Hugging your Dog is probably stressing them out

You know that moment when you wrap your arms around your dog and squeeze them tight, convinced they love it just as much as you do? Yeah, science would like a word.

Turns out, that feel-good hug you’ve been giving your pup for years? It’s likely doing more harm than good — and the research has been pretty clear about this for a while now.

What the Science Actually Says

Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, kicked things off with a study that analyzed 250 photographs of people hugging their dogs. The result? A whopping 81.6% of dogs showed at least one sign of stress or anxiety during the embrace. Not exactly the wholesome finding most dog owners were hoping for.

More recently, a peer-reviewed study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2024) took things a step further by analyzing popular online videos — not just still photos — which allowed researchers to catch more nuanced behaviors in real time. The findings were even harder to ignore:

• 81% of dogs blinked excessively (a known stress signal)
• 68% avoided eye contact and turned their heads away
• 60% flattened their ears
• 44% licked their lips or nose
• 43% panted
• 68% actually nipped or bit at the human

That last one is, uh, kind of a big deal.

Why Dogs Aren’t Built for Hugs

Here’s the thing — dogs are cursorial animals. They’re built to run, and their primary defense when they feel threatened is to flee. When you throw your arms around them, you’ve just removed that option entirely. From their perspective, they’re trapped.

On top of that, in canine body language, placing a limb over another animal is actually a dominance signal — not a term of endearment. So while you think you’re saying “I love you,” your dog may be reading it as “I’m asserting control over you.” Add in the direct eye contact and the fact that your face is now inches from theirs — both of which can come across as aggressive or threatening in dog-speak — and suddenly your loving gesture is looking a lot less loving.

The Part That Should Actually Concern You

Lead study author Elizabeth Ann Walsh put it plainly, noting that “many human behaviors may be concerning as humans tend not to necessarily understand the body language or vocalizations shown by dogs when interacting with them.”

And here’s where it gets really interesting: when Dr. Coren’s original study went viral, pet owners flooded the internet with photos of themselves hugging their dogs to “prove” their pets were totally fine with it. The problem? Those very photos contained the same stress signals the research had already identified. Classic.

The real danger lurking here is straightforward — a stressed, restrained dog whose signals are being ignored may escalate to defensive behavior, like biting. And during a hug, your face is right next to their mouth. Something worth thinking about.

How to Tell If Your Dog Is Over It

Not every dog is going to snap at you, but that doesn’t mean they’re comfortable. Watch for these signals during a hug:

• Ears flattened against the head
• Lip licking or tongue-flicking
• “Half-moon” eyes (whites of the eyes visible)
• Head turned away or eye contact avoided
• Yawning (not because they’re tired)
• Rigid facial muscles or furrowed brow
• Panting when they haven’t been active or overheated

If you’re seeing any of these, your dog is politely — or not so politely — asking you to let go.

There Are Better Ways to Show the Love

Good news: you don’t have to stop showing your dog affection. You just have to do it in a way that actually lands well for them. Experts recommend:

• Gentle petting along the chest or shoulders (skip the over-the-head pat)
• Side-by-side cuddling where they can move away freely if they want
• Verbal praise in a calm, warm tone
• Treats and play — activities dogs naturally associate with bonding
• Letting them initiate contact and respecting their space when they don’t

The Bottom Line

Not every dog hates hugs — individual temperament absolutely matters, and some dogs do lean into physical closeness just fine. But the science is pretty consistent: most dogs find hugging uncomfortable at best and threatening at worst.

The best thing you can do for your dog is learn their body language and let them tell you what kind of affection they actually enjoy. Turns out, loving your dog well sometimes means keeping your arms to yourself.