Serious question. Do dogs like to be hugged?

[Old Troop]

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Some do, some don't from my experience. I've got two chocolate labs -

one snuggles up to me and demands to be close - the other moves away from me when I am lying on the floor.

[Moondog]

2. ^^^ What NRL said. And cats are the same. n/t

[Arkansas Granny]

8. That's been my experience, too. Some are happy just being close and others seem to need

the physical contact and will initiate it at times.

[NRaleighLiberal]

9. Same with cats - I've got a Maine Coon that is quite aloof...and a tabby that is so affectionate -

he is curled up right next to me as I type this....if I put my hand near his face, he licks it - and he kisses us on our noses. Kip the Maine Coon thinks that is all quite ridiculous and very undignified!

[Arkansas Granny]

12. The cat I have now is affectionate when it's her choice. She will

hang out in the same room with me or stick close to me when I'm working out in the yard, but she doesn't require much petting. I've had other cats, however, that I referred to as velcro kitties. They would have been "stuck" to me at all times if I had allowed it.

[MindMover]

3. Short answer is most definitely....see

The existence and nature of personality traits in dogs have been studied (15329 dogs of 164 different breeds) and five consistent and stable "narrow traits" identified, described as playfulness, curiosity/fearlessness, chase-proneness, sociability and aggressiveness. A further higher order axis for shyness–boldness was also identified.[166][167]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog

[undeterred]

4. Depends on the dog.

My last dog was a real snuggler and liked to sit next to you on the couch and on the bed.

The one I have now is part malamute which is a much more independent breed. He isn't a huggy dog. He does like to "kiss" and is affectionate but its momentary. He'll come up to you for affection and then go on his way. I guess different animals have different needs and likes.

[zeemike]

5. I think they would much rather be licked

That is what momma dog does to her puppies...and cats too.
If you could stand it you could send a cat into ecstasy by licking her face.

[Duer 157099]

6. Ewww.. but true

I let my dog lick my hand and then I use that hand to "lick" her back.

Reminds me of a Steve Martin line about how he just gave his cat a bath and now he has fur in his mouth.

[pipi_k]

7. Of the last five large dogs I've had...

I had three "old girls"...two German Shepherds and a Black Lab

One Shepherd didn't like being hugged, although she would come up to us and stick her face in between our knees and just stand there for a few minutes.

The other Shepherd didn't mind being hugged, but only for a bit.

The Black Lab would have attached herself to us 24/7 if we had let her.

My two German Shepherds I have now like being hugged and petted and scratched behind the ears and neck.

Oh, and I once had a cat who actually hugged us...he would, while holding him, stand up in our arms and put his paws around our necks. Funny story...one day I brought home two kittens as company for him. He was pissed off at me and let me know it by jumping from my arms, letting my daughter pick him up, and then hugging her while he gave me a dirty look.

My feelings were so hurt!

By a cat!

[Arkansas Granny]

10. It's funny about your cat. I once had an old cat who "divorced" me for two weeks

when one of my kids was born. I came home from the hospital, she jumped into my lap, saw the baby, hissed and wouldn't have anything to do with me for days. She would come into the room and sit in front of me with her back turned so she would be sure I knew that she was ignoring me. Then she would go act all lovey with my sister, who she had never really liked before. She eventually got over it after she realized that the baby was there to stay.

[pipi_k]

17. bwahahahah!!!

Cats can be such shits at times!!!

Did she allow you to feed her, or was she so pissed off she would only eat someone else's offerings?

[Arkansas Granny]

18. As long as her dish was filled she didn't care who did it.

She was quite a gal. I had her for over 17 years.

[pipi_k]

19. Cats...gotta love 'em...

They are Royalty and we are but their servants.

But funny...I enjoyed every minute of servitude...

[frogmarch]

11. My poodle is a snuggler and loves to hug and be

hugged. We've never before had a dog who loved hugging this much. He is such an affectionate little guy.

We've been taking care of my niece's tiny adult Boston terrier for about 6 months, and she absolutely hates being held and hugged. She'd rather play. When we pick her up and hug her, she squirms frantically to get down, and when we put her on the floor she runs to get get toys for us to throw for her.

I guess it all depends on the doggy whether he or she likes to be hugged.

