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Do Dogs Like Hugs?
- Bagikan
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Most humans recognize a hug as a sign of affection and friendship. In an IAMS™ survey*, 83% of dog parents say their dog likes hugs too. But how do dogs feel about them? Bring it in! We’re going to try and get our arms around this question.
Dogs don’t like hugs: Spoiler alert
Sure, some dogs enjoy a good canine cuddle, but usually only with their owner or household members. Otherwise, they don’t really care for it. “Hugging is too much and overwhelming for many dogs and should be discouraged if the dog doesn’t know the individual very well,” advises
Opens a new windowJames Serpell, B.S., Ph.D., Professor of Humane Ethics & Animal Welfare at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
There are a number of reasons for this:
Four legs vs. two
Hugging is a human behavior, not a dog behavior. They’re just not physically built for that kind of interaction. We stand upright, so we face people. Dogs are on all fours, so it’s an unnatural act for them. They much prefer a friendly sniff to greet other dogs.
Dominant behavior
To dogs, a hug is seen as a very dominant form of behavior; it feels like a stranger is trying to assert control over them. It can be quite stressful, especially if done by someone they’re not familiar with.
Freeeeeeeeeedom!
Since ancient dog days, canines’ first instinctive line of defense has been to run away from danger. Hugging takes this primal option away and can make them feel trapped and confined. Remember when you were a kid getting hugged by that loud great aunt you’ve never met at your dad’s second cousin’s wedding? That’s kind of what your dog is feeling. Who is this? What are they doing? They want to escape too.
Signs your dog does not like hugs
You can usually tell by their body language, says
Opens a new windowDr. Jo Gale, BVetMed CertLAS MRCVS, Senior Manager, Global Science Advocacy at Waltham Petcare Science Institute: “Watch for trembling, trying to get away, raised hackles or whites around their eyes. It’s very important to pay attention to this behavior and respect it.”
Alternatives to hugging your dog
Don’t worry if your dog doesn’t want to hug it out. There are plenty of healthier ways you can show them you’re still their best friend:
- Pet them or give them a good, relaxing brush.
- Take them on walks or play a game with their favorite toy.
- Give them their favorite food or treats.
- Give them a verbal hug. Tell them they’re a “good boy” or a “good girl.” They never get tired of that.
*Surveyed U.S. dog owners, age 18+
Sample Size: n=201
Fielded May 8-10, 2020
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- adp_description_block466What Do Dogs Eat? Tips On Feeding Your Dog
- Bagikan
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Feeding your dog the right nutrients and a complete, balanced diet doesn’t have to be a head-scratcher. Find out what can a dog eat, how much food to feed your dog, how many times to feed a dog, how to handle treats and supplements, and much more.
- How Do I Decide What To Feed My Dog?
When deciding which dog food is right for your pet, consider these three factors:
- Your dog’s life stage (Whether your dog is a puppy, an adult, or a senior)
- Lifestyle (How active your dog is)
- Condition (Overall health and bodyweight of your dog)
- How Many Times Should I Feed My Dog?
Puppies should be fed three times a day from weaning (3 to 6 weeks) to 4 months of age. After 4 months, they should be fed twice a day. Most dogs should continue to be fed twice a day throughout their life, although some pets do well with one feeding.
- How Much Food Should I Feed My Dog?
The amount to feed your dog depends on its age, size, and activity level. Feeding guidelines, which list the daily-recommended portion, are included on all IAMS™ packages. Start feeding your dog with this amount and adjust according to its needs. Remember to divide the portion accordingly if you feed more than once a day.
- How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?
The amount you need to feed your puppy depends on 3 main factors — breed, weight, and age. However, you can look at this general guideline that we recommend for puppies:
Puppy
Adult Target Weight (KG)
Recommended Daily Feeding (g/day)
<3 months 3-6 months 6-9 months 9-12 months 12-18 months
Toy breed
1-3
15-72
32-83
37-83
3-5
33-106
72-121
83-121
Small breed (25-50)
5-8
48-151
106-172
111-172
111-170
Transition to IAMSTM PROACTIVE HEALTHTM ADULT DOG
8-10
69-178
151-204
170-204
170-201
Medium breed
10-20
82-299
178-343
201-343
201-339
20-25
137-346
339-404
339-404
339-404
Large breed
25-40
136-492
346-575
404-575
396-575
396-563
40-50
191-509
493-675
575-681
563-681
553-676
This diet contains 390 kilocalories of metabolizable energy (ME) per 100 gms. Remember to have clean, fresh water available for your dog always.
- When Should I Switch My Puppy To An Adult Dog Food Diet?
You should not change your puppy’s food to adult abruptly. Giving your pet time to acclimatize to the new taste of adult food is very important. Also, if you suddenly switch your pup’s food, it can cause digestive problems. Go through this schedule that will help you understand how much to feed your dog and transition your dog’s diet from puppy food to adult food:
- Day 1 – Add 75% puppy food and mix 25% adult food on your dog’s plate.
- Day 2 – Add both foods in equal quantities i.e. 50% puppy food and 50% adult food.
- Day 3 – Increase the quantity of adult food to 75% and bring down the quantity of puppy food to 25%.
