Veterinary Expert Challenges Common Belief About Dogs and Petting
Many dog owners assume their furry companions love being petted, hugged, and kissed just as much as humans enjoy giving affection. However, according to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, this common assumption might be wrong for many dogs.
The Surprising Truth About Canine Affection
Dr. Emily Levine, owner of the Animal Behavior Clinic of New Jersey and a featured expert on HuffPost's "Am I Doing It Wrong?" podcast, revealed that numerous dogs don't actually find physical affection particularly enjoyable.
"Many dogs really don't find being pet and hugged and kissed particularly nice — they just don't enjoy it very much," Dr. Levine explained during her podcast appearance with co-hosts Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson.
The behaviorist noted that while some dogs do enjoy specific types of touch like butt scratches or show excitement when owners return home, these reactions can sometimes mask their true feelings about physical contact.
"When you really watch a dog's body language when they're hanging out and doing their own thing, most of them are just tolerating [being petted] at best," Dr. Levine observed. "There are lots of dogs where, quite frankly, they get so frustrated and annoyed that they start to growl and say 'Hey, please, back off! I'm really not enjoying this.'"
Navigating the Human-Canine Culture Clash
Dr. Levine framed the issue as a cultural difference between human and canine communication styles. She suggested that if a dog is merely tolerating affection without showing signs of anxiety or aggression, occasional petting might be acceptable.
"This is where we have a little bit of a culture clash — human culture and dog culture," she said. "If they're tolerating it, and as long as they're not aggressing or it's not making them very anxious — tail tucked, ears back — if they're tolerating it, it's a little bit like hugging your kid, especially as they become more a teenager."
However, the veterinarian emphasized clear boundaries. Pet owners should immediately stop if their dog shows anxiety or uses aggression to communicate discomfort.
"If it clearly makes them anxious or they're using aggression as a strategy to say, 'STOP,'" Dr. Levine warned. "If we ignore the early signs — the growl, let's say — then the dogs sometimes feel they have to escalate their message. Fair enough, because we aren't getting it."
Alternative Ways to Show Affection
Dr. Levine offered specific recommendations for physical affection that dogs might appreciate more than traditional petting:
- Focus on petting the cheek and chin areas
- Avoid running hands along the back
- Keep physical interactions brief
- Prioritize quality over quantity of contact
She particularly cautioned against hugging, which can make dogs feel suffocated or trapped.
The behaviorist emphasized that physical affection should be just one component of a broader relationship with your dog. "It's a relationship we have with our dogs — there's always give and take — so as long as [petting] is not the only thing you ever do with your dog, let's make sure they're getting time to play, or getting time to do things they find enjoyable."
Learning to Read Canine Communication
Dr. Levine stressed that dogs constantly communicate their feelings through body language, and owners can learn to interpret these signals.
"They're constantly telling us how they feel. We just have to learn how to read it," she explained. "We're not born knowing that — no dog owner should feel guilty about not knowing how to read their dog. But there are lots of resources — body language videos and other resources — where you can learn how they are communicating."
The veterinarian described this skill as "the best thing really that a dog owner can do, to really get to know their dog, learn how they speak, because they're speaking all the time."
The full podcast episode covers additional topics including proper dog walking techniques, whether dogs should sleep in human beds, and other common pet care questions that many owners might be approaching incorrectly.
