Psychology Today released an article back in April which says that Dogs really don’t like hugs! It stresses them out too much and makes them feel uncomfortable.

Dr. Coren said, “behaviorists believe that depriving a dog of that course of action by immobilizing him with a hug can increase his stress level and, if the dog’s anxiety becomes significantly intense, he may bite.”

Apparently dogs are “cursorial animals.” Which means that they’re designed for “swift running.” So, if they feel threatened or stressed out they want to run away. When you hug your dog, you’re taking away their main defense and making them stressed out.

Some ways you can tell your dog is #stressedout:

• Ears down
• Head is turned so they aren’t making eye contact
• Licking their lips
• Closing their eyes

You can always show your dog love by petting them or giving them treats, but hugging is a no-no.