July 28th, 2009
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Kids – most dogs don’t like people to hug them (in fact, many dogs hate hugs – crazy, huh?), or to reach over their head and give them pats on the head. I know it’s hard not to hug a new dog when you meet him, especially really cute dogs! If you would like to meet a new dog, have permission from your parents and his owner. The best way to make friends is to turn your body sideways a bit, look slightly away from the dog while crouching down and holding your hand out (lower than the dog’s head). Wait for the dog to come visit you. The best way to make friends with a dog is to scratch him lightly under his neck and on his chest.
Parents – Teach your children the appropriate way to interact with dogs and NEVER leave dogs and children together unattended. Children and dogs should never play roughly together. Do not encourage or allow chase games between your children and dogs. Physically intense games like tug are great for dogs, but are best left for adult dog owners and should not be encouraged in children. Hide and seek is a great game for kids and dogs to play and also builds a great recall – it’s a win/win! Kids can also make scavenger hunts for dogs, hiding favorite toys and treats in the yard or home for the dog to find. Many dogs like playing fetch, chasing after bubbles, or even a simple game like “which hand is the treat in?” |
Hi,
I am loving your articles on kids and bite prevention because as many of us dog owners/lovers know that children can sometimes run up to dogs and startle them which then can get unexpected reactions so safety is a must.
I do not want to offend you however as you wrote that
most dogs hate hugs.
I have my american bulldog she is nine months old so she is getting quite big now.
The thing is she LOVES hugs and absolutely thrives on them. Every morning i have to give her a great big hug and lots of kisses sorry to all you people who do not kiss your dog on the nose but i do.
Once that is over and done with (and beleive me it takes a good ten minutes because she loves the hug)
then she will be running around collecting all her toys and wanting her playtime in fact most people tell me she is like a child although i know that she is a canine.
My male dog is not the cuddling and hugging type he is more macho man, although he loves to play and run about with the female and they play well together.
Once she tires of all that she likes nothing better to drape herself over me on the sofa and settls down for her much needed nap, and more hugs if she can get them.
Hi Pauline!
No offense taken! As I mentioned, some dogs do like hugs, but even with these dogs, they generally only enjoy hugs from those they know very well.
Think about it this way – you may love a hug from your husband, best friend, or mom, but having never met me, may think it’s strange or even scary if I walked up to you on the street and threw my arms around you in an embrace.
The best way to recognize whether a dog is enjoying a hug or not is by reading his body language. Signs of stress (meaning – please stop hugging me now!) include, but are not limited to – turning head/looking away, licking of lips, yawning, and watch especially for “whale eye” when the whites of the eyes are prominent/visible. For more on calming signals and canine body language, check out Turid Rugaas’s book Calming Signals, Brenda Aloff’s Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide, or Barbara Handelman’s Canine Behavior: A Photo-Illustrated Handbook.