All these years I thought I was training my dog, I had it all wrong. I mean, I did teach him all the right stuff; great tricks, good manners, appropriate behavior…..but one day it dawned on me that my dog had a few of his own training tricks up his sleeve.
Ever so sneaky, he had learned to covertly train ME! Did you ever wonder why dogs like their bellies rubbed? Well, I can tell you all about it because I have readily fallen prey to my dog’s overindulgent, daily belly rubbing demands!
How My Dog Trained Me To Give Him Belly Rubs
It started when he was just a puppy. He would come frolicking over, cute as can be, and roll over to expose that irresistible puppy belly. Unable to resist, of course, I would rub away. Being the smart puppy he was, over time he learned that he could roll over at any given moment, give a slight whine, an attention getting kick or two, eyes wide open for theatrical effect, and viola……belly rubs are granted by the bamboozled human.
The Facts About Why Dogs Like Their Bellies Rubbed
There is a theory that supports why a belly rub is such a pleasurable sensation for dogs. Dogs have a brain neuron that has been shown to respond positively to the stimulation of the hair follicles that occurs while petting a dog’s belly. But, the simple reason is, it just feels good! And, if we’re dishing out belly rubs, they are more than willing to accept!
Do All Dogs Love Belly Rubs?
There are dogs, however, that do not enjoy belly rubs, which happens to be the case with my current foster dog. When attempting to rub his belly I am presented with a look of dissension, as if to say, “What the heck do you think you’re doing lady!?” He’s living proof that belly rubs aren’t the end-all, be-all for all dogs as some just don’t like it. It is a matter of preference. Just as people have variances in places they like, or dislike being touched, such is the case with dogs.
Is Rolling Over ALWAYS An Invitation To Rub A Dog’s Belly?
It can be important to note that just because a dog rolls over to expose his belly doesn’t necessarily mean he is asking for a belly rub. Some dogs roll over to show submission, which can be identified when you notice a dog immediately rolling over upon another dog or person approaching him. He may also look nervous, or uncomfortable, perhaps with tense legs and a tucked tail. This is a dog that is not asking for his belly to be rubbed. A dog who is inviting you to touch him should look completely relaxed, and may even prompt you with a nudge, whine, or other overt action.
If a dog rolls over to ask you for a belly rub, you can feel privileged! Exposing the belly is a very vulnerable position for a dog so they will only roll over to ask for a belly rub when they are feeling comfortable, and trust the person they are with.
Thank you for a great site. I always wondered why dogs love their bellies rubbed. It is so good to see them enjoy every time this is done to them. I was fascinated to learn of a brain neuron that has been shown to respond positively to the stimulation of the hair follicles that occurs while petting a their belly. Thank you again.
I’m glad you enjoyed the article, thanks for your comment!
I never thought about it like that. Who knew that my pooch is really training me! Makes sense that a dog who lets you rub it’s belly must have a good amount of trust in you. I’ll have to remember that in future days.
As a somewhat silly question, why do some dogs kick their leg when they get scratched in a certain spot? Is that I sign that they like it or that they want you to stop?
Not a silly question at all about the leg kicking. Not all dogs do it, but it’s just a reflex, and totally involuntary. It’s always when you hit a certain spot, so if your dog looks irritated by it (and sometimes they are), you can always move to a different spot. Thanks for your comment!
Ha! My dog has me trained pretty well, too. I’ve always felt honored when a dog asks for a belly rub for the exact reason you stated. It is a very vulnerable position and it shows their trust in you. This is a great sight with some great information. Thanks fur the great post!
Hi Amanda, Thanks ‘fur’ your comment, lol (very cute). π
Hi Carol
Dogs are just so much smarter than we humans think. They really love it when you rub their belly and they have trained us very good.
It is just the best when they lie on their back pleading for a rub.
It really makes sense that they love because who does not love a belly rub π
Ditto to that! Thanks for your comment. π
Hi there Carol,
Interesting read on belly rubs in dogs. Now I know it’s related to the happy hormone in the brain. As it is, my dog quite a happy fella. As long as she gets to go for her walk (2x daily) and eat bones (only on special occasions) I think her happy hormones are active all the time.
But I’ll certainly remember to add to that with the belly rub.
No wonder your dog is a happy fella…walks, bones, and belly rubs – the recipe for dog happiness!
Carol,
I used to have a cat a while back but she passed away, and I’ve been wanting to get a new dog for comfort and I found your site very helpful.
I didn’t know dogs enjoys belly rubbing. This is great information I can use to learn about dog’s behaviours and what to do when they roll around. π
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Anh
Hi Anh,
So glad to hear you found this site helpful! I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your cat. Dogs are great companions, be sure to come back and let me know if you decide to bring a dog into your home. This may help you to decide which dog is the best fit for you What Kind of Dog Should I Get?
Very interesting read. All dogs must be very adept at training their owners, because my dogs have me trained as well – LOL. We have 2 dogs and they both compete – You can’t give one dog belly rubs without the other. Also, both of our dogs like to have their butts rubbed. I often wonder why they prefer that to being petted on their head or ears. Great post, Thanks !
Hi Marie,
My dogs compete too, I can’t utter a single word to one of them without the other coming around to see what he might be missing. Thanks for your comment!
What a great read this was!
I really enjoyed your writing style! It was always a mystery why some dogs absolutely love belly rubs while others appear rather repulsed by the idea. I suppose you could say my dog has me well trained, the moment my pup gives me those giant adorable eyes while she’s flopped over I happily rub away!
Oh, yes, the puppy dog eyes…one would have to be inhuman to ignore them! Glad to hear someone else’s dog has them just as trained as mine does!
My Chihuahua absolutely loved to be belly-rubbed, especially when our family members came home after a day outside. She’ll rush to our feet, sniff for a bit, stand on her hind legs using her fore legs to paw at our legs, before rushing over to her bed and asking us for a belly rub.
I absolutely feel honored every single time she asks me for a belly rub! Even though it’s very common, as a dog owner, I know that the belly is a very sensitive and vulnerable part of them. By exposing it to me, my dog is trusting me that I will not hurt her π
Our pets are awesome, aren’t they? π
my dog will turn over onto his stomach wanting me to rub his stomach almost every time i look at him and then get all annoyed when i finally decide to stop. this article explained very clearly why this is so i dont have to wonder anymore.
thanks for posting and i will be sure to check out the rest of this website
Dogs are pretty blatant about letting us know what they want, LOL. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!