You might believe your dog loves being Petted. After all, countless videos online showcase seemingly happy dogs being stroked and fussed over. However, what you often see on platforms like YouTube isn’t always the full picture. Many dogs tolerate petting out of politeness or learned behavior, but they aren’t truly enjoying it. This highlights a common miscommunication between humans and their canine companions. Loving dog owners, whose dogs adore them in return, sometimes miss subtle cues that their furry friends are politely requesting them to stop petting.
Surprisingly, despite the vast amount of dog-related content online, very few resources clearly explain how to discern if a dog genuinely enjoys being petted. Recognizing this gap in Dog/Human Communication 101, we’ve decided to delve into this crucial topic.
Zani expressing whale eye, a sign of discomfort during petting
To help bridge this communication gap, we introduce the “Consent Test” for petting. This simple yet effective method allows you to understand your dog’s true feelings about being petted. The principle is straightforward: if you stop petting your dog, does he actively seek to restart the interaction? This “Consent Test” isn’t a novel invention. Jean Donaldson, in her book “Oh Behave,” describes a similar technique (originally used to assess consent in humping behavior). Dog trainers frequently employ it to evaluate if rough or seemingly one-sided play is enjoyable for all dogs involved. By briefly separating dogs during play, you can observe if the seemingly less assertive dog attempts to re-engage. This test can be applied in various scenarios to understand a non-verbal animal’s preferences. It’s an intuitive approach that becomes obvious once you’re aware of it.
In the video demonstration (mentioned in the original article), the “petting consent test” is showcased with two dogs, Zani and Summer. Zani clearly indicates “No” to further petting, while Summer enthusiastically signals “Yes.” The demonstration also highlights fundamental body language cues that support their responses.
Here’s a concise list of body language indicators to help you interpret your dog’s reaction to being petted. Remember that these are general guidelines, and individual dog variations and context are vital considerations. These observations are widely accepted but not absolute rules.
Signs Your Dog Enjoys Being Petted
- Initiation: Your dog actively moves into your space, seeking interaction.
- Physical Contact: They nudge their head or body under your hand, inviting petting.
- Paw Guidance: They use their paw to gently pull your hand towards them, encouraging continued petting.
- Relaxed Facial Muscles: Their facial muscles appear soft and relaxed, without tension.
- Droopy Eyes: Their eyes may become soft or even partially closed in contentment.
- Rag Doll Flop: They relax their body completely, becoming loose and floppy like a rag doll.
- Leaning In: They may flop their body weight onto you, enjoying close physical contact.
Signs Your Dog Doesn’t Enjoy Being Petted
- Head Ducking: They pull their head away when you reach out to pet them.
- Moving Away: They physically distance themselves from your touch.
- Looking Away: They avoid eye contact and turn their gaze away from you.
- Leaving the Area: They may get up and walk away to escape the petting.
- Yawning: Yawning, when not tired, can be a sign of stress or discomfort.
- Scratching: Excessive scratching, especially when seemingly out of context, can indicate unease.
- Lip Licking: Quick lip licks can be a subtle stress signal.
- Paw Lifting: Lifting a paw can be a sign of uncertainty or appeasement.
- Whale Eye: Showing the whites of their eyes (whale eye) is a clear indicator of stress or discomfort.
- Obvious Avoidance: Growling, snapping, or other overt signs of displeasure.
Ambiguous Signals: Context is Key
- Hand Licking: While sometimes affectionate, licking your hand can also be an appeasement gesture, meaning “please stop” or signaling stress. Conversely, a mouthy dog might lick and nuzzle to solicit petting.
- Back Flop: Rolling onto their back can be an inguinal display, a submissive posture. Or, it could be an invitation for a belly rub. Context and other body language cues are crucial.
- Pawing or Pushing: Pushing against you with straight legs could be a distancing tactic. However, some dogs seem to enjoy stretching this way during interaction.
- Lip Licking Nuances: As mentioned, lip licking is often a stress signal. However, some dogs might smack their lips softly in apparent enjoyment of petting.
