How to Show Affection to Your Dog

Humans use touch to communicate greetings, connection and affection via a handshake, hug or kiss. Dogs use gestures to communicate affection, too-they nuzzle, nudge, rub up against and even groom each other. Using human gestures on our canine companions, however, can be unsettling to them.

In this article we examine the facts that support this notion, define what we consider as being "physical," and offer some better choices on how we can show our affection to our much-loved pets.

Respect your dog's space. Dogs don't hug like we do; instead, they snuggle or nuzzle. To a dog, hugging is typically construed as a dominant or assertive gesture similar to "mounting" or "humping." Thus, if you want to give your dog a hug, remember that he may regard the gesture as overbearing. Respect his space, and go slowly over time to help him get used to your closeness.

Gentle strokes are best. To a dog, stroking is similar to nuzzling. When your dog puts his paw on another dog's neck, back or head, he is not "petting" the dog-he is expressing his assertiveness over him. For a human to pet a dog, however, is a perfectly acceptable form of affection, particularly when delivered as a loving stroke and accompanied by soft praise. The gesture can reaffirm that we are pleased with the dog and is also relaxing and calming to him.

The least threatening type of pet we can give a dog is stroking him under his chin. However, an overly physical "pet"-the kind given by some young children-can be intimidating, particularly if the child is a "petting hammer."

Some dogs are hypersensitive to touch due to chronic illness like arthritis or environmental annoyances like flea and fly bites. If your dog has an unknown past, even the softest touch may startle him, so keep your movements slow, calm and deliberate. Gently stroke his shoulders and keep contact with his body while you give affection.

Resist picking up your small dog. Pups are picked up (by their mothers) only when they are very young. While most of us cannot physically pick up a Great Dane, we don't hesitate to swoop down and lift tiny dogs like Chihuahuas or Maltese. We forget that no matter how small, a dog is still a dog and, as such, is usually uncomfortable being picked up. This is simply not natural to a dog and puts him in a position where he may feel trapped.

Being lifted up also elevates the dog to a higher position physically, thereby giving him a false impression that he is higher in stature than the person. When this happens, the person picking him up may be inadvertently supporting the dog's aggressive tendencies.

Although unlikely, lifting up your dog can cause injury. A fall from your arms could break bones, harm the spine or worse. Dogs such as dachshunds, basset hounds and corgis are prone to back problems due to their long backs and short legs. Allowing them to jump up for attention or picking them up can actually cause strain on their vertebrae, leading to chronic pain or slipped discs.

Dogs learn by association. If a dog has ever been hit, pinned down, rolled over, kicked or over-handled in the past, we must rebuild his trust slowly and gently. This may mean little or no physical touch until he shows through his body language that he is ready for such attention.

Avoid pulling on your dog's collar. Grabbing your dog's collar to deal with issues like jumping up or rushing out the door can be viewed as very threatening; dogs just don't do this to each other. And you may have noticed that, the more you pull back on your dog's leash or collar, the more he pulls forward. This tendency to pull is a natural, built-in reaction-think of sled dogs and how they pull a sled.

Every time we pull excessively on our dog's leash or collar, we risk causing damage to his neck and back. Constant tension or grabbing and yanking a dog by the collar can cause real harm by damaging the cervical vertebrae (neck bones), nerves in the neck and trachea (windpipe).

Prepare your dog for necessary handling. Help your dog get used to being handled physically for nail clipping, grooming, washing, and veterinary checkups.

• Nail clipping. Slow, slow, slow. Let him first become accustomed to the smell and sound of the nail clippers. Allow him to slowly get used to having his feet held-gently hold each foot, momentarily at first, then for progressively longer periods of time. Then, without actually clipping the nail, touch the clippers to the dog's nail to see how he reacts. Finally, trim the smallest possible amount of nail, praising his calmness. You may need to "distract" him by holding a treat tightly in your hand while you clip. Be sure to reward him when you are done by letting him have the treat. Eventually he should see clipping as a common grooming and bonding experience with you. NOTE: Always make extremely small clips so as not to cut the nail's "quick," which is difficult to see on dark nails. If you are still uncertain of where to clip, check with your veterinarian.
• Grooming. Whether cleaning ears, washing, brushing or trimming his coat, your dog should see grooming as an enjoyable bonding experience. If he shows any reluctance, start very slowly. Begin to desensitize him to the handling and touching of his ears, the sound of clippers or scissors, and the feel of water, shampoo and a brush on his coat. Used as a distraction, food can be an effective asset if the dog is reluctant to tolerate grooming.
• Visiting the veterinarian. Start out by taking him into the clinic when it's quiet and let him meet the wonderful people who work there. Have the staff give him a treat, place him on a scale and allow him to sniff the consultation room. A few visits like this will help him to associate the vet clinic with a positive experience.

Building a solid foundation of respect and trust with your dog leads the way to your being able to do virtually anything with him. Once you have established a trusting bond so that your dog understands you will protect him from harm, he will come to at least tolerate essential physical activities, and at best, enjoy them.