Where to Pet Dogs
Experts state that not all dogs are comfortable with getting their head scratched or patted, or their ears caressed. Its an issue of personal space that dogs associate with stress or discomfort.
In fact, even in loving homes, some dogs might even try to duck and avoid the hand of their owners who are reaching out to pat their head. Most trainers even advise against patting a dogs head and parents with young kids need to teach this to their children to avoid triggering the dog into aggression.
Don’t Allow Strangers to Pat Your Dog on the Head
Most dogs are comfortable being patted or scratched on their chest, chin or back. Kindly ask that others pet your dog in those areas. If that isn’t possible, try turning your dog to face you, which presents his back to the person who wants to pet him. You can do this by rewarding your dog with a treat every time you call his name and he turns to check in with you. Do this for several weeks, making sure to practice in many different locations in and out of the house and then start weaning off the treats so you can use this technique while out and about. While at home you’ll still want to practice touching your dog’s head because you can’t trust that a stranger will follow your instructions for petting gently rather than patting roughly.
Why Do Dogs Rub Their Faces?
If a dog is rubbing its face regularly on something, then it may have a problem. But if the rubbing is intermittent, then it may not be of concern. An annoyance such as wet or dirty fur, pain from a bad tooth or eye injury, irritation from fleas or allergies, or simply because it feels good are all potential reasons why a dog may rub its face on something.
Some dogs develop allergies that cause them to be itchy and rub their faces. Skin inflammation may lead to itchy skin or eyes and dogs may rub their faces in an attempt to scratch their itch. Allergies may be to a food or treat that a dog eats or household and environmental allergens such as dust mites, various grasses, or pollen. They can be constant or just seasonal. A dog with allergies will likely have other symptoms including itchy and/or malodorous ears, itchy paws and hind end, and other skin changes including redness, hives, and/or thickened skin.
14 Signs Your Dog Doesn’t Love You (Even if You Think They Do)
Q: What is a dog trying to tell you when he insists on rubbing his head against you? Is this affection, marking or something else?
For example, lets assume you are a stranger meeting a new dog and want to be socially adept from the canine point of view. Your introduction would take the importance of scent into consideration. Your perspective would be nose, eyes and then ears. Avoid eye contact, remain loose and calm, and allow your prospective canine friend to simply sniff you. If you pass the sniff test, the dog might initiate contact by nuzzling or rubbing his head up against you to invite reciprocal affection.
Another scenario might include the dog that has required the purchase of a California King to accommodate her sleeping needs and tells you when she will eat, how she would like it prepared and who is allowed to visit. Dogs have scent glands in their facial area, and marking their guardian by rubbing their head against you might be a display of ownership and territory. This context would suggest that you run, dont walk, to your local Marin Humane Society to discuss your relationship issues.
It might also be that your dog has itchy skin and is hoping that you will take care of his itchy face. Give him a good scratch, examine his skin, and observe his behavior to determine if a trip to the veterinarian is warranted. Finally, if his head rubbing is accompanied by sliding his head under his guardians hand or pawing his knee, it might just be “Look at me!”