How to Teach Your Dog to Hug You: Proven and Effective Tips

Why do you want to teach your dog to hug you? Cuddling with your dog is a great way to relieve stress and strengthen your bond. Not to mention, this is one of the tricks that impresses your friends and can help you keep your dog mentally stimulated. 

We will explain two different methods for teaching your dog to hug you and how to structure the training process so you can get the best results. Are you excited to teach your dog to hug? Let’s get started. 

Do All Dogs Like Cuddling?

Not all dogs are keen on hugging and close physical contact with a human. It’s unnatural for a dog to do this, so you need to use specific training to teach it. However, it’s essential to consider limiting factors before deciding whether to teach a dog to hug. 

These factors include:

- The dog’s breed: Some breeds have skeletal features that prevent them from performing a hug safely. You may need to consult your dog’s vet to check whether your dog can proceed with the training. 

- Physical condition: To prevent injury, dogs with certain medical conditions, such as arthritis, muscle issues, dysplasia, and similar, should avoid this trick. 

- Individual preference: Your dog may feel uncomfortable when you hug them as it restricts their movement. Don’t force your dog to perform a trick; approach the training gradually and use positive reinforcement. 

Get Ready to Teach Your Dog to Hug You

To ensure the success of your training sessions, dedicate some time and effort to proper preparation before the training process starts. 

Here are some things to consider:

• Have your training sessions in a quiet, distraction-free environment. You can choose a spot inside or outside your home, but choose a place where your dog can stay focused. Tip: Choose a place where they usually listen to you.

• Stock up on your dog’s favorite treats to reinforce successful repetition of the command.

• Bring a leash if you train outside and your dog is prone to running away.

• Stay mindful of your dog’s body language and shorten the sessions if you see signs of discomfort.

• If your dog doesn't like being touched, before teaching them to hug you, you should desensitize the touch. To do so, start petting them while giving them their favorite treats. Start with parts of the body they usually like: belly, near the ears, rump, chest, and slowly move to more sensitized parts: forehead or paws.

How to Teach Your Dog to Hug You in 2 Different Methods

We offer you two ways of teaching your dog to cuddle with you. The choice of which to use depends on your preference and your dog’s physical limitations. These methods are the neck nuzzle and paw on the shoulder. 

Teach Your Dog to Hug with the Neck Nuzzle Method

If your dog can’t comfortably keep their paws on your shoulder due to certain physical issues, the neck nuzzle method is right for you. 

Here's how to train your dog to hug using the neck nuzzle method:

1. Get at your dog's eye level. You may need to get down on the floor to establish eye contact.

2. Place a treat behind your head and hold it for your dog to move closer to the treat. If your dog is reluctant to get closer to you, avoid eye contact to make them feel safer, and just reward the dog once they get closer to your face.

3. Allow the dog to nibble the treat before you give it to them. Repeat the process several times to help your dog build the association.

4. Repeat the process and add a verbal cue: “Hug!” before you give your dog the treat.

5. Increase the command duration and make your dog wait longer before you treat them.

6. Keep repeating the process until your dog does it consistently. Once this happens, use the verbal cue only. Your dog should hug you upon a verbal command.

Teach Your Dog to Hug with the Paws on Shoulders Method

Another method to teach your dog to cuddle is using the paws on shoulders method. Let’s discuss each step of this method. 

Here’s how to train your dog to hug using the paws on shoulders method:

1. Make your dog sit on the ground and kneel in front of them. Get comfortable on your knees to maintain your balance if your dog hugs you a little too enthusiastically.

2. Before putting the dog's paws on your shoulder, try to invite them to put them there. By kneeling and tapping your shoulders, some dogs hug naturally. Make sure your dog is comfortable with this exercise. Keep in mind that most dogs don't like to be touched on their paws, but with desensitization, there shouldn't be a problem. Avoid trying this method with insecure or fearful dogs, as they may not like it.

3. Release your dog from the position and offer them a treat.

4. Repeat the sequence, adding a verbal cue like “Hug!’

5. You may also add gestures like tapping your chest at previous steps.

6. Keep practicing regularly and praise your dog for following the command.

Pro tip: Keep the training sessions short to avoid tiring out your dog. Practice the trick in 2 to 5-minute sessions with regular intervals, but at most 3 times daily. Make the sessions fun and engaging to motivate your dog to train more.

Wrap Up

Teaching a dog to cuddle is a delightful trick many dog owners enjoy. However, you should be mindful of your dog's physical limitations and preferences. Depending on your dog’s breed and physical abilities, you can opt for the neck nuzzle or paw on the shoulder method. Regardless of your choice, ensure your dog is comfortable performing the trick.