Snuggling with a dog not only feels great, but research shows it’s good for our health, too. We may love and benefit from this interaction, but what about our dogs? Learning to snuggle correctly can help ensure an experience that will benefit the both of you.
Physical Contact Can Improve Your Health
As if you need another reason to cozy up to your pup, interacting with your best friend may result in better checkups at the doctor’s office.
“The Pet Effect has proven that pets can help lower blood pressure, lower risk of heart disease, reduce stress levels, decrease anxiety and depression, strengthen immune systems, and even increase human social interaction,” says Rachel Lees, a veterinary behavior technician at The Behavior Clinic in Olmsted Falls, Ohio.
That’s great news for us, but can our dogs benefit too? Laboratory studies show that a rat’s oxytocin levels increase when stroked by a human, says Lees. Oxytocin is the hormone that plays a role in social bonding; it’s sometimes referred to as the “cuddle hormone” or “love hormone.”
“A gentle human touch has even caused a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure in this same experiment. We can only assume that dogs have the same response,” she says.
Let Your Dog Decide if You Should Snuggle
Beneficial though it may be, not all dogs enjoy snuggling, says Lees. “There are a fair number of dogs that tolerate snuggling, but dogs with behavior issues tend to dislike it and may put their owners at risk for aggression issues.”
She recommends interactive touching as an alternative way to have a similar experience with a dog who does not like as much physical contact. For example, giving your dog a gentle massage may impart similar health benefits. The most important thing is to respect your dog’s space.
“Dogs are very tolerant of our behavior, but we want to give them a voice,” Lees says. “It’s one thing if you call your dog and he comes to you, but if they stay in place, this is their way of saying that they would not like to interact with you. We should be able to respect that, as we do not always want to have interactions with other people.”
Forcing a dog to do something he doesn’t want to do can be dangerous, says Dr. Susan Jeffrey, a veterinarian at Truesdell Animal Care Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. “It may cause the dog to bite. It can also set up a negative relationship between the dog and pet parent.”
Learn to Read Dog Body Language
Learning how to read dog body language is critical to knowing if your pup wants to snuggle.
“If a dog is soliciting attention or an interaction from you, the dog’s body posture should appear loose and wiggly, a tail posture loose with horizontal movement, with their ears and mouths neutral,” says Lees. “Most dogs who want to have this interaction will place themselves in their owners’ laps, near or on top of their owners. Dogs who are craving interaction may also shove their heads and bodies in contact with their owners’ legs or hands.”
If you’ve accidentally gone too far, your dog may exhibit signs of fear, stress or anxiety, says Lees. Signs your dog is saying “that’s too much” include tense muscles, a stiff posture, lip licking, panting or freezing. More overt signs include growling or physically moving away from you, Lees says.
How to Snuggle Your Dog the Right Way
Let your pup position himself if he shows interest in snuggling, recommends Jeffrey. “For example, if the dog wants to be on the owner's lap, allow the dog on the lap versus picking it up, again, potentially forcing it to do something it doesn't want to do. Allow the dog to become comfortable, and then touch the dog where it likes to be touched. This includes the head, back and sometimes the abdomen.”
Snuggling should never involve grabbing or pulling the head, ears, neck, trunk, limbs or tail, adds Jeffrey. “The person should also not firmly hold a dog that doesn't want to be held. For example, don't continue to snuggle a dog if it is struggling to get away. In addition, it's unsafe to wake up a dog suddenly as startling it may result in the dog biting.”
Be gentle, learn to read dog body language, and give your pup the option to walk away. It can mean the difference between an experience that instills anxiety and one that generates health benefits for both of you and strengthens your bond.