Dogs 'hate being cuddled by their owners' say scientists

Dog lovers should stop cuddling their pets because most find it stressful and uncomfortable, new research suggests.

Owners who frequently hug their pets are mistaking obvious signs of anxiety for affection, according to a professor at the University of British Columbia.

Stanley Coren, a canine behaviour scientist at the Canadian university, said owners are obliviously posting dog-hugging photos on Instagram and Facebook without realising their pets are displaying clear signs of discomfort in the snaps.

He studied 250 of the images and found that 80 per cent of the animals were showing obvious signs of distress.

He wrote in Psychology Today: “People were posting these pictures on the internet in order to demonstrate their affection for their dogs.

“But the dogs are looking into the camera saying, 'I'd really rather not do this’.”

Professor Coren said dog gestures like yawning, raising a paw and even licking an owner's face are signs of stress which are often misinterpreted for affection.

He said dogs are uncomfortable with being cuddled because doing so stifles their natural impulse to escape from danger.

“Their basic response to anything they consider a threat or stress is to run away,” he said.

“By hugging them you're taking away their ability to respond the way evolution designed them to respond."