Why do dogs like belly rubs? My dog will literally jump and leap at the chance to throw her belly under my hands for me to pet. She would let me rub her stomach for hours if she could. So why does my dog love having their tummy rubbed so much?
Your Dog Loves Having Their Belly Rubbed Because It Feels Good
Your pup loves having their belly rubbed because they feel comfortable with you, and it feels good. While not every pup loves having their belly rubbed, those that do provides an opportunity to increase the bond you have with your dog and show them how much you love them. Your dog is placing themselves into a submissive position by rolling on their back, and that shows the trust and love they have for you.
Additionally, dogs love the hair follicle stimulation, so it feels pretty amazing to them. Endorphins are also released and their levels of oxytocin increase. Your pup may not be able to scratch that area so that increases their love for it more.
So basically, why do dogs like belly rubs? Well, why not?!
If You Don’t Think Your Dog Likes Belly Rubs
That’s ok! Not all dogs love having their belly rubbed. This can be for a variety of reasons, from just not liking it to characteristics of their breed. The last thing you want to do is force it. Read signals to make sure your dog is truly asking for you to rub their belly. Sometimes dogs may show their stomach as a submissive sign and that’s it.
This doesn’t mean they love you any less. Find another activity (or spot to scratch!) that they are excited about and continue to create your bonding experience with one another.
Now you know that giving dogs belly rubs makes them feel good. Did you know being a dog mom releases oxytocin, too? Find out more in our post Dogs Make Us Happy, Even Science Says So.
