, and both of them looove getting their butt (not literally their butt, but that's what we call the area around their hips) scratched. We recently introduced Ripley to the bamboo back scratcher and if we hold it over him, he'll start doing this weird little writhing movement to self-scratch. It's hilarious.
D
Chico and Ven both love attention from me. But when we are out in public I dont allow people to pet them because there is no need for it. I feel allowing strangers to pet your dog in public is not natural for the dog. People underestimate pack mentality and dogs, but I feel pack behavior is still a BIG part of a dog and any adult dog or wolf that enters a pack is killed because it does not belong there. That is why you have so many dogs that snap these days, because people don't respect pack mentality.
RD said:
One of my dog enjoys physical contact of any kind - petting, scratching, patting and especially hugging. I have never met a dog that likes hugs as much as Dakota does.
On the flip side, I have a dog who doesn't enjoy petting very much. He accepts it, but he isn't happy about it until he gets a butt scratch.
Both of my dogs completely melt if I do what Smkie mentioned and rub right behind their ears, and both of them looove getting their butt (not literally their butt, but that's what we call the area around their hips) scratched. We recently introduced Ripley to the bamboo back scratcher and if we hold it over him, he'll start doing this weird little writhing movement to self-scratch. It's hilarious.
On the flip side, I have a dog who doesn't enjoy petting very much. He accepts it, but he isn't happy about it until he gets a butt scratch.
Both of my dogs completely melt if I do what Smkie mentioned and rub right behind their ears, and both of them looove getting their butt (not literally their butt, but that's what we call the area around their hips) scratched. We recently introduced Ripley to the bamboo back scratcher and if we hold it over him, he'll start doing this weird little writhing movement to self-scratch. It's hilarious.