[retread]

13. I suggest the following book.

http://www.amazon.com/Other-End-Leash-Patricia-McConnell/dp/0345446798


"dogs don’t make ventral/ventral contact (chest to chest, belly to belly) like primates do when they are nursing, and thus don’t develop a positive association between ventral/ventral contact and feeling nurtured and loved."
Patricia McConnell

"the closest thing a dog knows to a hug, is mounting or placing a paw on another dog’s neck and back. Both of these gestures are commonly used for dominance."
Patricia McConnell


"However, since dogs are amazingly adaptable and trainable creatures, once a dog trusts a human (or a well socialized dog trusts all or most humans in most situations), it may well allow and enjoy a hug or close body contact from a human--the same type of contact that coming from a rival dog would be a signal to prepare for fight or flight."
Barry McDonald ---ClickerSolutions

[UTUSN]

14. The hugging takes the form of LEANING, applying PRESSURE through contact

for the ones that like being hugged, that is, because I agree with "some do, some don't."

And when I'm reclining, my two jump up and lie down LEANING on me in a crook or cranny of me. I think I'd better stop here, TMI, but if I do somebody might IMAGINE worse!1

[grasswire]

20. I think leaning is pack behavior.

That's what my border collie likes best. He often comes beside me when I am sitting and LEANS against me and just stands there for long periods of time. Of course he gets some head scritches. But I think the leaning is meaningful for dogs.

[warrior1]

15. mind does

he puts his whole big body into it.

[pink-o]

16. I had an Irish Setter in the 70s

who would throw her front legs around my neck and literally hug me to death. That dog had to be in physical contact with me at all times--even riding in the car, she'd lie across my lap!

I also had short custody of a Golden Retriever, when my ex-husband brought him to our marriage. Unfortunately, we divorced and he took the Golden away again. (I missed the four-legged dog far more than the two-legged one when that marriage ended.) And that dog was also a hugger. I haven't had many other dogs in my life, but as far as I know they're all very affectionate, love belly rubs and lean against you until you put an arm around them. If your dog doesn't love to hug, maybe he's got issues.

As for kitties: I figured they were all aloof till I got my Bombay. That cat lived on my lap, and would sleep under the covers, curled up against me purring. Awesome. Maybe I'm just warm, and animals want a piece of that. Can't be that I smell like meat: I've been vegetarian for years!!

[Withywindle]

21. I think most do, but maybe only by their own specific people.

They have personality variations just like people, some are really touchy-feely, others are more aloof. They're pretty much all ridiculously affectionate with people they love, though (assuming they've been raised with love and not abuse, of course), just in different ways.

My parents' current dogs are both huge snugglers, huggers, and lap-pouncers -- which can get dodgy since one is a 100-lb Bull Mastiff. (Which is actually on the small side for that breed - sure doesn't seem small to me!)

[KT2000]

22. Used to go to a pet food store

that had a store dog. Customers were always petting her but to me she looked bothered by it, so I left her alone. Then, one day I was kneeling down to get my cat food and she came over and leaned against me and just stayed there. I considered it a dog hug. She was a really cool dog.

[Doremus]

23. Our mini schnauzer taught himself to stand on the back of the couch for a hug.

When I'm standing behind the couch he jumps up on the back and then stands up, putting his front legs on my shoulders. We'll hug like that for several minutes while he makes purry-type sounds and soft little grunts. My daughter taught him to kiss when he was little: he puts his face up and we kiss his lips and he doesn't lick.

Our other mini schnauzer enjoys cuddling in our laps when we're sitting but an actual hug would not be his favorite thing.

We once had a greyhound who loved to put her face on your chest when you were sitting. She would stand in front of us and just lean in for awhile. I always thought she was enjoying the warmth on her face but I'm sure she liked the petting and attention too.

[HopeHoops]

24. Depends on the dog and their mood.

[xchrom]

25. my dogs insist on it. nt

[Tripper11]

26. Mine does for sure.

As soon as I come in the house she comes to me, pushes her head against my leg and I scratch underneath her chin, and along her side. She pushes against me as I do this, wanting more.
I surely take this as a welcome home hug. I call them head hugs.

sshhh...please don't tell her I posted this picture of her...

[saras]

27. Just like people. WHICH dog, WHEN, hugged HOW, by WHOM, and WHY?