I’m a dog expert – here are four tell-tale signs your pooch is NOT enjoying that belly rub
One of the many joys in a dog’s life is a good old belly massage.
But according to a dog trainer, not all puppies are thrilled about all that affection, and some may feel stressed and uncomfortable about it.
While they may look like they’re enjoying themselves, they can “appease” their owners.
Fortunately, the expert has shared some key behaviors to watch out for. These indicate whether your four-legged friend is for or against abdominal exercises.
According to a dog trainer, not all dogs are ready to have their tummies massaged and owners should watch for some key signs that their dog isn’t enjoying it
The dog trainer explained that there are certain signs to look out for that indicate whether your dog enjoys belly massage or not
Demonstrating the signs with a Yorkshire Terrier, she explained that sometimes dogs will let you give a tummy massage even though they’re uncomfortable
Top Paw K9 Academy dog trainer Greeley Colorado shared her tips with the company’s one million TikTok followers.
She asked her followers, “How many of you go straight to massaging your dog when they show you their belly, or someone else’s dog?”
She continued, “Did you know that this can actually be appeasement behavior and the dog doesn’t want trouble, doesn’t want attention, but doesn’t want trouble.”
According to Behavioral referrals Veterinary practice, atonement can be interpreted as a dog being overly clingy and needy, which means turning to expose its belly.
Demonstrating this with a Yorkshire Terrier, she explained four behaviors to watch out for that could mean your dog doesn’t like belly rubs.
If your dog is licking his lips, swallowing hard and his body is extremely stiff, the expert said you should stop petting.
You also have to look out and keep an eye on their eyes. If they are very wide and alert, they are likely to feel uncomfortable in the situation.
But just because your dog is showing these symptoms doesn’t mean he’s completely against belly rubs and wants the affection on his own terms.
In the same dog, the expert showed some signs that your dog does want a belly rub.
When their eyes begin to close, their body is very relaxed and there is no lip licking or stiffness. She said owners should feel free to give them a belly.
The viral video has been viewed a whopping 1.2 million times and has received more than 102,000 likes.
Dog owners flooded the comments with gratitude, one writing: ‘Thanks for the clarification. My dog does the first example and I thought he wanted me to rub his belly. I feel so bad right now.’
Another commented: ‘Thank you! didn’t know this one.’
Meanwhile, others were debating what the behavior actually means
One user commented, “My dog licks when she is petted so I stop and then she begs for more or my hand smacks her nose again. ‘
And some agreed that their puppies love a belly rub anyway. One user commented, “No, my dog always grabs my hand and forces me to give them tummy rubs.”