Does Your Dog REALLY Want to be Petted?

does your dog really want to be petted we humans almost always want to touch dogs but not all dogs want to be touched even very friendly ones one way to tell if a dog is enjoying something is to stop the activity then see if they try to restart it this is sometimes called a consent test it's a way to help a dog communicate with us about what they like or don't like here's how to use a consent test to ask your dog if she wants to be petted sometime when your dog is relaxed set up somewhere comfortable with her don't have her unleash and don't block her somewhere where she can't get away pet her wherever you think she would like it best chest is usually good then take your hand away saying he says no she actually says no many times in dog body language in 27 seconds she did four lip licks seven head turns away to full body turns away and to shrinking back all of these are typical signs of stress or avoidance here's a lip lick head-turn full body turn away shrinking back from hand this is pretty clear communication once we get a good look at it saying he could have left but she stayed probably because she anticipated that what we were doing might turn into a training session here's a different dog summer says yes and yes and yes again some are leaned into me her eyes were half shut her facial muscles were relaxed she walked up to my hand whenever I stopped this is clear communication to we can learn to read dog signals and let them have a voice in what's going on how does your dog answer the question thanks for watching zanny got spray cheese for being such a good sport

Channel: eileenanddogs

Views: 488,216

Rating: 4.7900229 out of 5

Keywords: dog, body, language, petting, consent, test, stress, lip, lick, look, away, head, turn, paw, lift, shrinking, back, from, hand, tr

Id: -cGDYI-s-cQ

Length: 3min 41sec (221 seconds)

Published: Wed Aug 29 2012

Reddit Comments

[u/merglegurgle]

Thanks for sharing! I read this first thing when I woke up and was still in bed, so I thought I'd test it. I called the dog over and pet her, and sure enough, a head turn and two lip licks. Interesting.

Then later, I'm sitting on the toilet, (yes, I was raised in a barn so I leave the door open) and the dog comes up to me and I pet her face, stop, and she smooshes my hand back into her face again and gives me the "awww yiss" eyes. It looks like she gives very clear yeses and nos. Very cool and good to know!

[u/southernbelladonna]

I wish more people were aware of these signals. My dog is very friendly and goes up to everyone at the dog park looking for attention. He sometimes likes to be petted, but most often just wants some acknowledgment (say hi to him and he might rub against you a bit...I think he's part cat sometimes...lol). Far too many people look downright offended when he dodges away from their hands.

[u/lzsmith]

Great video. Also, PSA: especially with a dog you aren't familiar with yet, let him finish smelling your hand before you try to touch him. Until he at least makes your acquaintance, it's not appropriate to grope.

[u/ljuvlig]

My dog licks his chops all the time. Does that mean he's nervous a lot? Or can it just be a quirk of some dogs?

[u/heatherfly]

TIL that my dog would like it if I could just keep petting him infinitely.

[u/workerdaemon]

My dog mugs everyone she meets for more pets. Sometimes she's a PITA in bed when she's like, "No no no, rub my muzzle until I fall asleep. No, I said don't stop. You can't fall asleep first, rub my muzzle more."

[u/[deleted]]

[removed]

[u/woodysortofword]

I tried to do this test but when I stopped, my dog jumped into my lap and licked my face. Apparently she consents even when I don't.

[u/[deleted]]

TIL I have a dog that doesn't like to be petted as much as I thought. This is good stuff.