Every time you see his little face, you’re dying to pet your dog. But then, when you were expecting a puppy that goes on its back looking for scratches, you seem to be disturbing it. He avoids you and even goes to another place…
Why that ? If your dog doesn’t like to be petted or isn’t affectionate, should you be worried? Let’s find out
If you’re dealing with a new company that isn’t your own, you don’t yet know his personality – his likes and dislikes. Never assume hugs are welcome.
Be sure to only pet once you are sure he wants to be petted. To find out if petting is appropriate, ask yourself the following questions:
- His tail is high at the base above his back?
- He barks ?
- Does he seem too stimulated?
Is he looking at me with eager eyes, an aggressive expression, or is he ignoring me?
For example, with Jodie, it’s simple. She seeks caresses so much that she tries to jump on people or lies directly on her back waiting for kind gestures… Conversely, a neighbor of my parents has a little dog who growled at me maliciously the only time I came near it…
if the dogs tail is high at the base, it’s a sign of overstimulation or dominance. A puppy can also show dominance by staring intently at you.
If you see this behavior, chances are he doesn’t want your hand on his head right now.
Is your dog demanding?
If the question of the stranger is absent with your doggie, the question of whether he wants to be petted remains.
There are many situations where the pooch prefers to be quiet. The most common is when eating. He is focused on his food and does not care about your petting. When I do it with Jodie, she takes her bone and goes to lay further.
She also makes her difficult when she sleeps. As much as she wakes up, she loves coming to ask for caresses, as much if I bother her during her nap, she leaves and sometimes even, after a sigh!
puppys are tactless and it is partly for this honesty that we love them. So don’t be upset to see your dog leave when you’re trying to show affection. It just means he wants them later.
There are also other companys who don’t really like caresses…
Do some dogs naturally hate petting or is this a learned behavior?
In some dogs, the aversion to petting comes from birth. These dogs tend to be more independent and don’t need a lot of affection. It doesn’t mean that they don’t like you or that they don’t want to spend time with you.
It’s like with humans. Some multiply affectionate gestures, while others, even being madly in love, keep a certain distance.
In canids, this is seen more with dominant puppys, that are extremely dominant want what they want, when they want it. They often go to extremes, either demanding constant affection or wishing for solitude.
There are also the unfortunate cases where the behavior is actually learned. If a puppy wasn’t petted or given affection as a puppy, he may reject affection as an adult. This sometimes happens with dogs adopted from shelters.
What to pet a dog?
There are approaches that can make dogs run whether they like petting or not… You should only pet a dog that initiates contact. Squat down and get on his level, letting him know that you are open to contact.
Don’t hover your hand over his head at first. This could surprise him or even scare him.
Every dog is different but generally dogs like to be petted like him on the chest, shoulders and base of the neck. Most dogs don’t like to be touched on the top of their head, muzzle, ears, legs and tail.
Petting should be gentle and soothing to you and the puppy. The intensity can be stronger once you know each other well. For example, with Jodie, she loves it when I rub hard on her rear end. When I do, she stretches or rocks onto her back.
If you try to pet a dog and he reacts with a dominant behavior by staring at you or with an erect tail, stop petting him and give him some space. Don’t play the tamer when he clearly shows you that he wants to be quiet.
