Does you dog like to be pet on the head?

JerzeyGSD · 05-06-2009, 05:18 PM

Jerzey is so weird about being pet on the head... I understand that more dominant breeds do not like hands over their heads because they cannot see them and we advise any strangers to pet her chest. However, does anyone have a dog that also does this with you as their owner? Jerzey will snuggle up and try to crawl all over me to get me to pet her chest but she's not to keen on my reaching over her head... she just tries to follow me hand with her eyes, it's not like she does anything to prevent me from doing it.

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has a dog that's similar.

BowWowMeow · 05-06-2009, 05:21 PM

It has nothing to do with more dominant breeds--dogs do not like be petted on the head (much like humans I would add, I don't particularly like being petted on the head). It is rude. Patricia McConnell talks about this in "The Other End of the Leash"

When I meet a dog I always try to pet them under the chin or on their sides.

Sahria · 05-06-2009, 05:25 PM

Inara doesn't like it. I tell anyone who wants to pet her to do it under her chin after she's smelled them. If people come in with their hands over her head she tries to mouth them, which is something I do not want.

JerzeyGSD · 05-06-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By: BowWowMeowdogs do not like be petted on the head (much like humans I would add, I don't particularly like being petted on the head).

Lol, good point.

rucker105 · 05-06-2009, 05:37 PM

Zeke seems to enjoy being petted on the head, particularly scratched between his ears, which is a drastic change from a couple months ago when he didnt like being petted at all. His favorite spots are his hind quarters and his chest. I think Zeke just like the attention any way he can get it!

Rügen · 05-06-2009, 05:50 PM

Rugen doesn't mind being pet on the head. When I walk he comes up beside me and puts his head in my hand as we go.

My previous GSD was 'sensitive' about a lot of things. So I've been a little over the top about desensitizing Rugen to being touched on the head, butt, front and back paws, muzzle, tail, manhood ect. Poor guy, I’ve been all over him since he was born. Though his vet couldn’t be happier it.

Zisso · 05-06-2009, 05:56 PM

Zisso doesn't care where I pet him so long as I leave his feet alone...it is like he is ticklish

DSudd · 05-06-2009, 05:57 PM

Rocky loves having his head scratched and petted. Also loves being petted under the chin also.

sleachy · 05-06-2009, 06:51 PM

When she was young, Tooz did not like to be pet on the head by me or anyone else for that matter. Nowadays, she readily accepts it and seems to enjoy it.

3K9Mom · 05-06-2009, 07:09 PM

I -- gasp! -- disagree with Patricia McConnell on this. I think it's what a dog is used to, and how familiar he is with someone, what the nature of the relationship is with that person, and just his personal preference.

Camper liked his head petted. He loved eyeball rubs though, where he'd close his eye, and I'd gently rub it with my palm. Zamboni likes a head rub, although after a while she'll move and reposition her head and body around until ultimately, I'm giving her an ear rub, which is the end-all-be-all to her.

Meri is the only one that doesn't really like her head petted very much. She wants her chest scritched, or she'll roll over for a complete tummy rub.

That doesn't mean that what my dogs accept and appreciate from me is what they like from my husband or another family member, much less what they'd accept from a stranger. Context matters too. Camper loved to have his tummy rubbed at home, but he wouldn't roll over in public for me to rub his tummy.

I don't want a stranger even brushing up against my head slightly, but my husband stroking my hair is a tender loving gesture, and a deep scalp massage at a spa or by Dh when I'm stressed is heavenly.

I think it's like any of us: we just like what we like and don't like what we don't like. There aren't necessarily any "rules" that go with it, just like there aren't any rules about why we like certain foods, or sometimes, certain people or other dogs. We just do or we don't.

That said, when I meet a dog I don't know, I usually rub their chest, mostly because it's less direct, and most dogs love it.

But when Camper was a little pup, we met a woman who said she was a GSD breeder. She told us not to pet him on the head and not to let others do so either because GSDs HATE it. Well, yeah, if you never socialize a dog to something like being petted on the head, they'll never learn to accept it. So, we petted him on the head a lot, like we did all our other dogs. Turns out, she was wrong.

05-06-2009, 05:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
JerzeyGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New York, New York Posts: 3,708	Does you dog like to be pet on the head? Jerzey is so weird about being pet on the head... I understand that more dominant breeds do not like hands over their heads because they cannot see them and we advise any strangers to pet her chest. However, does anyone have a dog that also does this with you as their owner? Jerzey will snuggle up and try to crawl all over me to get me to pet her chest but she's not to keen on my reaching over her head... she just tries to follow me hand with her eyes, it's not like she does anything to prevent me from doing it. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has a dog that's similar. __________________ Ashley, proud owner of: Jerzey, Bi-color GSD. 4/23/08 Koji, spotted shelter kitty.

