Do Dogs Really Want to Be Touched? A Look into How Therapy Dogs Feel About Human Interaction

When we see a cute therapy dog, our instinct is to reach out and pet them. But here’s a question we don’t often ask: do they actually want that contact?

A new pilot study by researchers at the University of Guelph takes a closer look at how therapy dogs respond to touch—specifically comparing interactions where the dog has no choice versus ones where they do. It turns out that choice might be more important than we think.

The Study Setup: Two Kinds of Touch

The researchers worked with 18 certified therapy dogs and 44 human participants. Each dog went through two scenarios:

• Forced Touch: The dog was on a leash and had to stay close while the person continuously touched them.

• Free-Choice Touch: The dog was off-leash and free to approach (or avoid) the person, who could only touch the dog if it came close.

Each session lasted three minutes, and the dogs’ behaviors were recorded on video and carefully analyzed for signs of stress or comfort.

What the Dogs Said—With Their Bodies

The dogs didn’t speak, but their body language told a clear story.

In the forced touch sessions, dogs showed more signs of discomfort. One standout behavior was the ears pulled back, a subtle signal that a dog might be uneasy or stressed.

In the free-choice touch setting, dogs showed more natural behavior: sniffing the floor, moving around, and sometimes even avoiding the person. But here’s what’s really interesting—despite having the freedom to walk away, the dogs chose to stay within reach of the person nearly 78% of the time.

This suggests that therapy dogs generally don’t mind being around people. But they may feel better when they’re the ones deciding how close to get and whether or not to engage.

Gender Differences: Male Dogs Kept More Distance

Another cool finding? Male dogs were more likely than females to avoid people and spend more time interacting with their owners instead. They also showed more belly exposure—a potential signal of submission or seeking comfort.

What This Means for Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs are trained to be calm and tolerant, but that doesn’t mean they’re always 100% comfortable with human attention. The study shows that giving dogs a choice can reduce subtle signs of stress and help them feel more in control.

In therapy settings—where dogs are often expected to be touched by many strangers—allowing them some agency could improve their well-being. It could even prevent burnout or behavioral issues down the line.

So… Should You Ask Before You Pet?

While your dog at home might enjoy belly rubs on demand, not all dogs—especially working dogs—feel the same. When you’re around therapy animals, or any unfamiliar dog, watch their body language. If their ears are pinned back, or they’re moving away, they might be asking for a break.

A little patience and respect for their space can go a long way in keeping dogs happy, healthy, and willing to do their amazing work.

Reference:

Sarrafchi, A., de Zwaan, N., Tucker, M., & Merkies, K. (2025). Can I touch you? A pilot study comparing consensual and non-consensual human-dog touch interactions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 285, 106560.