An animal expert has revealed why we shouldn't actually hug our pets, no matter how tempting it may be.
Hugging is often a universal sign to show someone you love and appreciate them, but cuddling your dog might end up having the opposite effect intended.
In fact, it can cause their stress levels to skyrocket and may even make them bite if they feel threatened by the situation, the Mirror reports.
Psychologist Stanley Coren previously wrote in Psychology Today, recalling an incident when a woman tried to hug his six-month-old puppy.
But doing this caused the poor pup to show signs of stress including turning his head away to avoid eye contact.
When he told the woman not to hug dogs as they didn't like it, she looked at him with an expression of "disbelief", and argued that there is evidence to suggest hugging your children is good for their brain development.
But dogs are of course different to children, as Coren wrote: "Dogs are technically cursorial animals, which is a term that indicates that they are designed for swift running. That implies that in times of stress or threat, the first line of defence that a dog uses is not his teeth, but rather his ability to run away.
"Behaviourists believe that depriving a dog of that course of action by immobilising him with a hug can increase his stress level and, if the dog's anxiety becomes significantly intense, he may bite."
Some stress signs in dogs are simple to spot, like baring of their teeth.
But there are more subtle signs to be aware of, according to Coren: "The most common sign of anxiety is when the dog turns his head away from whatever is bothering or worrying him, sometimes also closing his eyes, at least partially.
"Alternatively, dogs will often show what is commonly called a 'half-moon eye' or 'whale eye' which is where you can see the white portion of the eyes at the corner or the rim.
"One common visible sign of stress or anxiety is when the dog's ears are lowered or slicked against the side of his head. Lip licking or licking a person's face can also be signs of anxiety, as can yawning or raising one paw."
Experts at the American Kennel Club also urged parents not to let their children hug their dogs.
The club's cautioning statement read as follows: "If you watch dogs interact, you'll notice they don't embrace each other. They might pin each other to the ground, but it's in only one of two contexts: play fighting or real fighting.
"So, when you hug a dog, they don't understand what you're trying to say. In fact, you're essentially trapping them. They can't get away from anything that scares them or makes them uncomfortable while in your arms.
"And as hugging is often accompanied by direct staring and putting your face next to the dog's, they might also interpret your actions as aggressive or threatening. It's no wonder they don't enjoy the squeezing sensation of a hug."
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