A new study confirms that most dogs hate one of the most common displays of human affection

A A recent studyAt the helm Elizabeth Ann Walsh of Cork Pet Behavior Center Cork, in Ireland, recommends it Hug the dogs It’s not the best way to show them love. The work, which involved a multinational team of researchers, contradicts the popular notion that dogs love hugs in addition to evidence. Signs of stress and anxiety in these animals when receiving this type of physical contact.

In 2016, another study based on published photographs Google Images And Flickr He reached a similar conclusion by using the term “dog hug”. At that time, the first 250 images were analyzed and identified 81.6% Dogs showed signs of stress such as turning their heads, closing their eyes, lowering their ears or licking their lips. Just A 7.6% The dogs seemed comfortable 10.8% They showed neutral or ambiguous responses. Now, investigations are focusing on the videos.

In this new study, the images allowed us to observe a variety of canine behaviors, such as panting, winking and biting, that are less obvious in standard images. The researchers studied 80 most popular videos People are shown hugging their dogs on media platforms.

The results showed that 68.25% The dogs avoided eye contact and turned their heads away. 43.75% licked their lips or nose, 81.25% They flashed often, 60% Their ears were cropped 42.5% They panted.

There was a very disturbing observation in this 67.5% videosDogs showed behaviors such as biting or biting directed towards hugging the human.

“Dogs are often considered part of the family. However, they are not human and may therefore react differently to certain interactions, such as hugging,” explained Caroline Kisco of the Kennel Club.

That view is shared Claire MatthewsDog Behavior Specialist at Animal Protection Organization Battersea Dogs and Cats Home From the United Kingdom: “A hug may be a normal social greeting for humans, but not for a dog. When cuddling your pet, subtle signs of stress may go unnoticed and lead to a negative reaction. “It’s about recognizing when your dog is uncomfortable.”

Evan McLeanThe associate director of Duke’s Center for Canine Cognition also advises against hugging dogs in the usual human way. “It’s basically primal behavior. For example, we see similar hugs in non-human primates, but it’s something dogs don’t naturally do to each other. “There are many ways to get close physical contact with dogs that don’t necessarily involve wrapping your arms around them,” MacLean explains.

Dogs with an instinct to run quickly in dangerous situations tend to use flight as their first line of defense. Depriving a dog of its ability to escape by hugging can increase its stress levelAnd according to dog behaviorists, anxiety can even lead to a biting response if extreme.

“Our pilot studies show many reasons for concern because humans do not necessarily understand dogs’ body language or vocalizations when interacting with them.”The researchers wrote from Cork Pet Behavior Center.

Despite the evidence, it’s a popular belief that dogs love hugs. This misinterpretation can have negative consequences for both the well-being of dogs and the safety of people. Elizabeth Ann Walsh And her team recommended that dog owners learn to recognize signs of stress in their pets, rather than assuming that they are expressing affection in the same way humans do.

Instead of hugging, experts suggest pet owners can Consider other ways to show affection to your dogs that don’t restrict movement. Gentle petting, interactive games and treat rewards can be great alternatives to strengthen the bond between humans and their pets.