Do dogs like getting kissed and hugged by humans? Do they understand the concept, or is it just a skin to fur contact?
Unfortunately dogs do not know the reasoning behind affection as humans do. In reality the dog can be trained to hug and kiss if rewarded. But the real nature of kissing comes from, when the mother or father returns from a hunt for food to the pups, the pups jump up and down at their mouths for both to regurgitate the food. Thus this stays in the DNA the dogs as they are taken in to homes, and when the owner returns to the home, the dogs jump up at the face of the owner looking for its food.For a dog to willingly accept hugs and kisses, they must trust the person giving them. Hugs in particular, have a very different meaning between dogs and their own kind. For a dog to hold and pretty much pin another dog in their grasp is usually an attempt to show dominance. The other dog will either submit, try to evade them or take it as an invitation to scuffle. Any grabbing and holding maneuver (other than between mama & pups) isn't going to be seen as an act of love. Dogs do this occasionally if they're working out a social hierarchy but other moves are more common. But one of the most amazing and endearing things about dogs is their ability to “read us". Dogs spend an enormous amount of time watching us and piecing together the puzzle of human behavior. They study our movements and tone of voice & pick apart which actions are relevant to them. Dogs also know we’re not dogs. They likely have watched people hug each other and saw that hugging people speak lovingly or happily to each other and also hug in greeting while noting people don't usually speak angrily while hugging. These are clues to understand hugs as a weird human way to show affection. Even with understanding, dogs will have different opinions of whether they want to be hugged and different levels of acceptance based on how well they know and trust the hugging human. Some dogs love it, they accept the loving gesture for what it's meant as and revel in the attention & affection. Some are happy to be hugged by anyone & everyone. Some love hugs from their owners but won't want that kind of attention from people they don't know well. I certainly wouldn't react the same to a hug from a stranger as I'd react to a hug from family. Dogs, like us, may not be comfortable with that kind of close contact from everyone. Some dogs seem to understand that we tend to display affection for them this way yet it still feels uncomfortable or unnatural to them. They may accept hugs from their loved humans almost as a favor. They don't like it but they know it's an meant as an act of love so they tolerate it for our sake. These dogs might go limp when hugged and hold their ears flat or low. They have an uneasy look to them and only accept the hug for a minimum of time before wiggling away. Some flat out dislike being hugged and will dodge and weave away from your open arms like a professional boxer. They will buck if you manage to embrace them. Some even react aggressively- they may not have grasped the intent of a hug or may just be so uncomfortable with it that they don't care. A hug is different than simple fur to skin contact like petting because it could put the dog in a vulnerable position.
Kisses are a bit different, dogs “kiss” each other by licking another dogs muzzle. This can be a display of submission or done in play. A dog might do it when meeting a bigger, tougher dog to say, “I'm harmless, I'm no threat, I'm just like a little puppy". Or when play between dogs starts getting a little to intense and rough, a dog might start licking its playmate as if to say “I know I just body slammed you and had you by the neck but it's all in good fun, we're still buddies”. Some dogs have a best dog friend or housemate that they “groom” by licking. This seems to be done most often when they have a bond and one dog assumes the protective or caretaker role, similar to how a mother dog cleans her pups. It can also be done if a dog feels possessive of the dog they are kissing. Unlike hugs, it is very common for a dog to express their happiness by kissing or licking a person they care about. They do it to greet us, to assuage us after they were scolded or to show affection. They tend to “kiss" our face if they can or our hands if not. So this isn't as unnatural to a dog as a hug but since it involves going face to face it can still be uncomfortable for some dogs. Doing it to a dog who dislikes up close contact is a good way to get bit in the face. It's best to limit the bestowing of kisses to your own dog or dogs you know well & bonded with.
Given the huge variety of opinions a dog could have about hugs or kisses, it's important to read their body language if you do attempt to show love to a dog this way. Even with your own dog, don't assume they're receptive to it. A dog should not be made to accept something uncomfortable for them even if they tolerate it. If we want to give a hug or kiss as an act of love and the dog would rather you didn't-- doing it anyway is not loving. It's selfish. What shows your dog your love is understanding and respecting their boundaries. If your family member-who you know loves you- always does things that annoy you or make you uncomfortable, your relationship with them will suffer. Show your dog love in a way that truly makes them feel loved by taking time to figure out their likes and dislikes. And if your dog genuinely loves hugs and kisses as some dogs do, there is nothing wrong with giving them lots of xoxo.
One of my dogs loved hugs and kisses. She soaked it all up happily. She craved physical contact and needed to touch someone in the family while she slept. She'd also climb into my lap (all her 90 lbs) and put her arms around my shoulders. My other dog is not comfortable with it. He's the type who'd tolerate it then escape ASAP. As much as I want to give him squeeze loving hugs, I have to refrain. It’d be annoying and uncomfortable for him. He has no issue with a kiss on the nose but doesn't like arms around him, holding him. His love language is back scratches. He's super affectionate in ways he's comfortable with and I respect it.
Yes, they understand that it is a sign of affection. Animals show affection to each other and it is no different than when they feel affection from us. It’s actually better because we can scratch in all the right places and belly rubs are the best! Animals feel love, compassion, empathy and pain and loneliness. So let’s make sure that they always feel loved and safe, wild and domestic, by keeping them safe and protected.
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