Many people are accustomed to petting or patting dogs on the head or scratching their bellies. But do dogs enjoy this as much as people do?
There's no point in patting her.
Patting can cause intense aversion. Pats can often be a sore point for animals, especially pats on the head. Dogs, like people, enjoy gentle petting. And pats can be perceived by dogs as a form of punishment.
Many people use approving pats on the head in training. They say, "Keep it up, buddy, you're doing great." But the pet perceives this as punishment and stops following commands. The owner is confused and doesn't understand what's happening. After all, there's a reward, but no results.
Don't touch your head
Petting a dog's head can make it fearful if it doesn't trust you. A hand extended from above toward its head can be perceived as a threat. This most often happens when an animal is adopted from a shelter or the street.
On the other hand, in canine language, a paw placed on the head signifies dominance. A similar "gesture" is used, for example, in a wolf pack.
This can cause psychological discomfort in the animal when you start petting its head, or even patting it. In this case, the animal doesn't understand why and how the owner is demonstrating dominance over it.
Never pet a stray dog on the head. Your pet will tolerate such a gesture from you, but a stray dog might bite you.
Don't scratch your belly
The belly is the most tender and vulnerable part of a dog's body. If she shows it to you, it's primarily a sign of trust, not an invitation to scratch it.
In a dog pack, the gesture of falling on one's back with legs raised signifies a greeting and trust. The owner is often touched by this. However, we're not suggesting that pet belly rubs should stop from this point on.
Over the millennia, our four-legged friends have learned to understand what humans want and what gives them pleasure. And they don't interfere.
Don't hug
Humans express love with any hug. But, unfortunately, with dogs, it's a completely different story.
When a pet places its paw on another dog's back, it demonstrates dominance. Therefore, when hugging a person, the dog will feel anxious. And you will become a threat to the dog, because you are dominating and suppressing it.
Hugs are the most common reason a dog might bite you. There are exceptions, such as animals that are accustomed to being hugged. But this doesn't apply to stray dogs.
