Dogs can walk peacefully on a dog leash or play and fetch their dog toys without any stress at all. Why are some dog hugs stressful to a dog and how can you tell if it’s stressful? Stanley Coren professor emeritus of psychology at the University of British Columbia, recently evaluated 250 photos of dogs being hugged by humans and noted stress signs such as licking and certain ear or eye positions. We know that our dogs love us but they are  cursorial animals meaning  that they are programmed for a speedy departure when stressed. This may not be the case for all dogs but Coren believes that a dogs stress level may rise when the hug is restraining. If you notice a “half moon” eye or a “whale eye” which is where you can see the white portion of the eye at the corner or the rim, you can assume that your dog is stressed out.

Remember, your pets count!

The greatest variety of oldies are playing for your right now on Edgewater Gold Radio. Ask Alexa to “play Edgewater Gold Radio OR listen from our website, Edgewater Gold Radio.com.