BY FRAN JEWELL
The truth of the matter is that almost all dogs do not enjoy being hugged and it can be a reason for a dog to return the affection with a bite. This is one reason so many children are bitten by dogs every year. For a child, a dog is not much different from a stuffed toy—something to cuddle and squeeze. The reality is that a dog will see a child much like another dog—not a small human, like we do. When the dog is offended with a hug, the dog many times replies with a nip. Unfortunately, to a child, even a nip can have devastating results.
Hard words to swallow, I know. First of all, we have to understand that dogs are a different species than we are. They are not furry humans. There are certain behaviors that, to them, mean entirely different things than what we think they mean.
In the dog world, when a dog puts its head over the shoulders of another dog, it is a challenge to social status. Sometimes it is innocent, as in a puppy exploring to find his place in the social ranking with the other dogs. A fair dog may simply move away from the puppy. This can actually be a very healthy way for a puppy to develop a relationship with other dogs, as long as the puppy respects the response of the older dog. A dog that is a little unsure of himself may turn and nip the puppy.
With other dogs, putting their head over the neck of another dog is a direct challenge to a fight.
Another important thing to consider is the breed of the dog. Herding dogs are very sensitive to personal space; they need more. Space sensitivity is what helps them do their intended job—herding livestock. Dogs in that group might be border collies, Aussies, German shepherds, cattle dogs, etc. A herding dog is far more likely to respond negatively to a hug that reaches or bends over their shoulder. Many hunting breeds have no personal space concerns and most of the time are oblivious to invading the personal space of herding dogs.
When people are involved, whether a dog accepts your hug or not has a lot to do with the relationship you have with the dog. I was in a pet store one day when someone from out of town came into the store with their golden retriever and the clerk ran out from behind the counter and quickly hugged the dog right over its head and shoulders. The dog in turn growled at her. The clerk was sure that the dog was growling at another loose dog in the store. As I watched, I thought to myself that it was a wonder that this dog did not bite the clerk for her lack of sensitivity to the needs of this dog, which she had no relationship with.
In general, hugging a dog is not something dogs understand or think is affection. Once in a while a dog will tolerate hugs from someone they have a trusting relationship with. However, if you want to show affection to your dog, it will be much better taken if you scratch his butt instead of hugging him over the shoulders.