Our dogs have shown us that a light scratch on certain areas of their body and a relaxing belly rub will make your dog do contortions. Whether you scratch them behind their ear or near their butt area, they begin twisting, turning, or arching up in your hands. Are dogs really ticklish?
Yes, according to animal experts, dogs can be ticklish.
This is how you know that you have hit that favorite spot when you are petting or tickling them deliriously. Quite often, however, a tickle is just a tickle, but in dogs, is it nothing more than an involuntary movement?
If you have ever wondered if dogs are ticklish, why they kick their hind legs like crazy when being scratched, or do dogs laugh, many dog owners ask the same question. We have science to back up our claims.
Due to an involuntary movement within the nerve cells of dogs, they are sensitive to tickling. In other words, dogs do exhibit ticklish movements which scratched or tickled playfully. In response to your touch, what areas are most ticklish, and do dogs like being tickled. Let us look at these issues and see what makes a dog ticklish in more detail.
Are Dogs Ticklish?
Veterinarians and scientists base this question on science. They believe that, yes, dogs can be ticklish. The science behind this question involves a movement called “gargalesis.” Both humans and certain animals have this reaction that is activated when you are tickled or with a light-loving touch.
The definition of gargalesis involves a laughter-inducing tickling where you laugh hardily when a tickling pressure is applied to a body’s sensitive areas.
Also, dogs are a bundle of nerves. They are equipped with several connecting nervous systems that connect to their spinal cord and the brain.
Many of these nerves are just under their skin. When dogs are being scratched, rubbed, or pet them, any action on the skin is an immediate stimulation to their nervous system.
Dog trainers state that if dogs are ticklish it depends on how your dog responds to being tickled. If your dog shows positive involuntary movements when you tickle them, then perhaps your dog is ticklish.
Naturally, dog owners see things differently. They swear that when they tickle them or playfully pet them, that their dog begins to twitch in a happy and uncontrollable manner.
How Do You Know If Your Dog Is Ticklish?
First lightly run your hands over your dog’s body and watch them react. Look for those tickle spots which will vary. Your dog will become relaxed and playful. When you are lightly tickling your dog, their reactions will vary.
They can make a panting sound, they let their tongue hang out of their mouth, and they close their eyes. They will happily move around, their ears go back, then yes, your dog is probably ticklish. A dog’s body language is your indication to know if your dog is ticklish.
Other signs include a happy facial expression that dog owners can easily recognize. They can lick your hands which means don’t stock tickling me right now.
To know for sure whether your dog enjoys being tickled, we need to look at the voluntary signals they give us through body language.
What Areas Are Most Ticklish on Dogs?
Depending on your breed of dog, yes dogs get ticklish in different parts of their bodies. Dog owners already know how much dogs love a good belly rub. The most common areas include the following:
- Back – especially near their tails
- Between the two front legs
- Ears
Are Dogs Ticklish on Their Paws?
Like people who are ticklish on their feet, many dogs are ticklish on their paws or paw pads. However, a dog’s pad on its paws is a nerve-sensitive area. If you touch their paws, they can recoil.
Each dog is a unique personality, therefore there are dogs who enjoy being petted and touched on their paws. A dog’s paw pads are made of fatty tissue and springy fibers. The pads are made of very thick skin.
Many dog owners have said that their dogs are ticklish on their paws. The reason for this involves the fine hair follicles located in between the paw pads. When the hairs are stroked, it may feel “ticklish” as a result of nerve fibers.
But there are more dogs who do not like you to touch their paws. Dogs normally do not as their paw pads touched.
A dog’s paw is part of its sensory survival. If your dog does not like you touching their paws, this is not unusual. Called paw sensitivity, dogs instinctively have a withdrawal reaction when you touch their paw pads.
Even veterinarians and dog groomers say that nearly all dogs let you know not to touch their paws. Not tickling their paws is universal. Touching their paws without their permission makes dogs feel threatened and vulnerable.
Touching their paws will likely result in your dog resisting your touch. However, for a dog to trust you to touch their paw much less tickle them, you must train your dog to accept this type of handling when they are puppies.
Do Dogs Like Being Tickled?
When playfully scratching, tousling, or tickling your dog, he or she will let you know whether they are enjoying this experience. Kids especially love tickling their family pet.
Again, watch their body language such as wagging their tail playfully or they will lie on their back, perhaps folding and kicking their front legs or their tongue is hanging out.
These are healthy signs that your dog is enjoying being tickled. Simply use a calming and light touch around their ears or tummy.
Many dog breeds view this action as calming and relaxing. Also, get your dog use to being tickled by performing a second or two of tickling as a daily regular healthy occurrence.
Do Dogs Laugh When Tickled?
A book entitled “Man Meets Dog” by Konrad Lorenz describes how a dog will open their jaws to reveal its teeth and tongue.
Dogs also show a tilted angle of their mouth which gives an impression of laughing when dog owners are playing or tickling them.
