Touch

Author: Denise Partlow

Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas

Out of all of the senses that dogs posses, touch is the one that is most similar to ours.

The sense of touch, present at birth, helps puppies to bond with the mother and later with humans. It’s important that puppies are handled by humans from early on to help develop social bonds with humans.

All over a dog’s body lies touch-sensitive nerve endings that help them to “feel” the world around them such as a bug crawling on their back or the wind blowing in their face. They also have touch-sensitive hairs on their muzzle, jaw and above their eyes called “vibrissae” or better known as whiskers. Their purpose is to help a dog know when something is coming at their face or eyes by triggering a reflective blink. Never trim these! And be gentle when touching your dog’s mouth (i.e. for brushing or examining).

It is also believed that these whisker may be the reason why some dogs are so sensitive to a human hand coming at them to pet. That’s why it is so important to take things slowly if a dog winces when your hand approaches. Appropriate training may be necessary for some dogs.

Body sensitivity varies among dogs, but many like being stroked around the head, chest and back. Along a dog’s spine and at the base of their tail are the two most sensitive places though. Their foot pads are sensitive as well, aiding them in identifying and navigating different types of terrain. Even the slightest jab can cause most dogs to jump or yelp. This is a big reason why trimming nails can be such a project.

While it is important to know how sensitive some areas can be for a dog, it’s also important to know that touch can alter your dog’s mood. The way in which we touch, stroke or pet our dogs is important. Long, slow petting can have a calming effect; reducing the dog’s heart rate and lowering stress. Fast, rough petting can energize our dogs, and unexpected touch can be threatening.

Always be reflective in what message you are sending by how you are touching or petting your dog; and remember touch can be both viewed as rewarding or threatening, so understanding your dog’s mood is imperative.