It has always been said that the dog is man’s best friend and, although this phrase is very old, it is also true that the dog is the domestic animal that has best adapted to humans and, therefore, the most loved by them. In addition, it is indeed inevitable to humanize their gestures and their attitude even knowing that they are not of our species. In fact, if they were, you wouldn’t come close to petting them that fast.
Be that as it may, dogs and humans coexist with perfect normality, dogs need their masters and masters need their dogs, and it is that when you come across one of these magnificent beings, their tenderness catches and you want to caress them, well no you find another way to communicate with them. However, it is important to know to what extent dogs receive these caresses with the same nuance that you give them. In this article, we provide you with some tips to know how to pet an unfamiliar dog or your own.
How to pet a dog?
Wondering where they like to be petted? It is important first to attend to the dog’s attitude before acting to make sure that he wants you to pet him, too. You really should only approach them when you see in them the desire to do so. And how to start petting a dog? When you do it, you should know that it is not good to stretch your arms a lot. Again it is something that can be violent or intimidating to them. In the same way, it happens if you hug them.
Well, you should caress it gently and in the direction of hair growth to not hurt it. Likewise, in all cases, it is always better to do it gently and with love.
Observe their behavior
It is not that complicated to realize when a dog wants to say hello and when, on the contrary, he does not like you or simply does not want to say hello. Dogs are territorial but also extremely friendly and helpful. Be it slower or faster, with more or less excitement, when a dog wants to say hello, he approaches without thinking, wags his tail, and holds such a tender look that you cannot help but stop and immediately release the typical “ooooh.”
However, there are times when dogs, for various reasons, can feel tense and act defensively. Barking and growling aggressively or simply staying still in a lean position is a very clear gesture that the dog does not want you to approach, much less touch it. A key sign of knowing that a dog doesn’t want to be petted is staring at you. Do not ignore this gesture because he intends to let you know that he does not want to be disturbed at that moment.
Watch your movements
You don’t necessarily have to be one of those people who have no respect for animals. Sometimes it is enough with not being attentive or not being fully aware of what the presence of a dog means, and we must not forget that dogs are not human beings and that their instincts differ from yours more than you imagine. For example, when a dog is on the lookout for something else, if you pet it, you can scare it. And as we said before, you must consider if he also wants to interact with you. And depending on how you bring your hand to his head to caress him, the gesture can seem like an attack. It is more advisable to appear smoothly from one side and not from top to bottom.
It is also important to know that, as with humans, a visual order is imposed when someone approaches from above that becomes an exercise of power and a threat to the one below. Things work well when we are at the same height. Well, we provide you with a key tip: you must bend down to pet a dog. He will feel much more comfortable.
Where to pet a dog?
Where the dog will receive physical contact is also important. Like humans, animals also have more erogenous or sensitive areas, areas with more or fewer nerve endings that vary the amount and type of pleasure. Although you always tend to approach the head, this is not the most pleasant place for them, but behind the ears. The best points to caress a dog are: the chest, the end of the back, the neck area, and the chin are places that they love. You can see it as soon as you caress them in these areas since they will raise their heads, inviting us to continue.
On the other hand, dogs do not want to be touched on the back, the legs, the muzzle, or the upper part of the ears. But just try once and see his reaction. It will be enough just once. You should stop trying because he will not be comfortable. And depending on the dog in question, your insistence may mean that it tries to defend itself.
With these tips in mind, nothing can go wrong when showing affection to these furry friends. A minimum of empathy and respect is enough. In addition, if you practice it to do it well, petting can bring benefits and be of great help for the health of these animals and your own. These displays of affection and warmth are effective remedies for your stress. By helping them calm down, you will be counteracting their cardiovascular problems and happier. When words fail us, gestures are everything!
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