Recently, we have been researching ways that we show our dogs affection. And while it did not take us long to learn that actually hugging our dogs can be stressful to them, that doesn’t mean that there are not other options for showing our dogs plenty of love.
Even though hugs may be out, that doesn’t mean we can’t still shower our pups with love. And that means turning to the American Kennel Club for some tips, because of course the last thing we want to do is accidentally stress out our pups while we are trying to show them how much we love them.
So, are you looking for ways to show your dog some affection without stressing them out? We have some ideas for ways to share the love with your pup.
Here’s how we can show our dogs affection without causing them stress
While your dog might be willing to tolerate hugs, that doesn’t mean that they like them or approve. So when we are looking for ways to show our love and affection to our pups, we need things they will more than just tolerate.
Among the ways we can show our love to our dogs are,
- Rubbing your dog’s belly. (It feels like you can never go wrong with belly rubs!)
- Scratching their favorite spots, which may include on their backs or even behind their ears.
- Pats are good, but try to avoid the head because dogs actually do not like having their heads patted.
- Playing games with them is another way to show affection. Games can include tug of war and even hide-and-seek, which are a great way to connect with your pup anyway.
Do you have any other ways that you show affection to your dog? Are these ways you show your dog affection? What are some things your dog doesn’t like?