He states that during playtime, dogs also start to playfully pant which is seen as a laughing expression.
Pharaoh Hounds are noted for their human-like smile. There are some chihuahuas who seem to smile when they look at you. Showing their teeth is either a laugh or a sign that means you’d better back away from my expression.
Other dog breeds that are attributable to laughing when tickled include the English Springer Spaniel, the Golden Retriever, the Irish Setter, the Airedale, and the Poodle.
A dog that shows their teeth when they are tickled, along with accompanying signs that include butt/tail wagging happily, sneezing, lower their head, and body contortions, are good signs. Dogs cleverly pick up on human emotions of laughter.
Dogs are quick in picking up on their owner’s social mood. They will quickly react. When your dog resembles a laughing expression and their owners laugh and pet them, you have just trained your dog to repeat this action so that your dog can elicit a laughing and fun expression.
Also, if your family dog is in a home with kids, they always enjoy playing with kids. Canine specialists believe that dogs laugh when they are playing with children. However, in any videos from TikTok and YouTube videos, it is believed that dogs are trained to note that dogs laugh when tickled.
Is Tickling a Dog Bad?
Dog owners cannot help themselves. There are several movements that we attempt to ascribe to our dogs that is not in their nature. If tickling is nothing more than a fun scratching experience, then dogs do enjoy a good scratching from their owners.
Tickling a dog cannot be perceived as bad if they approach you indicating that they want to be scratched or tickled. Remember that your dog is a personality with likes and dislikes. Watch your dog for signs that show they are enjoying being tickled.
Their body language will be one that appears loose and relaxed with a wagging tail. Tickling is only bad for your dog if they display irritating or uncomfortable signs and you are enjoying it more than your dog. Tickling or scratching a dog is to stimulate the nerves in their body.
Most dogs generally have an area on their body that they love having scratched. When you hit that special spot, they lift their legs. But if your dog does not like tickling, they will let you know. Simply pay attention to your dog’s body language. Teach your kids also about too much tickling.
Don’t just jump in trying to tickle your dog, start a regular tickle session to indicate play and wait for the reaction from your dog. Tickling may feel good the first time you do it, but do not keep tickling them and overstimulating them. Keep your tickling as a brief experience.
Why Do Dogs Kick Their Hind Legs When You Scratch Them?
Dog owners get a great deal of joy as their dogs kicked their hind legs vigorously while being scratched. Scientists say that this kicking motion is an involuntary motion known as the “scratch reflect.”
Dogs kick their hind legs when they are being scratched because you are stimulating the nerves that run throughout their body including the hind legs.
This is their sweet spot. Of course, science takes the imaginary joy out of this reaction when playing with our dogs.
Scientists state that when we tickle our dogs, it is a reaction to something that is irritating them.
Those hind legs start moving as fast as possible. When this happens, dog owners have actually activated the nerves beneath the surface of the skin that sends a message to his hind legs to get rid of what is irritating them.
You are scratching them or tickling them, and their hind legs start to rhythmically kick like crazy.
As a dog owner, we would like to think that our pet is enjoying this as much as we are. The more you apply a scratching movement the more intense your dog will kick their hind leg. Veterinarians scratch dogs upon examination to check for nerve injuries.
Rubbing or scratching their belly or scratching them on their back is a good way to reward them.
How Do You Tickle a Dog’s Belly?
Vets state that dogs will display body language signs that they enjoy a belly tickle. This includes a relaxed body, an open mouth, their eyes are open but they are not staring at anything, in particular, their tails are wagging eagerly, and they may emit vocal sounds like a light panting sound or a vocal echo.
As a dog owner, you can tell whether your dog likes his belly tickled. His body language will tell you quickly when a belly rub is not welcomed. But there are a few tips to give your dog a fun and thrilling belly rub.
1. Do not stand over the dog. Kneel down next to them. When you kneel down to the dog’s level, this is a sign that you too are comfortable and relaxed, because dogs can quickly pick up our emotions.
2. Rub the top of their head or the back of their neck which are normal spots for petting and are areas that your dog is used to being rewarded.
3. Do this for a short period of time, then stop and see if your dog positively responds.
4. Then move to their tummy. Lightly rub their belly with an open palm. Make your rubbing movements in a circular or patting motion.
5. Tickle their belly for just a few seconds, then stop petting.
6. Watch how your dog responds.
7. If he reaches or paws for your hands indicating they would like another tickle, then perform steps 2 to 5 again.
Dogs love good belly rubs because it simply feels good. Rubbing their tummy stimulates a specific reaction in their brain that responds to this type of stimulation.
You will know when you are performing the right type of belly tickling. Because next time your dog will approach you and automatically roll over on their back and shows you their belly. In dog language, this is a sign that your dog trusts you.
On the opposite side of the coin, when your dog has had enough of this fun exercise, they will turn their head and attempt to get up on their feet – belly rub is done!
