Are You Curious If Your Dog Likes Cuddles? My 70 lb Lapdog certainly enjoys cuddling, though not all my previous dogs shared her affinity. What sets her apart? And why didn’t my other pups share my liking for cuddling?
Before I begin this article I want to make something very clear: this piece focuses on dogs & cuddling and not hugging. There has been much debate surrounding whether or not dogs like being hugged – this article does not focus on that aspect.
Cuddling: this term describes those moments when our dogs prefer being close by us and initiating closeness between themselves and us. So why do dogs enjoy cuddling so much?
Dogs Enjoy Cuddling Because It Provides Warmth
Why do dogs enjoy cuddling? A big clue lies within its definition – to cuddle is “to hold close for warmth, comfort or affection”.
If you’ve ever seen a puppy pile, you know how adorable it can be. Aside from being cute, however, its evolutionary logic also makes sense: Puppies need each other for warmth; humans may simply need extra layers or blankets when getting cold; unfortunately for our dogs this solution doesn’t exist!
Cuddling with humans was an integral component of domestication for early dogs. Not only would they assist us in hunting and alerting us of danger, but we all benefited by cuddling up close together on cold nights to stay warm – in fact, the phrase “three dog night” refers specifically to this scenario when humans had to snuggle closely together with three pups to keep from freezing to death!
Dogs Enjoy Cuddling Because It Shows Affection
For dogs, cuddling isn’t only about warmth – it’s also a way of showing affection. Cuddle time strengthens our bond as owners with them (sorry cat lovers!). Researchers have even discovered that bonding with our owners is more significant for dogs than other types of pets such as cats!
Long evolutionary relationships between humans and dogs have reinforced many of their traits we see today in pet dogs. We form strong bonds with our dogs that seem mutual. There’s something special between people and dogs that shows in how much affection is displayed between one another; cuddling together being just one example.
Science Behind Why Dogs Cuddle
Cuddling is an excellent way to reduce stress. Just minutes of petting or talking with a dog has been shown to increase oxytocin levels – the love hormone associated with social bonding and trust between humans and dogs alike – significantly. New research found that human-dog interactions may produce similar positive hormonal responses as mothers do when caring for infants.
