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January 29, 2015

Finding your pet’s sweet spot

Anyone with a pet knows all belly rubs are not created equal. In fact, some pets have no interest in having their belly rubbed whatsoever. Sure, our pets look to us for love and affection. But they also look to us because we know that favored spot on their chest or neck
Anyone with a pet knows all belly rubs are not created equal. In fact, some pets have no interest in having their belly rubbed whatsoever. Sure, our pets look to us for love and affection. But they also look to us because we know that favored spot on their chest or neck or ear. Through lots of intense cuddle research, we’ve nailed down Penny’s sweet spot.  Rhodesian Ridgeback, Chicago, puppy, marking our territory

Penny is a head-scratch girl through and through

Rhodesian Ridgeback, Chicago, puppy, marking our territory

More specifically, Penny loves having the sides of her face massaged in a circular motion. It puts her to sleep every time

Now that Penny knows we know her sweet spot, she’s not afraid to ask for affection

Rhodesian Ridgeback, Chicago, puppy, marking our territory

It always starts with a few soft kisses

Rhodesian Ridgeback, Chicago, puppy, marking our territory

Then she pounces to make sure my affection (and hand) can’t escape

Rhodesian Ridgeback, Chicago, puppy, marking our territory

A relentless affection junkie 

But Penny is not the only one vying for some love. Eko stakes his claim too.

Rhodesian Ridgeback, Chicago, puppy, marking our territory

“Will, don’t think you’re going anywhere without petting me first.”

Rhodesian Ridgeback, Chicago, puppy, marking our territory

As I’ve documented before, Eko’s a butt-scratch guy. He backs up into my lap and stares at me until he gets his scratch

So pretty much anytime I sit down with my hands free, this is my view.

Rhodesian Ridgeback, Chicago, puppy, marking our territory

“Waiter, one face-rub and one butt-scratch, please.”

I only have two hands, so the camera got the boot while the pups got their affection of choice. There’s no getting up until the pups have had their fix. It’s just about the cutest toll there is, and I’m happy to pay.

Eko and Penny’s secret is out, so spill the beans. What brand of affection does your pet like best?

Comments for Finding your pet’s sweet spot

  1. fredrieka says:

    My whole body is my sweet spot I love being the center of attention

  2. meANXIETYme says:

    Le Moo is a butt-scratch girl. When you come in the house, she will actually put her butt toward you then curl into a circle (while standing) and POINT at her butt with her nose. It’s the weirdest thing EVER. And don’t think you’re getting into the house without giving her a good scratchin’ because she’ll actually block you from walking anywhere with her 92lb body. She’ll pivot from side to side in this circle manner until she feels the scratchin’ is done or until you can convince her to go outside. She also likes to have her cheeks scratched, to the point where she ends up looking like a chipmunk because her hair gets all puffed up afterwards.
    Butthead is less particular. She really just wants affection, though she doesn’t really love to have her butt scratched…she prefers the flank area.

  3. raisingdaisy says:

    Haha talk about opposites! Love that last photo especially. Daisy is just like Penny – her sweetest sweet spot is the sides of her face, and she falls right to sleep. She also loves back massages, and sometimes she lifts her head up to get a good chin scritching. 🙂

  4. hahaha I’m your twin Eko, that’s MY spot too :o)

  5. dashlilly says:

    Yep, two pups require more than two hands some days!!! Dash is a top of the head and back rub guy. Will sit and wait and wait and wait. Lilly is a face rub and will sit and paw and demand! Agreed — it’s a toll worth paying!

  6. KarenS says:

    Mine both enjoy the butt scratch as well but Bruno is a dog wash guy. Between the legs then his head in my hands for kisses and scrunches. As a puppy to try and get his ears to lie flat, ear massages where done & he still loves them. Ty enjoys the ear massage as well, which led to gentle strokes on his head.

    Cuddles and massages. The best!

  7. nerdgrl (Kim S.) says:

    Steffi was a ear rub/scratch little one. She would contort herself as she leaned in as I rubbed/scratched. And, it was me; apparently, daddy didn’t do it right so if she wanted a good scratch it was over to mommy. Then, after it was over…shake, shake, shake. We used to have whole conversations on her preference for me over dear husband in the ear scratching department.

