PHYSICAL CONTACT with Dogs

Dogs use the sense of touch to express their affection, as well as we do and they normally enjoy physical contact, but not on the same way humans do. For us, it is normally comforting when someone gives us a huge hug, when he/she gets close to us and gets his/her face close to ours or when he/she caresses our face. On the other hand, dogs may feel that an aggressive dog or a predator is attacking them when being hugged and feel alarmed instead of loved. They may even think that we are trying to get on top of them and therefore dominate them in an abusive way. Even when dogs lick each other around the mouth as a sign of submission, getting your face close to the dogs may provoke an aggressive answer from them. It is important to teach, especially to children, the correct way of touching dogs. In general, we should all learn how to take them in our arms and physically handle them. dog rain coats

Put one hand around the dog's chest while you support the weight of its body with the other, placed under the rear quarters. Hold the dog against your chest to transmit security to the dog. Never hold a dog taking it by the armpits or the tail or throw and catch it in the air.

HOLDING AN ADULT DOG

Adult dogs don't usually like to be held in arms, in some ways because they don't feel comfortable and many times also because they associate this action to the one that takes place when they are lifted up to the veterinary's table to be examined. If the dog is big or medium size one, the most recommendable thing is to do it as follows: With the dog standing on its paws and lying on the side, go around the dog and pet with both arms and then lift it carefully, in just one movement. In this way, the corporal weight is homogeneously distributed and you prevent the dog's attempts to get away.

Is it recommendable to regularly practice this technique and be prepared to put it into practice when it is really necessary? It will be enough to hold the dog in your arms as if you were about to carry it and then offer the dog a treat or play with it so it will associate this gesture with positive experiences. If you don't do it, it will be a very strange and scary experience for your dog when you have to carry it in your arms.

TOUCHING YOUR DOG

It is absolutely mandatory for your dog to let you touch any part of its body in a good mood. Get your dog used to being touched by you when it is feeling all right, otherwise it will be impossible for you to treat a very painful problem in your dog's ear or to examine an aching paw in the future. You have to touch and manipulate your dog everyday, maybe when you are grooming or massaging it. The eyes, ears, teeth and gums are particularly sensitive; always touch them in a very careful way. Don't forget the dog can't express with words that it dislikes being touch in certain part of its body, so, if the dog shows resistance, tries to run away or make a biting attempt, don't get mad or aggressive. Stop, go look for a toy or treat and gently try again. If the dog lets you do it, then reward it.

TOUCHING A STRANGE DOG

If you want to caress an other person's dog, ask for permission before doing it. If the owner happily agrees, make sure that dog agrees too. From the side and trying to avoid looking at the dog directly into the eyes, offer the dog your hand for it to smell it. Its reaction is usually very significant: if the dog reaches you to smell or greet you, there shouldn't be any problem. If the animal backs up, leans its ears to its back side or seems uncomfortable, stop. If you put your hand on the dog's head or neck, it could feel threatened; it is better to softly scratch the dog's chest or under the chin the first time you touch it. Many dogs immediately get closer to the stranger or turn around for you to scratch its rear quarters (on the dog's language this is an invitation for friendship). Dog Collars