- Day 4 – Fully transition to adult dog food.
Here is the weight and age-wise breakdown on when to transition your puppy’s diet to adult food
Weight Range
Age to Begin Transition
Small breeds that weigh < 20 lbs
9 and 12 months of age
Medium breeds that weigh between 20 and 50 lbs
12 to 14months of age
Large breeds that weigh more than 50 lbs
12 to 24 months of age
- When Should I Switch My Dog To Senior Food?
While transitioning from adult dog food to senior dog food, it is important to factor in your dog’s weight. Take a look at this weight table to know when to transition your dog’s food from adult to senior –
Weight Range
Age to Begin Transition
More than 90 lbs
5 years
51 to 90 lbs
6 years
21 to 50 lbs
7 years
Up to 20 lbs
7 years
- What Is The Best Way To Introduce A New Diet To My Dog?
When changing your dog’s food diet, it’s important to slowly introduce new food. Start by offering your dog’s daily portion in a ratio of 25% new food to 75% current food. During the next three days, gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of the old food.
- What Food Can A Dog Eat If It Is Overweight?
If your dog has gained unhealthy weight, make sure to cut down on fats along with increasing regular exercise. We recommend IAMS Adult Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food, which is low on fats and offers a nutritious blend of fibers and natural prebiotics that support healthy digestion and L-carnitine for a healthy metabolism. How much food to feed your dog if they’re overweight is another major concern. You need to make sure you do not decrease the quantity of the food your dog eats as it will prove detrimental to its health — your dog needs its daily intake of proteins and required fatty acids.
- What Should I Feed My Pregnant Or Nursing Dog?
It’s important to understand that your dog’s nutritional needs change during pregnancy and ensure you feed her nutrition-rich food. For pregnant dogs, we recommend IAMS™ Puppy food as it’s full of proteins that can help your pregnant dog during the gestation period and also improve the quality of milk to nourish her puppies post-delivery.
- Is It Necessary To Feed Both Wet And Dry Food?
Wet food is an excellent treat that can be fed alone or mixed with dry food. Although IAMS wet dog foods are nutritionally complete and balanced, it is not necessary to offer wet food at every feeding. Our dry foods are formulated with high-quality protein sources such as chicken, lamb, or fish, and contain all the essential nutrients pets need. The crunchy texture of dry food also promotes healthy teeth and gums and aids in overall good oral hygiene. In addition, some of our dry dog foods contain a dental enhancement to help block tartar buildup on teeth during and after meals.
- Will My Dog Be Bored Eating The Same Food All The Time?
No. Boredom with food is a human trait. Dogs are creatures of habit and usually are happy with just one food. Dogs generally eat to meet their energy or nutritional needs. They have very short digestive systems, and if their diet is abruptly or constantly changed, digestive disturbances can occur. Also, constant changes can make a pet a finicky eater.
- Is It All Right To Moisten Dry Food?
Adding water will not change the nutritional value of dry pet food. However, once moisture is added, the food should be eaten relatively soon — and any uneaten portion should be discarded to avoid spoilage. We recommend feeding your dog dry food from IAMS because it is beneficial to your dog’s dental health.
- Will It Hurt My Dog If They Eat My Cat’s Food?
Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements and should not eat each other’s food. For example, cats require a much higher level of taurine in their diet. An occasional venture into each other’s bowls will not be harmful, but it is not recommended to feed your dog cat food regularly.
- How Many Biscuits Can I Feed My Dog Each Day?
We recommend feeding your dog approximately two to four small biscuits per cup of food. Keep in mind that when you add biscuits to your dog’s daily diet, this increases its daily calorie intake, so you should reduce the amount of food you feed. Check the calorie content of the biscuit since biscuits vary in size and formulation.
- Can I Supplement Your Dog Foods With Vitamins, Minerals, Oils, Etc.?
Our foods are nutritionally complete and balanced. Adding vitamins, minerals or oils can offset the balance the food provides. One of the benefits of feeding your dog a high-quality product is that it has been carefully balanced in proper ratios to provide optimal nutrition — nothing needs to be added.
- Why Does My Dog Need To Eat Protein?
Protein is one of the essential elements that should be a part of your dog’s diet. Including protein in your dog’s diet will strengthen its muscles, ligaments, and cartilages. A protein-rich food also brings about a healthy shine to your dog’s coat!
- Why Should One Maintain A Feeding Schedule For Dogs?
It is important to maintain a feeding schedule for dogs so that they are conditioned to expect food at that time and also avoid irregular snacking in between.
- What Are Things Not To Feed A Dog?
You should never feed your dog home-baked goods, candy, gum, chocolate, limes, onion, and grapes. They can harm your dog’s digestive tract and cause infections as well.
- Why Should You Feed Iams Dog Food Over Homecooked Food?
IAMS dog food is full of key nutrients that your dog needs for its healthy growth. The basic ingredients in our food include chicken, fish oil, beet pulp, wholesome grains, and natural prebiotics.
- How Can I Learn More About Pet Nutrition?
To learn more about pet nutrition and dog food diet, feel free to contact us here.
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