Loving Gestures

[Ivy]

Do dogs know the difference between a kiss or a hug being a loving gesture or just tolerant of our shananigans?
By kiss I mean a kiss on the top of their head or on the cheek. No funny business.

Tynan loves to be petted on the top of his head and under his muzzle. Other than that he can care less for any other forms of physical affection.
Timber likes to be real close all the time, so any affection is good in his books.
Dallas isn't overly affectionate, he will come over and rest his head on you for a little while but that's about it, he eventually goes off to take a nap.
Lincoln and Hank are in the middle

How do your dogs react to these types of gestures?

 

[lizzybeth727]

I think dogs can feel the energy you're projecting when you show affection toward them. So in that way they can probably learn to enjoy it, at least to an extent. Just like not all people like to be hugged/kissed, even out of love, I imagine it's the same for dogs.

On a side note, I'm teaching Keegan that when I kiss him on the top of his head, he's supposed to "kiss" me back my poking my forhead with his nose. Oddly enough he only does it when he's in a loving mood, if I've irritated him he'll let me kiss him but not kiss me back.

 

[Renee750il]

Tallulah kisses back Very gently, on the lips. She also likes to get up in my lap, or even just stand upright and press herself as close to me as she can possibly get. If she's in my lap she throws her head across my shoulder and nestles in my neck and sighs, turns around and kisses me, then goes back to nestling.

Kharma is another hugger, wants to be touching, and she'll root up under my arm to get a good squeeze. At night she stretches out next to me lengthwise and fits herself right up against me, with her head just under my chin so that my hand is across her shoulders. She also does the cat rub thing, lol.

Bimmer loves to rub up against you, especially if you're sitting down, and he'll root his head under your hand, moaning and making wolf noises the whole time. He gets too hot, though, to get right up against you and stay there, unless it's cold.

So yah, I think they know

 

[RD]

Wink is the most affectionate dog ever. She likes hugs, kisses, being picked up and held, squeezed, whatever. It's all good in her books.

Eve is affectionate too, but she doesn't tolerate it for as long as Wink does. She overheats too easily to be touching me all the time.

 

[Saeleofu]

Gavroche is a very touchy-feely kind of dog lol. He sits on laps, leans on people, snuggles, and just loves affection. He's a "squishable" dog and loves to be hugged because it means more body contact. He's not big on giving kisses, but does on occasion, little tint kisses. I kiss him all the time and he doesn't mind lol. Gavroche doesn't realize he's not a 3 pound lap dog.

Logan isn't as cuddly as Gavroche, but he does love scritches and doesn't mind hugs. He's definitely more cuddly now than he was a year ago. He also gives a ton of kisses, and doesn't mind people kisses lol. He like close contact in the form of laying next to me or on my legs at night, or rubbing on people when he's being goofy. This morning he smacked me to wake me up (I taught him to wake me up, but he choose the method lol), and then laid down next to me and started rolling around against me, making wookie noises, and being a goof. That's his morning routine.

I definitely think dogs know that these gestures we do are in the name of love. I know some people say dogs think it's dominant gestures or whatever else ( ) but I think they learn what we mean just we learn what they mean. People and dogs wouldn't get along the way we do if dogs weren;t capable of understanding human affection.

 

[Romy]

Logan isn't as cuddly as Gavroche, but he does love scritches and doesn't mind hugs. He's definitely more cuddly now than he was a year ago. He also gives a ton of kisses, and doesn't mind people kisses lol. He like close contact in the form of laying next to me or on my legs at night, or rubbing on people when he's being goofy. This morning he smacked me to wake me up (I taught him to wake me up, but he choose the method lol), and then laid down next to me and started rolling around against me, making wookie noises, and being a goof. That's his morning routine.

For the record, he did that as soon as he dried off after being born. Wookie noises included. :rofl1: Moxie and I just looked at each other and rolled our eyes. He's definitely his father's son.

Kaia LOVES hugging. She just melts. Which is very fortunate because her neck is at hug level and when kids are zooming around and decide to zoom up and hug her, she's in heaven.

Strider likes being petted. He's learned that hugging is humanese for affection and seems to enjoy it from family and tolerate it from acquaintances. He's not super cuddly. There's only one person in the world he actually tries to climb up and snuggle with and that's my old college roommate. lol. She's awesome though, so I can understand that.

 

[Beanie]

I definitely think dogs know that these gestures we do are in the name of love. I know some people say dogs think it's dominant gestures or whatever else ( ) but I think they learn what we mean just we learn what they mean. People and dogs wouldn't get along the way we do if dogs weren;t capable of understanding human affection.

I agree... Auggie will kiss me back if I kiss him. I didn't teach him this or ever ask for it, he just started doing it on his own. I don't think they come into this world "knowing" that a kiss and a hug is affectionate but I sure do think they learn.

 

[Saeleofu]

For the record, he did that as soon as he dried off after being born. Wookie noises included. Moxie and I just looked at each other and rolled our eyes. He's definitely his father's son.

Haha, Logan is definitely a great source of comic relief :rofl1:

 

[eddieq]

Xena loves everybody. She'll accept hugs and kisses and give them back in earnest.

Case in point:
Receiving

Giving

 

[Angelbears10]

3 dogs all 3 different.