  8. KDKH says:

    My poodle likes his ears rubbed. The others will take it any way they can get it!

  9. I wuvwuvwuv tummy rubs and chinny-chin-chin rubs! Wooowoooooo, Ku

  10. Victoria says:

    Muffin will lay down and do a quiet little whine and if i ignore her then a little soft bark then it goes to full on barking – once i get on the floor and give her a belly rub she is fine – although me getting up or quitting are not fine. She will also sit by me and put her paw on me (wherever it lands) for a head rub – the top of her head and under her chin. And Rigs likes belly rubs, nose rubs and belly rubs and especially butt rubs – he gets between your legs and wants a but rub and will go circles around your legs until you comply.

  11. Dakota is with Eko all the way! He is a “butt scratch” guy too, Cody LOVES belly rubs!

  12. Our big boy Bear is a total butt scratcher boy too, just like Eko. In fact, they must have gone to the same training school because they both that ‘the look’ down pat 😀

    Scooter is a little more finicky, but he loves rubs under the chin the most!

  13. I love when I can get Ru’s leg kicking’! It’s usually when the collar comes off and I can get his sweet spot on the side of his neck.

  14. coastingnz says:

    awesome – great shots of some serious puppy love and affection. Nico loves his tummy being rubbed, but then there is the ear rub, no wait the chest rub, hang on quite like my neck rub………. Ziggy loves his ears and not a huge tummy rub fan but seems to be wanting it more as he has got older.

  15. Donna says:

    Its amazing how well trained we humans are! Axel’s favorite spot is his neck…..right around where his collar fits. He crawls up on the couch…..forces his head under my arm….lays his head on my laps….and starts talking”. Unfortunately he has been unable to teach me the foreign language of dog but he understands my limitations. After a few trial and error weeks, I finally got it! Scratch my neck Mom…..is what he has been saying all along. So, now that I have finally got it, he will thumps his right hind leg when I scratch the perfect spot. I wonder if he will continue with his training of me as he is learning the old human has a hard time learning new tricks. 🙂

  16. Emmadog says:

    I’m big into ear massages, Bailie loves hugging and can hug real tight and nuzzle down into Mom’s neck. Katie isn’t real picky.

  17. Cheryl Metzger says:

    Molly loves to have her head, around the ears rubbed. She nudges me with her nose, and just keeps doing that till I pet her. And if it isn’t enough, she’ll nudge you again. More Momma, More

  18. Unfortunately, Maggie is still too fearful to ask for affection. She’ll tolerate, but rarely seeks it out – sure wish she would…she gets a lot, but only when we approach her. Jack is a belly rub guy and as soon as I move to pet him he flops and rolls over.

  19. cafall says:

    Monty is only happy if he can stand on you, and stare into your eyes from about two inches away. He doesn’t want petting, just to stare at someone. Harlow on the other paw, is a butt- and tummy-rub kind of gal.

    Monty and Harlow

  20. So sweet! Nellie nudges my hands to rub her head for ever, glory is a butt girl and Gambler is a belly dude.

  21. Sam’s a side of the face/ear kind of guy and will lean against me till I accommodate his desire. But he certainly won’t pass up a butt scratch in lieu of it. Now that I think about it, as long as I’m touching him, he’s pretty content! Nothing like a 60 lb. lap dog, eh? 🙂

  22. Justin says:

    I believe I recently found the sweet spot on my yellow lab. When I gently scratch her neck under her collar (on the sides of her head), she’ll turn her head in the direction to the side I’m scratching so much that she eventually leans into the ground. I can then scratch under the collar in the other side of her neck, same thing. But if I’m not under the collar she won’t seem to care I’m scratching there as much.

    Now on an odd note, I tried scratching two of my friends dogs (two different breeds) in the same spot under the collar and got the same results. Head tilting and one dogs leg even started kicking.

    Is this common for under the collar?

  23. LoneRider says:

    My horse Sam loves it when I scratch the bone just below his ear. He lowers his head and presses it ahaartistme. I have a tiny pony called Boomerang, who just collapses and starts rolling if you tickle him just below his shoulder

  24. Tevin says:

    Could you help me with trying to find my dogs sweet like any suggestions that could help?

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