Why dogs don’t really want tummy rubs

WHEN your dog rolls over, paws in the air, it’s hard to resist patting his belly and telling him what a good boy he is. But it would be kinder to just leave him alone.

Dogs, apparently, don’t really want their tummies tickled, with most having learnt to simply tolerate this strange human habit.

Animal expert Dr Jill MacKay says a dog rolling over is an expression of trust which dogs evolved to show one another.

“When a dog does it to another dog it means ‘I trust you’. So when a dog does it to a human it trusts, it can then be alarming if that human invades its space and touches its soft, exposed belly. They have simply learnt to put up with it,” she said.

MacKay said pet owners can misunderstand their animals.

When a dog barks at a stranger, most people tell their pet to stop it. Instead, it would be better to pay no attention to the animal.

MacKay said: “It is really common for dogs barking at the door to be pushed away and told to be quiet. The dog doesn’t understand what is happening. It can think that you are getting excited too, so will carry on barking.

“The best advice is to ignore the dog. Dogs love us and want our attention so this is a good way to train them.”

Mackay also gave advice to cat owners frustrated with their pets scratching the back of furniture to mark their territory. “Instead of shouting at them, owners should just put a scratching post in the same place,” she said. – Daily Mail or spoil her fun. Oreo doesn’t mind bumping into other pooches at the dog park, but she’d prefer to be your one and only. If you would like to meet Oreo, call Tearson 021 785 4482.