Cane(fila) He will give sugars if asked but handles it much like a teenage boy. Very aloof and doesn't need much affection. Smart dog but very stubborn.

Ziva(Fila) Rescue we have only had for about 6 weeks. LOVE BUG! She loves to give sugars, loves being hugged, loves to lay on you. Just like Kharma, Ziva will get into bed and lay beside you(lengthwise) with her head nestled on your shoulder.

Jezzy(ACD)Loves to give sugars if you can catch her.

 

[Catsi]

All very different here.

Gracie (staffy x) laps up hugs and kisses. She buries her head under your chest and snuffles and wiggles. She'll kiss back. Always up for a cuddle, it's as if no matter what mood she is in, she'll think 'oooh, cuddle time', and indulge in the moment.

Abby is not the most affectionate of dogs. But she is the only dog I have that LOVES being stratched on top of her head, as opposed to anywhere else. The other dogs tolerate it fine, but she melts away when you do it. She will take quite a lot of cuddling if she is in the mood, if not, she'll just walk away or find another spot on the couch. Occasionally she will lie in the crook of my arm as she loves this spot. Last night I was at the computer and she wanted to hop into my arms. She positioned herself so she was looking up at me with her chin resting on my breast and her little face gazing at me. She wouldn't take her eyes off me. I stroked the middle of her forehead and she melted away. It was a special moment! Not one I get everyday for sure.

My grandmother's whippet boy is a veritable sook. Absolutely up for cuddles and a little too free with his kisses. Quite possibly the most affectionate dog I know as he is very demonstrative. Very, very sweet dog. And unbelieveably gentle. Even at the stately age of ten, you have to be careful that Gracie doesn't hit you in the face by accident when she is cuddling.

 

[Dizzy]

Bodhi would probably crawl inside you if that was possible. She can withstand mega squeezing and LOVES being kissed. She's got to have some kind of physical contact, and if she's in my bed we spoon lol

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Violet tolerates hugs, and loves kisses on her nose. I'm not sure if she sees it as affection, but I think it amuses her, lol!

Chloe definitely knows that hugs and kisses are affection, and loves/craves them. I kiss her cheek, head, and neck when I'm snuggling her, and she closes her eyes, and enjoys being loved on. She loves hugs too, even from little kids who squeeze too tight - lol!

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

Wilson gives kisses--very gentle licks--which is really funny because he is such a forceful and strong dog in other ways. He also likes to be in contact with you--will lie his whole body across you or in your lap.
Baxter likes to be right next to me, snuggled right up against me. He tolerates hugs and kisses--but mostly likes to snuggle and be pet.

 

[RBark]

Xena loves everybody. She'll accept hugs and kisses and give them back in earnest.

Case in point:
Receiving

Giving

*melts*

What breed puppy is Xena?

 

[Renee750il]

Oh, and anyone who scolds us for "anthropomorphizing" :nono:

 

[HayleyMarie]

Teagan can be very affectionate to her people. The morning alarm is Teagans trigger to jump up and attack my face with kisses and paw swips. At this point she is usually laying ontop of me.

She likes to be touching you. Like when we are sitting on the couch she is usually on your lap, beside you or on the back of the couch touching your neck.

Teagan also gives kisses on command, that is when she is not in a grouchy mood or not mad at you. ha ha

She also loves getting kisses. I am constantly kissing her. So I guess she kinnda has to like it. Ha ha

Teagan likes being cuddled, when she is in a cuddly mood, When I force cuddles on her I get a pissed look from her or I get snubbed. My dogs kinnda a bitch.

My moms dog Casey is not that lovey, unless he is in the mood and when he is in the mood he just wants to lay on you. He is not a kissy dog either. He never, ever licks you.

Emme is an attention *****. Loves attention and love, and loves giving back the love. She is a hand holder. By that I mean she likes to hold your arm or your hand in her mouth and just let it sit there. Shes weird.

She also is a love bitter in the most inapropriate, and sensative areas. ha ha.

She also is a licker. If you give her any ounce of attention like a pat on the hand shes going to try and grab your hand to slobber it to death. I find her slightly annoying because she can be very demanding for attention. When you least expect it you might get a paw swip because she wants attention.

 

[eddieq]

*melts*

What breed puppy is Xena?

She's a purebred mutt

 

[Taqroy]

I think dogs know - or pick up on it. Murphy is very tolerant of hugging and kissing but he prefers butt scratches. He's never been a very cuddly dog though, I think he's only slept on my bed twice in the four years since I got him.

Mu only likes to cuddle when it's really cold, she's really tired, or when I'm sleeping. But I pick her up and hug her and kiss the top of her head all the time. She likes that cause she can look out the window. LOL. And she will jump up on people and love them. Of course her version of love involves lots of wiggling and ear cleanings all around so most people aren't very into it.

Tipper is probably the most affectionate one and she loves everybody. I can't wait for winter when she climbs up on the sofa and curls up on top of me. She's such a sweetheart. She doesn't like being pulled to someone and she doesn't much like enforced hugging. She's gotten a lot better though - when we first got her she didn't even want us to pet her back/butt and now she loves it. She does like kisses - giving and receiving. Just....make sure you have your mouth shut. LOL.

 

[RBark]

She's a purebred mutt

:thumbsupsmileyanim: