Belly Rubs/Strays

TheresaW

TheresaW

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I wasn’t really sure how to word the title, but something me and OH have wondered about.

We have 4 dogs, one from a puppy (Luna), Bo a rehome at 4, 7 years ago, and 2 from a rescue who were picked up as strays. Toby was about 7 when we got him 4 years ago, and Odin was 10.5, turned 13 last month. Odin also had a medical issue when the rescue took him in, which resulted in quite a big operation to remove a massive tumour.

Bo and Luna absolutely love a belly rub, and will lay on their backs, tummy exposed at every opportunity. The other two, will lay beside either of us on the sofas etc, and will let you stroke their bellies, but neither have ever exposed them like the other two.

Is this likely because they are protecting themselves because they lived a bit rough for a while, or just who they are? Are we over thinking it?

ETA. Both of them are very people friendly, love a fuss out and about. Odin is not so other dog friendly.
 
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I think it is deeply personal for dogs.
I have one who thinks her belly required pretty much non-stop stroking. Another who loves a gentle belly rub while he is standing but will grumble if you even think of touching his belly while he is lying down and rarely goes belly up. I think in his 10 years, h e's rolled belly up for a stroke maybe 3 or 4 times in total. Every time he clearly demanded the stroke and wanted more, and yet didn't do again for another year or so!
 
I had an older rescue who came to me later on in life. He had a rough time and you could tell that by the way he acted. Never aggressive more tense and he was more aloof then my other 2 rescues. Over time he came out of his shell and what was once a quiet black dog that would sit in the corner and watch from a far; turned out to be a quirky, opinionated most loyal dog you could ask for. The only time he would show his belly was to initiate play to me and my husband and then start to play growl. If you were not quick enough he would reposition himself so would have his back end was near you and then start to kick out at our thighs whilst he was on belly as if to say hurry up. Never saw a dog do this type of play but once you scratched his stomach it was like a turbo button and he would then do zoomies around the house and come back for round 2 after.
 
Ffee never rolls in her back, except to sleep if she’s with me on the sofa. If I stroke her tum then she’ll take it for a minute then get up and turn her back.
Beagle never, we assumed as she’s very much pack raised and understands subtleties of expression that human reared dogs miss completely.
Red exposes her belly but it’s fear, not wanting stroking.
 
Mine lies belly up a lot but she only wants her belly rubbed when she lies belly up and then kinda slides towards me or lies across my lap with her belly up. She didn't want her belly exposed for the first few weeks we had her iirc.
 
TheresaW said:
That’s kind of what I was asking in a roundabout way I think. Just struck as it’s the two who looked after themselves for a bit.
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do you know anything of their life before the rescue took them in? did they live rough, whereabouts etc.

This is a subject I have been pondering. 2 rescues, he is now about a year, she is nearer 2. He didn't suffer very much, didn't really live rough and has shown no sign of ever wanting a belly rub. He accepts it as he is polite but that is all. He is very very tame.
I found the history of the little bitch. She lived happily as a real street dog until the authorities captured and removed her. Her capture was very rough. She came very very scared, hid in her cage for a long time and had clearly been both kicked and hit from above with something during capture. She was bought out from a shelter and went to a foster which we know were kind to her.

When she finally came out of her cage and we started to touch her and the only place she would be touched and loved was between her front legs and then back to her belly where she rolled over. This was her choice and she loved it. She still does it, almost collapses and wants belly rubs. I thought initially it was because the foster mother had been kind to her and done this and she remembered. . Then I thought it was submission but it doesn't seem to be, it seems to be pleasure.,

I cannot for one moment imagine why a street dog very nervous who had a very rough time with people would expose her belly in this way but she does most definitely out of pleasure and choice. I hope someone comes up with a reason.
I've had lots of dogs over the years who were never badly treated and whilst some had their bellies rubbed none deliberately asked for it. Yet the most terrified of them all did.
 
We know Toby was picked up in Ireland along with a female husky. She got rehomed quite quickly, but he was in the kennels for a while. He is big and boisterous, so that may be why he took longer. He comes across as having been someone’s pet, but his microchip was never registered.

Odin was found over here, probably dumped as needing vet treatment. His chip was registered, hence we know his age, but details weren’t up to date. This was him when the rescue picked him up.

IMG_6109.jpeg
 
Some dogs like it, some dogs don't, regardless of background and sorry to say, yes, yet again, it can be genetic!
Even when a submissive dog looks happy about belly rubs, that doesn't mean it is not submissive or deferential behaviour, there's 'pushy' submission too, which is the canine equivalent of someone being a self-preserving kiss-arse ;)
 
TheresaW said:
We know Toby was picked up in Ireland along with a female husky. She got rehomed quite quickly, but he was in the kennels for a while. He is big and boisterous, so that may be why he took longer. He comes across as having been someone’s pet, but his microchip was never registered.
:)
Odin was found over here, probably dumped as needing vet treatment. His chip was registered, hence we know his age, but details weren’t up to date. This was him when the rescue picked him up.

View attachment 173096
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wow, that's horrible. Poor lad but so lucky to get sorted and a good home. :)
 
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