Dogs and Belly Rubs

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Your dog loves nothing more than a belly rub. The action feels good to them. It initiates a particular reaction inside their brain which responds to the hair follicles being stimulated. According to experts, dogs love to be petted, and belly rubs are their favorite kind of petting. The stroking of the hair has a connection to being socially groomed. If your dog willingly rolls over and allows you to stroke its belly, it means that the dog trusts you. It is not a submissive gesture. No dog can ever pass the temptation of a belly rub

Neuron response

There is ample scientific evidence of why your dog or any dog- loves belly rubs. Canines have a particular brain neuron which responds to hair follicle stimulation. This reaction explains why dogs love to get petted. Since the reaction can be had by stroking the hair, dogs get a unique satisfaction when someone rubs their belly. It is believed good hygiene is promoted through hair stroking as the action is a part of social grooming.

You should never force a belly rub on any dog. Trying to do so will result in the canine developing other anxious behaviors. A dog's trust can be obtained in other ways. Do not force any dog to any action which it is not comfortable doing. You will lose trust if you do any such activity with your dog. If you feel unsure as to whether the dog feels comfortable, then check to see how tense the animal appears. A dog which is relaxed will look floppy. A sure sign of your dog being uncomfortable is you know the dog's tail tucked between the legs. It may also hunch up its body and move away.  Do note that if the dog moves away and then appears to relax when you stop, then it means that the dog concerned does not feel comfortable when you give it a belly rub. If it wants to have one, you will know. Dogs have a unique way of communicating what they want.

Tickle spot You will notice that your dog kicks its legs when you give it a belly rub. Many dog owners refer to that as "tickle spot." It is the special place on the belly of any sog which make the legs of the animal twitch and kick. The movement is not tickling. The response is an involuntary one. The term used by veterinarians for this phenomenon is "scratch reflex." Medical professionals use such a test on dogs to find out more on nerve problems or spinal problems. This action activates the nerve under the skin that connects to the spinal cord. The system relays the message to kick out the irritant.