It is important to know that dogs love belly rubs, especially if you are one of the people who cannot resist a dog belly massage.
If dogs easily roll over and expose their bellies, they must be doing so because they like to have their bellies rubbed, right? It doesn’t get any clearer than that, does it? It turns out that not all dogs enjoy it as much as we think.
It is very important to monitor your dog’s body language, as a belly rub that your dog does not enjoy can cause him to growl or even bite!
Why do dogs love belly rubs?
Countless dogs enjoy belly rubs. why like this? In her book Siberian Huskies for Dummies, Diane Morgan explains that one of the reasons dogs enjoy belly rubs so much is the pleasurable response when the dog’s hair follicles are stimulated.
Pet visits from people who trust the dog can be considered especially enjoyable. Studies have found that the bond between a caregiver and their dog is very similar to that between a parent and a child (creating a secure baseline effect) and that of physical touch in both humans and dogs. I can stimulate the release of oxytocin.
Many dogs look forward to belly rubs from their caregivers and enjoy all kinds of attention, especially when pet parents are away from home for a large portion of the day.
Not all dogs like to have their bellies rubbed
But not all dogs enjoy belly rubs. Some people may even be afraid of them. Other dogs may love belly rubs from people they trust, but have trouble getting them from strangers.
How to Tell If Dogs Like Belly Rubs
Since dogs can’t talk, we often leave out their body language and how they react to our touches. Here are some general guidelines, although when in doubt, it’s best to err on the side of caution. When an unknown dog walks around with his belly exposed, I recommend ignoring this behavior.
Always pay attention to signs of fatigue
In general, dogs that enjoy belly rubs will be very visible. Their body language will be loose like limp noodles and their muscles will relax.
Some dogs may stick out their front legs as if they are trying to reach you. The tongue will come out of their mouth quietly.
You want a relaxed look with soft, semi-closed eyes. The hind legs appear flexible with the tail relaxed. Dogs who like belly rubs may lean toward you and shake your hand.
Tense
Dogs who are not keen on belly rubs will appear tense instead. Their ears may return, sometimes to the point where they are almost attached to their head. They may yawn, lick their lips, or turn their heads.
Dogs who are afraid of belly rubs may hold their tails, and their legs may protect their chest and abdomen. Their legs can act like coiled springs trying to push you away.
Avoid petting these dogs. These dogs want nothing more than to be alone and remain hidden. Your dog may be trying to make a happy gesture that means, “Please, let’s stop this conversation. It’s making me nervous!”
Some dogs crave space rather than belly rubs.
If a dog flips over and exposes its belly when approached, it is important to be sensible and err on the side of caution. Some dogs like to have their belly rubbed, but it can be inconsistent.
These dogs may be good at giving belly rubs if it is brief and done in a way that makes the dog feel safer. Instead, they may experience persistent belly rubbing or belly rubbing that includes features that make the dog uncomfortable, such as staring directly at the dog or bringing the face too close for comfort.
Dogs may feel especially uncomfortable if you cling to them or block their space so they can’t move.
With dogs in such an aversive state, there are risks of growling, snapping or biting if the person engages in behavior that the dog perceives as threatening.
Rolling Over
Sometimes, you’ll be petting a puppy or dog when it suddenly turns over, exposing its belly as if it’s asking for a belly rub, but is that really what the dog wants? In many cases, these dogs flop over and expose their bellies because they feel somewhat intimidated by the intrusive approach.
Maybe you were hovering over the dog while petting him or staring directly at him. Whatever it was, the dog must have felt the pressure and by moving, he was trying to communicate that he was not in danger and wanted to withdraw from the interaction.
These dogs seem to be raising the white flag. They don’t really expose their stomachs to belly rubs.
Approval test
Some dogs are good at letting you know they’re enjoying the interaction by asking for more when you stop petting them.
So, when in doubt, you can try the approval test. After petting the dog for a few seconds, you can stop rubbing and watch what the dog does, allowing him to decide what will happen next.
Does your dog pat you or pull your hand for more? Does he look at you and beg you to keep going?
Or does the dog do nothing or perhaps walk away, perhaps ruffling its fur to give you the appearance of being “relieved” by the interruption of conversation?
In the first case, when there is scratching and hitting, he may say: “More please!” Otherwise, when he doesn’t do anything or even withdraws, he’s probably struggling and/or telling you he’s had enough.
When in doubt, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. In the video below, author and dog trainer Eileen Anderson gives some great examples of two different results after a readiness test.
A Behavior Reminiscent of Early Puppyhood
Do you know? Urinary display is a behavior reminiscent of a puppy’s early days living with its mother and littermate.
When puppies are only days old, they cannot eliminate themselves. The mother dog’s job is to lick her puppy’s bottom to encourage him to urinate and defecate.
Of course, this requires the cooperation of the pup, who must remain passive and provide the inguinal display so that the mother dog can lick them without conflict. This behavior persists and becomes part of the dog’s behavioral repertoire.
