Many of us have caught our doggy friends sprawled out on our household pillows, and while some might think this signals a spoilt pet – think again.
American dog lovers, the Schmools, enjoy sharing canine-related content with their followers on social media but recently shared a post that really touched the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.
Going by the account name, @schmools, the family uploaded a video to their TikTok page which showed their four-legged fur baby resting sleepily on their bedroom pillows.
“I’ll never be the same after reading that dogs sleep on pillows to be comforted by the smell of their owners,” they wrote.
The message may be simple but the meaning is astounding for anyone who loves their furry friend. While many of us know dogs have a stronger sense of smell than humans, our canine friends experience a heightened sense of emotional satisfaction when they recognise our scent.
This relationship was explored by Emory University neuroscientist Dr Gregory Berns who used advanced brain-imaging to show that dogs recognise scents even when the source isn’t present and found that canine brains responded differently to the odour of unfamiliar dogs and humans compared to their own family.
The pillow habit backs up these findings. While pets can sometimes copy their owners’ habits, it seems that pillows really offer a comforting presence to man’s best friend as they retain our odor.
@schmools #fypdog #fypツ #dogmom #fypdogs #dogtok #dogs #viraldog #sweetdog #dogsoftiktokviral #viralvideo #fyp #doggo #trending #trendingsong ♬ The Winner Is… Version – DeVotchKa
It’s a sentiment that was backed up by many fellow dog owners who wrote about their experiences after watching the video on TikTok.
“My buster does this when am out,” one wrote.
“Mine gets my pjs when I put clean ones on, we rotate them as I do laundry,” another added.
“We live in a basement flat and our bedroom is down by the bottom of the outdoor stairs. when we walk down the stairs, we see our boy on our pillows looking out for us,” another commented.
“My dog does this.”
While it’s good to know your pet gets support from your pillow, there are other ways to help them relax. Giving your dog a massage can be a wonderful way to bond with your pet while helping them relax and feel loved. Here’s how you can give your furry friend a gentle massage in just four easy steps:
Start by gently holding your dog’s ears between your fingers. Rub softly from the base to the tips of the ears. This area has lots of nerve endings, so gentle strokes can be very soothing for your dog.
Next, move to what’s called the “Raccoon touch,” which involves light touches over your dog’s body. Use the tips of your fingers to make soft, circular motions along their back, sides, and under the neck.
For the belly lift, carefully place your hands under your dog’s belly and gently lift upwards. You don’t need to lift them off the ground — just apply a gentle upward pressure.
Finally, use the “Spider motion” technique. Spread your fingers wide and let them crawl gently over your dog’s back, like a spider. This can help stimulate the nerves and increase circulation, giving them a pleasant tingling sensation.
Finish your massage session by petting your dog softly from head to tail.
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