The following exchange happened yesterday, which got me thinking about hugs.
A friend (who only met Leo for maybe the second time) was petting Leo and everyone was happy. Then, she reaches in and gives Leo a big, sustained hug.
Leo: *instant lip licking, whale eyes*
Me: Hey, you should let him go. He doesn't like that.
Friend: *laughs* Nah , I see you hugging him all the time, and he loves...
Leo: *snarl and flail*
Friend: *mortally offended she just got growled at*
I then had a conversation with her on how one should not hug unknown dogs, even friendly unknown dogs, even friendly dogs that you kinda know. I also tried to explain calming signals to her. I only kinda got through to her. I think she mostly was still pretty offended that Leo growled at her.
The thing is, Leo does LOVE hugs...from me! He will worm his way into my arms, burrow his head into me, and just overall be happy as a clam, sitting in my lap with my arms around him. He even likes it when I give him squeezing hugs, and will lean into me for more.
The important keywords here are: "from me". He was not at all cool with someone he didn't know doing it, but unfortunately, my friend has watched me interact with my dog in this way, and thought she could do it too. He first asked politely for her to stop and then not so politely when his signals weren't respected. Thankfully he was just loud, and there was never even a threat of a nip or bite.
So, how are your dogs with hugs? From whom? And what is your general opinion of hugs?
I definitely think it is something to be approached very very cautiously, and with most dogs, not at all. I would never ever hug an unknown dog, and would only ever hug a dog I knew well after they had made it repeatedly clear that THEY wanted one. Too much potential for a bite to the face.
A friend (who only met Leo for maybe the second time) was petting Leo and everyone was happy. Then, she reaches in and gives Leo a big, sustained hug.
Leo: *instant lip licking, whale eyes*
Me: Hey, you should let him go. He doesn't like that.
Friend: *laughs* Nah , I see you hugging him all the time, and he loves...
Leo: *snarl and flail*
Friend: *mortally offended she just got growled at*
I then had a conversation with her on how one should not hug unknown dogs, even friendly unknown dogs, even friendly dogs that you kinda know. I also tried to explain calming signals to her. I only kinda got through to her. I think she mostly was still pretty offended that Leo growled at her.
The thing is, Leo does LOVE hugs...from me! He will worm his way into my arms, burrow his head into me, and just overall be happy as a clam, sitting in my lap with my arms around him. He even likes it when I give him squeezing hugs, and will lean into me for more.
The important keywords here are: "from me". He was not at all cool with someone he didn't know doing it, but unfortunately, my friend has watched me interact with my dog in this way, and thought she could do it too. He first asked politely for her to stop and then not so politely when his signals weren't respected. Thankfully he was just loud, and there was never even a threat of a nip or bite.
So, how are your dogs with hugs? From whom? And what is your general opinion of hugs?
I definitely think it is something to be approached very very cautiously, and with most dogs, not at all. I would never ever hug an unknown dog, and would only ever hug a dog I knew well after they had made it repeatedly clear that THEY wanted one. Too much potential for a bite to the face.