Over the last couple of weeks the internet and local news stations were plastered with a “study” that proved dogs do not like being hugged and that it can increase their stress and anxiety. The “study” was completed by Dr. Stanley Coren, a Psychologist and well regarded dog guru. Dr Coren has written numerous books about dog behaviour. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Coren and listening to one of his seminars in 2007 at the annual conference for the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers. He speaks eloquently and full of detail when referring to his work, and he is always quick to crack a joke. Also speaking at that conference was Dr Ian Dunbar, who is legendary in the field of positive reinforcement, and between Coren and Dunbar we were not left without a good chuckle.
The point is, Stanley Coren is not just an “average person” as many comments I have read allude to. He has decades of experience and quality research behind him. His opinion does matter.
With that being said, allow me to take a moment to briefly clarify some misleading comments that have been running rampant since this article has been released. The key word in my last sentence is “article”…I repeat, ARTICLE. What was written was just that, an article. It was not a part of scientific research, nor was it a completed study. It was an observation by Dr Coren after viewing 250 pictures on the internet of people hugging a dog. A scientific study is not completed in a matter of days, nor under such loose guidelines. A scientific study gathers all possible information, sorts through different variables, limits the unknown, covers all possibilities, and then gets put up for peer review…at which point other scientists do the same while accounting for other variables such as the original scientists possible bias when selecting subjects and components to the study. Essentially a study is pulled apart from every single angle possible. This was not done here, and it is imperative that we address and understand this. Dr Coren himself states that it is an observation based on data and that once the word “data” is used, people take it as science and factual. So if it wasn’t a study, what was it? It was, plain and simple, an observation. An observation performed by someone respected in his field of expertise. Why do I feel the need to emphasize this? Because many people are dismissing 100% of what Dr Coren has said due to the fact that the websites that chose to publish the article did so with sensationalized headings in order to gain interest. He has not said it is a valid study, he has claimed it for what it is – observation based on data. So be careful not to throw out the baby with the bathwater…just because the heading is misleading does not mean there is no merit to the content.
Moving forward.
There are many terms tossed around in the dog world that refer to how to tell if a dog is feeling stressed. Terms you may have heard include Displacement Behaviours, Self Directed Behaviour, or even Calming Signals. To be clear, the first 2 terms listed are the ONLY ones which have any scientific backing and they mean the same thing! A displacement behaviour is a self directed behaviour which one participates in if experiencing what is interpreted as turmoil between 2 strong emotions (such as fear and anger), basically nail biting is a self directed behaviour. Displacement behaviours have strongly been studied and researched in the field of behavioural science. Calming Signals is a phrase coined by Turid Rugaas regarding behaviours she believes dogs send out in order to calm each other. She compiled an extensive list of these behaviours, such as lip licking, yawning, scratching, etc, but this list has in no way to date been backed by scientific findings and many of these behaviours she classes as calming signals are also displacement behaviours. The work done by Turid Rugaas is extremely impressive and I have enjoyed reading her findings. I am not saying that there is no merit there, I am simply saying that we just don’t know enough about calming signals to quote them as factual. More research should be conducted first. Displacement behaviours, however have been studied and can be backed up with concrete findings. However much needs to also be addressed when trying to interpret displacement behaviours, and I will discuss this further on. These displacement behaviours are the behaviours which Stanley Coren looked for when he reviewed the pictures.
