Roll Over Rover: Do dogs enjoy a belly rub?

Roll Over Rover: Do Dogs Enjoy a Belly Rub?

Does your dog enjoy a belly rub? 

We’ve always thought our dogs enjoy a belly rub but recently, this behaviour had been questioned and owners are left wondering if they should stop the tummy tickles. Should dogs and tummy rubs be a thing of the past?!

“Of course, they love it”, I hear you say! “My dog loves to roll over and have a good old scratch on their tummy!”

Pet owner’ stories abound as to how much their dog enjoys a pat on their under-regions. People even make video-compilations of this human-canine interaction…

Could we be wrong? Do dogs not enjoy a belly rub?

Recent comments by a University of Edinburgh scientist have made people question our assumption that dogs love the belly rub practice…

• Dogs don’t like having their belly rubbed
• Why your dog doesn’t want you to tickle his tummy

People who have patted their dog’s stomach regions for years are now questioning this. To illustrate this, here’s part of the email I receive from concerned friend and colleague, Pet Journo Caroline Zambrano…

“I rub Cruz’s belly all the time as he regularly – almost every night – sleeps against the kitchen wall with his belly up, back legs apart showing his bits to the world! lol Am I doing the wrong thing?”

Exposing your belly is communication – canine style

So, the argument against belly rubs states that rolling over, exposing your vulnerable side, is an act of trust to another dog. It shows that you are not a threat or about to challenge a potential threat.

If we assume that your dog communicates to you in the same way as it would to other dogs, then this behaviour may be related to vulnerability, defensiveness or even be an appeasement gesture to humans. It is not your dog asking for a tummy rub!

Rubbing a dog’s exposed, vulnerable parts could be akin to asking for trouble. If they feel at all threatened, then they are likely to escalate their reaction when you touch them. A simple, innocent stroke of the nether-regions could end up in a dog bite!

Do some dogs enjoy a belly rub?

Of course, many dogs enjoy your patting their undersides. Flopped on the sofa, it is almost a pre-requisite of sitting beside your dog! Many dogs ‘ask’ for their tummy to be tickled, by rolling over as soon as you are patting other regions or by nudging your hand to continue the belly-rub as you pause. Your dog knows you and trusts you. Your interaction brings pleasure to your dog, reinforcing the rolling over behaviour.

Dogs may also roll over for other reasons:
– to sleep in a varied position
– to keep cool when it’s hot weather (as there is less hair in this region)

When we shouldn’t belly rub dogs

There are times that caution should be employed and the belly rub should be avoided. These include:

• A dog that does not know you
• Children approaching a dog who is offering their belly
• When your dog is asleep, as you may startle them
• A dog who is in pain or dislikes being touched in certain areas (seek help for this dog)

Where should we pat dogs?

Many dog experts have advised on the best areas to touch your dog. Under the chin. On the back. On their head. But do we truly know where dogs enjoy being patted?

Well, dogs get used to what they know, what they trust and what makes them feel good. This could vary from dog to dog. One dog may love their back being scratched, while another prefers their chest. It will all depend on their canine experiences.

A few years ago, I was involved in a study where Prof Paul McGreevy (University of Sydney) and I asked volunteers to pat, using a grooming tool (to standardise the touch) two different populations of dogs (Greyhounds in racing kennels and Guide Dogs in training), on 4 different regions of their body (chest, stomach, shoulders/back and above tail).

Neither group of dogs showed any difference in heart rates due to touching the various regions. From this result, we concluded that dogs did not show much preference in the areas of the body that we touch.

Individual differences may still apply and your dog may dislike having his vulnerable bits stroked. Which leads to Caroline’s next question…

“Do dogs feel vulnerable, like we would, if someone should touch us close to our private parts?”

Well, dogs probably do feel vulnerable but perhaps not in the same way that humans do. Again, it’s important that trusted adult human members of the dog’s family, touch their dog all over. Others – children, unknown people – should stay away from the genital region, the tail and anywhere else that you know that your dog does not like being patted.

Understand dog body language and behaviour

The take-home message from this study and new opinions must be that owners have to truly know their dog. Understand what their body language is telling you.

If they stiffen when you start to touch them or when someone else touches them, seek some help in desensitising them. 

Understand interactions from your dog’s point of view. If you want to think of it in human terms, ask yourself how comfortable you would feel in having your vulnerable parts stroked by someone. I imagine you quite enjoy it when you trust the person doing the stroking! Otherwise, leave well alone.

If your dog loves belly rubs (and you are sure that they do!), carry on with the tummy tickles. Please continue to touch your dog in all areas of their body. It is extremely important that a dog is able to withstand handling of any body part, as this is what they may require when examined at the vet clinic. We also want to ensure that touch is accepted should more vulnerable people – children – reach out.

Always supervise your dog’s interactions with children and people that your dog does not know well.

Touching other animals

Dogs, when used to it, may enjoy being touched all over. Horses and cats enjoy being touched in areas that they would experience being mutually groomed by others of their species: Horses, around their withers; and cats in the region around the base of their ears, above the eyes. Again, however, each individual differs in their experiences and enjoyment.

If you are brave enough to tickle your cat’s tummy, you may live with the consequences of cats having weapons and not being afraid to use them!

Conclusion: Do dogs enjoy a belly rub?

Dogs have evolved displaying their under-regions to appease potential threats, to show that they mean no harm. They may also do so to relax, to cool down or to get you to stroke them.

If they are rolling over for the latter reasons and you know and trust the dog, by all means pat their bellies. If it is more the former, and they may potentially see you as a threat, avoid touching the dog.