How to Give a Great Belly Rub to a Dog

Piper
Jan 3, 2023
2 min read

Not all dogs love belly rubs. Most dogs don't always want a belly rub, either. Many dogs really only enjoy belly rubs in the morning when serotonin levels are highest, or when they're really relaxed.

You can help your dog love belly rubs even more by learning how to give a good belly rub. Here are the basic steps to giving an excellent belly rub.

🐶Watch to see if your dog is asking for a belly rub. Check the body language listed above. If your dog doesn't seem to want a belly rub right now, don't push it. The best way to teach your dog to trust you and love belly rubs is to respect him when he says "No, thank you."

🐶Kneel down. Keep your body language loose and relaxed at first.

🐶Rub the belly! Try open-palmed, fingernails-in, circular, or even patting motions. After three to five seconds, stop petting.

🐶See what your dog does next. If he paws at you, stays put, or otherwise shows that he'd like more petting, go back in for more! If he gets up and leaves, belly rubs are over.

🐶Try changing-up what sort of petting you use and see what different results you get. You might be surprised to find a new type of belly rub that your dog loves even more.

The most important thing is to respect your dog's wishes and pet him the way he'd like to be petted. If you read your dog's body language, you will ensure your dog loves belly rubs even more than he already does!

Some dogs can't resist a good belly rub and/or scratch, and the reasons are both behavioral and neurological. While showing off his tummy is a conscious act that speaks to his relationship with you, your dog also undergoes a neurological reaction when you start stroking his fur. The combination of the two can make tummy rubbing a wholly satisfying experience for your pet -- if he lets you do it in the first place.