In his observation on hugging, Dr Coren noted that 81.6% of the dogs were demonstrating stress behaviours such as head turned away, tongue flick, “whale eye”, and more. It is believed that if these signals go ignored, a dog will escalate into a growl, and then eventually a bite. So, we know that many of the dogs in the pictures are showing behaviours that can be described as displacement behaviours. What we do NOT know is WHY the dogs are exhibiting these behaviours and this is truly the most important part lacking from the observations; is the dog actually stressed, is the stress because of the hug, what type of exposure did each dog have to the person hugging them before the picture was taken, what kind of handling the dog is used to, or what happened to the dog just before the picture was taken. These missing parts are essential if we want to take this “study” as factual. We do not KNOW that the dog is stressed by the hug in these pictures. Referring to these pictures and these pictures alone, we actually don’t know anything about what the dog is feeling. All we know is that they are exhibiting signs that a stressed or anxious dog also shows, but they are also signs that a content dog may show…A lip flick on its own does not mean stress, it may also mean that the dog just ate a treat or sees something yummy. A yawn on its own does not mean stress, it also means the dog is actually tired. Looking away on its own does not mean stress, it also may mean that someone or something moved over “there”. On and on, you get my point. You cannot take a displacement behaviour on its own and interpret it as stress or anxiety. Some times I chew my nails because I have a hangnail, and sometimes a dog yawns because they are tired. Just because they are participating in a certain behaviour does not mean they are stressed, everything must must must be taken in context. With that being said, I can personally tell you that I most often err on the side of caution when it comes to witnessing possible displacement behaviours. For example, when we pass a dog being walked on the street, my kids know they must ask me AND the dogs owner if they are allowed to pet them. If the dog looks away from my kids on approach or yawns after a few strokes, I encourage my kids to say goodbye and move along. Truthfully, I’m fully aware that the dog may have yawned because he’s exhausted from a long hike, or may have looked away because he knows a cat lives in the house across the road. We never really know what a dog is feeling, but if theres a chance that he is stressed with my kids petting him, our visit is done. With the information we have about stress signs, and the ability as a qualified trainer who is familiar with dog body language, we can absolutely make our best guess to a situation based on case history – but we likely never really know (unless we can become canine mind readers). We guess that the dog is uncomfortable with the hug because he is showing behaviours that are consistent with a stressed dog.
So, to take a moment to summarize all this jibber jabber of mine; It was not a scientific study conducted, it was simply observations by an experienced individual. These findings do not prove anything concrete as there are many variables that have not been considered. These findings also don’t not prove anything either…
What the heck Carrie, can we hug our dog or not???
All I’ve done so far is tell you that what Dr Coren observed MAY or MAY NOT be true…frustrated with me yet?? LOL. My goal with all info above was to bring light to the reality of the document that was published as well as insight into some canine behaviour to avoid future misunderstandings. Dr Coren’s findings are something that deserves a great deal of discussion because based on what we do know for a fact, there is a great amount of concern for safety if we do not take to heart what he has said.
It is my personal opinion that most of those dogs in the pictures probably do not enjoy hugs – at least by the person hugging them in that moment. This does not mean that all dogs do not enjoy hugs, or that your dog does not enjoy a hug from you. But there are some important elements to make sure we keep in mind:
1) Hugging is a very intimate behaviour involving body parts touching. I’m not comfortable with a stranger hugging me, and I am very confident that neither is my dog even though she seeks out close personal attention from me.
2) Timing is critical. Your dog may tolerate or even enjoy a hug, but if they are laying down napping, or intently watching a squirrel out the window the hug will likely not be as readily accepted.
3) A hug is a HUG. For the purpose of this discussion it is not snuggles on your lap or jumping up in your arms. A hug is the action of putting your arms around your dogs neck and squeezing. I believe that dogs tolerate hugs, mine included. They seem to LOVE cuddles and rubs, but for the most part seem to just tolerate hugs.
4) Puppies can and should be exposed to hugs early on from a variety of people in order to condition them to this kind of touch. Why?? Because the chance of some stranger or even child hugging your pup when he’s grown into a full size dog is way too high to not take the steps to prevent a bite. By making a hug a pleasant experience with your puppy by pairing hugs with juicy pieces of chicken, you can reduce future risks. Just as a dog can learn that a leash means really good things or really bad things, I believe they can also learn the same about a hug (this is oversimplifying it slightly, as many more elements exist to conditioning a dog to a hug then to a leash…).
5) Unless you are absolutely 100% certain that your dog not only tolerates but actually enjoys hugs, refrain from using them as a means of reinforcement for a behaviour. If the reinforcement you are offering is not pleasant in the dogs mind, its not really a reinforcement is it?
So in conclusion; some dogs dislike hugs, some tolerate them, and maybe some actually love them. We don’t know for sure, but there is evidence suggesting that it is not a very pleasant experience for the dog. Do not hug a dog that is not your own, and be aware that your dog may not actually like an actual hug from you. This does not mean he does not love you, but it means he doesn’t show his love in that way.
Carrie Castaldi
Positive Paw Dog Training * positivepawdogtraining@gmail.com * 289-926-9627
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