‘Stop scratching your dog’s belly’: Dr Chris Brown

When your furry pal rolls over, paws in the air, it’s hard to resist a tickle, but apparently it would be kinder to just leave your dog alone. 

Australian veterinarian Dr Chris Brown took to Facebook on Sunday to school dog owners on why it was better to leave their pooches bellies to themselves.

“Pets don’t want to be tickled when they roll over,” he said. “I know it’s tough news to handle on a Sunday. But it turns out some of us might just have been reading the signals all wrong.”

Dr Brown went on to say that you’re actually betraying your pooch’s trust by tickling them. Citing animal behaviourist Dr Jill MacKay, he explained, what seems like an invitation “is actually an important test of trust”.

The Bondi Vet host went on to explain that when a dog rolls over it represents their trust, but if you tickle your pooch you invade their personal space and “even threaten that confidence they have in you”. 

Dr McKay originally told the Daily Mail that dog owners mean well, but can misunderstand their pets.

“It is very common for a dog to lie down, show its tummy and lift its legs in the air, but that is not a request for a tummy rub. They have simply learned to put up with it,” she said. 

Read more: Vet warns dog owners against tasty host cross buns treats

Facebook users jumped to comment, with many telling Dr Brown their pooch loves to be tickled. 

One user said: “I have to disagree with this study. Our Ridgeback/Dane would happily be an upside down door mat for anyone to rub their feet on his belly.”

Another added: “Absolute rubbish – if our Monty rolls over and we DON’T tickle his tummy, he drives us nuts until we do. He loves it! And would take tummy tickles all day if we were willing to do it.”

While many pinned the research as false, a few agreed with Dr Brown saying “they’re all individual and that’s how they should be treated”.

One user wrote: “One of my dogs absolutely loves a tummy rub and will be very demanding in his quest for one but the other one isn’t a fan so we don’t do it. They’re all individuals and that’s how they should be treated.”

While another said,” … this makes sense now. Willow used to roll over in front of me all the time and just lay there for ages, but wasn’t that keen on being tickled on her belly when I tried it a couple of times.”

What do you think? Does you dog enjoy belly tickles?