You post photos as evidence of what a dog is feeling but then castigate others for doing the same thing.
Most dogs seem to tolerate hugs in the same way a teenager does from Mom or Dad. They recognize it as an expresssion of affection and enjoy receiving it on that level, but for the dog, a treat, or for the teenager, a raise in their allowance, would be more preferable.
If they seek them out, then it’s for some other reward - could just be a scratch behind the ears - but something other than just the hug.
Some dogs very much enjoy hugs.
I have two, who, if it were up them, I’d be cuddling them like babies, 24/7.
Odin likes them when he’s in the mood for them but has been lovingly conditioned to *accept* them *whenever* because you never know when you’ll need to examine your dog for injuries.
Case in point, Odin’s physical therapist has no problems working on his cervical vertebrae, which were injured by “veterinary professionals”.
She hangs over him from above, manipulates him from every direction imaginable, has her face right in his until she’s finished his session and he really enjoys her healing touch.
[heck, so do I] :D
Seven, on the other hand, seeks ‘sternum to sternum’ contact when she’s lying beside me.
I have no idea why but it seems to be her “happy place”.
If she cannot achieve that position because of how I’m sitting, she’ll hop up beside me, turn around with her back to me, sit down and *flop* herself backwards so that she’s laying upside down, all paws in the air.
And then she goes to sleep.
She also tolerates any handling I subject her to because she has been conditioned to do so for the reasons stated above.
God forbid there be an emergency and I can’t fully check them for injuries.
My dogs all happily let me touch their food while eating and if I capriciously just take it away, no one complains.
They’ll just sit down and wait for me to give it back because it’s what they expect to happen.
It is what they were taught to cheerfully accept as very young pups.
If I had a dog I had to “leave alone while eating”, I’d die of shame.
My kids love it when my wife and I hug them. I guess we did a better job at that too. They both always loved the hugs.
Note, my son works at the same company as I do as a foundation designer and at 26 and we hug. My daughter is about to graduate from NYPoly in a few weeks as an Engineer and she teared up when we hugged after I showed up in NY unexpected two years ago.
I guess it ain't them. Maybe it is you. My kids expect NOTHING from me but still hug me.
I pity you people who don't have a kid or dog that loves hugs from YOU.