Is it BAD to hug your dog?!

My Dh read me this article yesterday. HOGWASH it is! We're also not supposed to have a Lab/Akita that is affectionate. She's one of the most affectionate dogs we've had. She thinks she's a lap dog and she's HUGE! If you stop rubbing the top of her nose she'll hug YOU! Or end up in your lap!  Sleeping on the bed with us is one of their favorite things. Duke has  to be right up against you and Pia the Lab/Akita has to be touching you.

I'm not sure it's a valid study if one looks a photos on the internet.  lol. Of course we all know our dogs best and as everyone as said, some like it and some don't. Mine doesn't exactly care for bear hug type hugs, but she likes cuddles. She initiates them so I figure she must like it. lol. For instance if one of us is sitting on the couch the dog will jump up and lay her head on their leg or lap, then swivel her eyes up as if to say "can't you see me here, poor pathetic me, no love in this house, I'm so sad, please pet me...." 

hug/scratch/belly rub---they're all the same and my dogs love them.  if I stop and pull my hand away, they paw me to continue.  I know my dogs aren't the only ones who do this.   

One of my terrier mixes isn't very much into affection; the other (the female) GIVES hugs. She will lay her head on your chest and grab your neck with her paw! <3

My male doesn't like to be hugged but it doesn't bother the female.

My dog is not a hugger. She is very laid back and gentle but she is big, so she has no problem backing out of a situation if she is uncomfortable. Generally, when she wants to be petted, she will come up to you on the couch and stand on her hind legs with front legs on the couch and prefers if you rub her chest/belly. When she's had enough, she gets down and walks away.  She is very, very playful and just not much of a cuddler.  Every once in a blue moon, she will come up on the couch and sit next to me.  It's rare, though, and she doesn't do it with anyone but me.  She is DH's dog.  She really respects him the most and prefers to play with him over anyone else.  Just last night, I was trying to get her to come to me so I could pet her (I guess I needed some dog love) but she wasn't having any of it.  DH says I need a small lap dog so I can get my dog love fix.   

Neither of my dogs like hugs. My border collie lives to give kisses and be next to us, but don't wrap your arms around him. My beagle was used for breeding before we got her and kept crated. She gets close but hates to be held.

This is what Fiona does. DH was just sitting there. She comes up and puts her paws on either side of you and lays her chin on your shoulder til you hug her. Just like people, every dog is different. I think it's silly for them to proclaim something universal about something like this.

I have a chiweenie and she's pretty small, but she's a total love bug, who loves to cuddle, be held, get kisses and give kisses. I don't technically hug her, because of her size, but when I get close to give her cuddles, she leans right into me. She's happiest when she's sitting on my lap, or laying on the couch under the blanket with me.

We have two dogs, one big and one small, who both love hugs. The little guy pushes himself up under your chin until you have no choice but to put your arms around him.

But I'd never hug a dog not my own. I know the personalities of my babies and what they're comfortable with. Not going to try that with other animals I don't know.

I've had dogs that didn't seem to want to be hugged. They enjoyed attention but didn't want to be squeezed. Our beagle is weird. She wants to snuggle, leans on DH like a baby would but she gets this frightened look on her face if you hugged her. I think she enjoys steady contact more than hugs. She definitely prefers our bed to us though!

First thing in the morning my chiweenie will lay across my chest for a hug and to be rubbed. As far has not petting her on the head, she will initiate a head rub by taking her nose and pushing my hand on top of her head. If I stop she will nudge me again to keep rubbing. When she's tired of the loving she moves. So much for this "expert's" opinion.

Our daschund cross loves cuddles anytime, anywhere! My DD basically holds her like a baby and little Lucy just melts into her arms. My retriever cross likes them at the right times. When she is calm and relaxed she will snuggle up right next to you. She likes to spoon in bed ☺️  However... If she is being her usual crazy, hyper self she sees it as a form of play and you might just get more than you bargained for. LOL. Either way though I don't think she ever "hates" it. From my experience most dogs love any attention they get. 

I would rather see see a dog "stressed" from a hug than being abused and neglected as so many are. 

My dog LOVES to hug! When I'm hugging the kids, she jumps up and tries to get in on it. She'll jump up and put her paws on either side of my head and hug away. She also loves snuggling and getting as close to us as she can. Our last dog was not like this. She wasn't much of a hugger. 

This study is bologna.