When you stroke your dog’s belly, you probably have already found its “Garding Point … Ratching”, in other words, a place that makes it shake its rear paw in a frenetic way. But why does this particular point produce this effect in your pet? We looked at the reasons for this funny reaction.
A place that varies according to dogs
This has happened to you to observe your dog, give paws while you scratch him his belly, flanks or parts of his back. And, the fact is that “the sensitive point” which triggers this reaction varies by individuals. Some dogs even have several points that move their paws.
But what makes a dog’s paw starts moving as soon as he tits his ” Sweet Spot “? Is it because they are ticklish, or is this something else?
A reflex reaction
In reality, the reaction of our domestic canids has a scientific explanation and bears the name of scratch reflex. This is an involuntary reaction of your dog, a bit like the one that occurs when the doctor strikes your knee with a small mallet. Veterinarians can also use this particular point to assess the reflexes of the animal as part of a neurological assessment.
Scratching your dog to his sensitive point stimulates the many free nerve endings located under his skin at this precise place and triggers a feeling of itching to which the dog responds, ” automatic ” by the activation of His paw for scratching.
Thus, when scratching or ticking your dog’s belly, it triggers his scratch reflex, in the same way as the wind that would move his hair or an insect that would arise on his skin. The nerve terminations present under his skin then transmit a message to the muscles of his legs, via the spinal cord, so that they give a paw to get rid of the element that embarrasses or irritates it.
Should we stop scratching his dog when he shakes his paw?
When we find the “Point Gratouille” From his dog, it’s often very funny, and we have only one desire: that of finding him again. But is it nice for the dog?
Well, it depends on dogs. Some of them will appreciate the caress and ” Redemander” By looking at you as soon as you stop scratching it when others are rather refractory.
To find out if your dog is part of the first or second category, observe the reactions of your dog. If your dog’s body language shows signs of discomfort, such as yarns or repeated leges of truffles (among other signs of appeasement), prefer to stop caresses or move them to a much less sensitive place for your pet.
If, on the other hand, your dog is rather receptive, you can continue your hug/jacket session without a problem.