When interpreting these less clear signals, always consider the overall context and look for clusters of other body language cues. For example, a yawn might simply indicate tiredness if the dog has just settled down to rest. Pay attention to the bigger picture.
Further examples of dogs enjoying petting can be found in the follow-up post “Dogs Who Like to be Petted or Touched.”
Training a Dog to Tolerate and Enjoy Being Petted (and Handled)
While being petted isn’t essential for a dog’s survival, comfortable handling is crucial for their health and well-being. Dogs can learn to accept and even enjoy both handling and petting through classical conditioning and positive reinforcement. Training a dog to be comfortable with handling significantly reduces stress during necessary procedures like vet visits and grooming. While this is a topic for another detailed discussion, it’s important to remember that dog preferences, like human preferences, are not fixed and can be positively influenced.
The Importance of Public Education
It’s crucial to raise public awareness about canine communication and consent regarding petting. While forced petting might seem minor compared to more severe forms of mistreatment, it represents a microcosm of larger issues in human-animal interactions. Imagine the improved well-being of countless dogs if their owners understood their subtle signals and respected their preferences regarding being petted! It’s a seemingly small change that can make a significant positive impact.
Searching online for videos of “dogs enjoying petting” often yields concerning results. A search for “dog enjoys petting” revealed very few videos on the first page that genuinely depicted a dog initiating and enjoying petting, and re-engaging when the petting stopped.
This highlights the need for more educational content. If your dog genuinely enjoys being petted, consider sharing videos that demonstrate what genuine consent and enjoyment look like. Alternatively, you could share older footage of your dog displaying discomfort during unwanted handling to help educate others. Every contribution helps!
Further Resources for Understanding Dog Communication and Safe Interactions:
- Doggonesafe.com: How to Love Your Dog – Believe it or Not. This resource offers valuable insights into asking for a dog’s consent and understanding canine communication, promoting respectful physical interactions. The entire website is a treasure trove of information on dog body language and child safety around dogs.
- Dogs Like Kids They Feel Safe With. This video beautifully illustrates using clicker training with dogs and TAGteach with children to foster comfortable and safe interactions. It addresses both fearful children and children who might be overly enthusiastic with animals, teaching them about consent from both the dog and the handler.
- Dr. Sophia Yin’s Resources: Dr. Sophia Yin offers a wealth of information on dog body language, polite greetings, and low-stress handling. Her Free Downloads: Posters, Handouts, and More page is an excellent starting point.
- Family Paws. Family Paws focuses on safe interactions between dogs and families, particularly for expecting families and those with infants. Founder Jennifer Shryock provides insightful analysis of human-dog petting miscommunications in this YouTube video, explaining the discrepancies in communication styles and expectations.
Synopsis of the Petting Consent Test Video (from Original Article):
The video demonstrates the petting Consent Test by showing interactions with two dogs in relaxed, safe environments where they are free to move away. The test involves petting the dog, perhaps starting on the chest, and then pausing to observe the dog’s reaction.
Zani, when petted and then the petting stops, mostly stares, initially appearing neutral. However, closer examination reveals subtle stress signals like lip licks, head turns, body turns away, and shrinking away from the hand. Despite being fleeting, these “no” signals are numerous. Freeze frames highlight these subtle cues for clearer understanding.
In contrast, Summer, when petted, exhibits clear signs of enjoyment. Her eyes are half-closed in bliss, and she actively nudges back into the hand when petting is paused, clearly signaling “Yes, please!” to more petting.
The video highlights the individual differences between dogs. Zani, despite being generally sociable, becomes nervous when petted, while Summer, who typically prefers personal space, welcomes gentle petting.
Although treats weren’t used during filming, Zani received spray cheese afterward as a reward for her cooperation. Despite potential discomfort, she remained present, possibly anticipating a training session due to the camera’s presence.
© Eileen Anderson 2012 eileenanddogs.com
