A Touch Sensative Dog
Just as we humans have different tolerances for physical affection, our dogs do, too.
Many shy and fearful dogs are “touch sensitive”; they may avoid our hands, flinch or pull away when we try to pet them, or even snap if they perceive our touch as a threat.
Correctly deciphering our dog’s body language is the first step in understanding how he feels about our touch. Does he start licking his lips? Does his body get still? Does he glance away or turn his head away from you? Does his tail stop wagging or drop between his legs? Does he close his mouth and tighten his lips? Does he give a hard stare or show the whites of his eyes? All of these changes in his posture and bearing are clear indicators that we should STOP whatever we are doing and step away from the dog.
A better, less intrusive way to gain a fearful dog’s trust is to sit or kneel down quietly and let your dog come to you. Any slight movement toward you is a huge accomplishment for the dog! As he learns to trust that you won’t reach out to grab him, he will approach you more willingly and more often. It may take one ten minute session or it may take sitting on the ground during a whole season’s worth of Game of Thrones before you see progress. As with everything related to a fearful dog, your dog, not you, needs to set the pace.
Once the dog can approach you confidently, have the back of your hand available to brush against the dog’s shoulder, and stop the contact BEFORE the dog moves away. The back of the hand allows a lighter touch that some dogs seem to appreciate more than the typical ‘palm first pet’. Remember: never reach out to a touch sensative dog, however tempting it may be. Instead, keep your hands and arms close to your body. Also keep in mind that unless a dog is trained to accept being petted on top of the head, they consider it uncomfortable at best and offensive at worst.
At first, keep your pets to the shoulders, chin and chest, unless your dog tells you otherwise. Your fearful dog may never choose to lay on your lap or snuggle up with you in bed, but even the most fleeting physical contact given voluntarily builds a better relationship between you and your dog.
Even now, several years after we adopted Katie, I still get a thrill every time she asks one of us to pet her. Gaining her trust was definitely worth the wait.
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