Hug the Dog

Since Dr. Stanley Coren’s observations and recommendation to not hug dogs were published last week, the internet has erupted with pet owners touting their hug-loving dogs and trainers/behaviourists with differing opinions.

"My dogs love being hugged," Corey Cohen, a companion animal behaviour therapist at A New Leash on Life in Pennsylvania, told the New York Times. He thought dogs could be comfortable if there was familiarity and trust.

Erica Lieberman, a dog trainer and behavior consultant with Pawsibilities Pets in New York City, told the New York Times “I believe people should err on the side of caution.” That in general, dogs should not be hugged — just to be on the safe side.

 

So, what does the science say?

No one has done a formal study or research to determine whether hugging or other close contact causes stress or pleasure in dogs.

"This is a set of casual observations," Coren told The Washington Post. He hopes another scientist will take his idea and study it more formally.

In the meantime, people wonder if they should or should not hug their dog.

The answer may be - it depends.

It depends on the dog and its desire for close physical contact in general, and the level of familiarity and trust between the human and dog.

Read the full story here.

Don't Hug the Dog

Dr. Stanley Coren, author of “How to Speak Dog,” recently examined 250 photos from the internet of dogs being hugged, looking for signs of stress and relaxation.

His thoughts, published in Psychology Today, indicate hugging the family dog is not a good idea.

81.6% of the photographs showed dogs who were giving off at least one sign of discomfort, stress, or anxiety. Only 7.6% of the photographs could rate as showing dogs that were comfortable with being hugged. The remaining 10.8% of the dogs were either showing neutral or ambiguous responses to being hugged.

(Psychology Today)

“This data clearly shows that while a few dogs may like being hugged, more than four out of five dogs find this human expression of affection to be unpleasant and/or anxiety arousing,” Coren wrote.

Coren's results support the long-held belief by animal behaviour experts and dog bite prevention organizations who encourage not hugging or kissing dogs.

In fact, Doggone Safe, dedicated to dog bite prevention through education and awareness, lists "Dogs Don't Like Hugs and Kisses" as number one of the three most important things to teach your kids.

Read the full story here.

Dog Park Safety Project Aims to Educate

The International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC) recently announced the launch of their Dog Park Safety Project. The series of posters are a result of the collaboration between the IAABC, Dr. Jessica Hekman and artist Lili Chin. 

The goal of the project is to promote safety in dog parks and dog play through community education. The posters illustrate dog body language and communication in different situations, and how owners can manage these interactions in ways that are positive for everyone involved.

Founded in 2004, the IAABC believes in the study and science of behaviour consulting. They provide networking and education opportunities for members through on-line discussion groups, guided studies, webinars and conferences. Their 2016 Animal Behaviour Conference takes place April 9th and 10th in Anaheim, California and has cat and dog behaviour tracks.

Air Canada Expands Brachycephalic Breed List

Starting July 21st, Air Canada placed a flight restriction on brachycephalic dog breeds. On August 28th, Air Canada expanded the list of restricted breeds; the current list may be found here. The Canadian Kennel Club is providing information and insight to Air Canada regarding the shipping of live animals.

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Air Canada Imposes Flight Restrictions for Brachycephalic Breeds

Starting on July 21, 2015, Air Canada put several flight restrictions into effect. Air Canada will not allow canine brachycephalic breeds to travel with them as cargo or checked baggage. The restrictions on brachycephalic breeds were put in place due to the safety hazards these dogs face. Brachycephalic breeds are allowed to travel in the cabin provided they are under 10kg.

Air Canada also places restrictions on pet travel due to summer weather conditions. From June 20 to September 10 no pets will be permitted to travel as checked baggage. Pets may still travel on cargo flights as they provide the necessary climate control to keep animals safe.  Ground temperatures also affect the flight of animals. If any cities the plane will land in are warmer than 29.5oC Air Canada Cargo will not fly homeothermic animals.

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