05-06-2009, 05:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
BowWowMeow Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 14,798	Re: Does you dog like to be pet on the head? It has nothing to do with more dominant breeds--dogs do not like be petted on the head (much like humans I would add, I don't particularly like being petted on the head). It is rude. Patricia McConnell talks about this in "The Other End of the Leash" When I meet a dog I always try to pet them under the chin or on their sides. __________________ Ruth & the 4 Legged Rescue Gang Rafi the malaroo http://www.dogster.com/dogs/693238 Gio & Varda, the krazy kittens ....In my heart: Cleo Kitty Chama Kai Basu Massie

05-06-2009, 05:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sahria Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southern Ontario, Canada Posts: 122	Re: Does you dog like to be pet on the head? Inara doesn't like it. I tell anyone who wants to pet her to do it under her chin after she's smelled them. If people come in with their hands over her head she tries to mouth them, which is something I do not want.

05-06-2009, 05:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
rucker105 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Beaverton, Oregon Posts: 196	Re: Does you dog like to be pet on the head? Zeke seems to enjoy being petted on the head, particularly scratched between his ears, which is a drastic change from a couple months ago when he didnt like being petted at all. His favorite spots are his hind quarters and his chest. I think Zeke just like the attention any way he can get it! __________________ Mara <span style="color: red">Markos Ezekiel vom Spartanville (Zeke)- Born July 2008</span>

05-06-2009, 05:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rügen Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 1,329	Re: Does you dog like to be pet on the head? Rugen doesn't mind being pet on the head. When I walk he comes up beside me and puts his head in my hand as we go. My previous GSD was 'sensitive' about a lot of things. So I've been a little over the top about desensitizing Rugen to being touched on the head, butt, front and back paws, muzzle, tail, manhood ect. Poor guy, I’ve been all over him since he was born. Though his vet couldn’t be happier it. __________________ Cara Here's my train of thought, you can follow it if you want. Rügen ~ GSD, born 2-9-2008 Lucky~ Golden Retriever, 2.5 years old Mr. Monk~ Taunting Tabby Cat

05-06-2009, 05:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Zisso Knighted Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 3,002	Re: Does you dog like to be pet on the head? Zisso doesn't care where I pet him so long as I leave his feet alone...it is like he is ticklish __________________ Nadia - GSD -DOB 12-29-07 Zisso - GSD- DOB 9-16-07 Pepe & Kiki`my sweet kitties Zisso is my heart~Nadia is my Love~My kitties bring me everything in between~Together they bring me Joy!

05-06-2009, 05:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
DSudd Crowned Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,219	Re: Does you dog like to be pet on the head? Rocky loves having his head scratched and petted. Also loves being petted under the chin also. __________________ Danielle Mom to: Rocky - 3 year old Black GSD 3 Skin Kids

05-06-2009, 06:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
sleachy Knighted Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,175	Re: Does you dog like to be pet on the head? When she was young, Tooz did not like to be pet on the head by me or anyone else for that matter. Nowadays, she readily accepts it and seems to enjoy it. __________________ Silence is Golden ~ Duct tape is Silver. FO UCD Joobie Toozday CD HT RN OA OAJ NF JJ-N CTL1 CD-H TT CGC

05-06-2009, 07:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
3K9Mom Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 7,575	Re: Does you dog like to be pet on the head? I -- gasp! -- disagree with Patricia McConnell on this. I think it's what a dog is used to, and how familiar he is with someone, what the nature of the relationship is with that person, and just his personal preference. Camper liked his head petted. He loved eyeball rubs though, where he'd close his eye, and I'd gently rub it with my palm. Zamboni likes a head rub, although after a while she'll move and reposition her head and body around until ultimately, I'm giving her an ear rub, which is the end-all-be-all to her. Meri is the only one that doesn't really like her head petted very much. She wants her chest scritched, or she'll roll over for a complete tummy rub. That doesn't mean that what my dogs accept and appreciate from me is what they like from my husband or another family member, much less what they'd accept from a stranger. Context matters too. Camper loved to have his tummy rubbed at home, but he wouldn't roll over in public for me to rub his tummy. I don't want a stranger even brushing up against my head slightly, but my husband stroking my hair is a tender loving gesture, and a deep scalp massage at a spa or by Dh when I'm stressed is heavenly. I think it's like any of us: we just like what we like and don't like what we don't like. There aren't necessarily any "rules" that go with it, just like there aren't any rules about why we like certain foods, or sometimes, certain people or other dogs. We just do or we don't. That said, when I meet a dog I don't know, I usually rub their chest, mostly because it's less direct, and most dogs love it. But when Camper was a little pup, we met a woman who said she was a GSD breeder. She told us not to pet him on the head and not to let others do so either because GSDs HATE it. Well, yeah, if you never socialize a dog to something like being petted on the head, they'll never learn to accept it. So, we petted him on the head a lot, like we did all our other dogs. Turns out, she was wrong.

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