Don't Hug Your Dog - Research Shows It Stresses Them Out
Dogs are cursorial animals, meaning they're built to run. Hugging them cuts off their escape route and main line of defense. Behavioral clues make it clear that hugging makes dogs uneasy.
"First of all, the dog will avoid looking at the source of the stress, so they'll turn their head away. Their ears may slick down, or they may yawn. They will hood their eyes, or if their eyes are open, they'll show what's called a half-moon eye where you can see part of the whites of it," Dog Expert Dr. Stanley Coren told KCBS.
It may seem ironic as dogs are used in hospitals and airports to reduce stress among humans.
Coren also pointed out that in behavioral classes, children hugging dogs is discouraged because it can increase the chances of being nipped.