As a dog owner, it’s almost impossible to stop yourself from planting a big kiss on your pet’s forehead.
But as dogs don’t show affection in the same way as humans, this type of love could be lost on them – especially if they’re a rescue and not used to being shown such kindness.
It prompted Reddit users to ask: “Do dogs understand that we kiss them because we love them? I was just thinking about it after giving my dog a kiss (not on the mouth), do they understand it’s an affection thing?”
According to animal behaviourist Amy Shojai, not every dog enjoys kisses but they tolerate them usually knowing their owner means no harm.
She said: “Some dogs enjoy this, if taught what it means. People kissing them could potentially send mixed signals.”
For some dogs, the idea of you putting your face close to theirs could feel threatening – causing them stress and confusion.
If you notice stress signs from your pet when you’re showing them affection, you should stop and give them some space.
However, if your dog is used to this behaviour then they’ll likely understand it to be a sign of affection and enjoy the attention that comes with it, providing you’re not overly smothering them.
A statement on Daily Paws reads: “Dogs tend to approach other dogs in a sideways arc rather than head-on. So, it can be confusing for a dog to suddenly see a human face approaching.
“In fact, some dogs see this as a threat and may feel the need to defend themselves by growling or biting.”
The key is to think about the context before kissing your pets. The experts added: “If the dog has learned to accept kissing on top of the head, then that’s fine. For a new-to-you dog, though, I’d find other more species-appropriate ways to show affection.”
Commenting on the Reddit post, one user said: “It’s not natural to them but they have the ability to figure out that it’s an action that humans do to show affection.”
Another user added: “I think that if a dog is consistently shown affection while a certain action is performed, they eventually figure out that the action in question is associated with humans being happy and loving.”
A third user said: “Sometimes, when I come home, my dog gets shy and crawls toward me with her ears back and tail wagging. Then when I kiss her on the head, she stops being shy and gives me kisses back.”
A final user said: “If the dog feels a kiss from someone they love, then they will associate that feeling with love. I think there are many ways to convey that feeling.”