You know just where that dog sweet spot is that gets your pup's leg moving. But what brings on that reflex? Are dogs ticklish? Does it itch? Where do dogs like to be petted? Does this dog scratch reflex indicate that they love it or hate it when you touch their bellies?
Through some investigation, researchers have found a scientific reason why dogs get their kicks from a good ol' scratch session.
The dog reflex scratch is an involuntary response that protects dogs from fleas, ticks and other sources of irritation, says Popular Science. A cluster of nerves located under the skin makes up the dog tickle spot. When you scratch your pet's tummy and hit this spot, these nerves get activated and send a message to the hind leg, via the spinal cord, to start kicking in an attempt to dislodge the source of irritation.
This doesn't necessarily mean your dog doesn't enjoy the sensation of being scratched in that spot. You can gauge your pup's level of enjoyment by paying attention to body language, Animal Planet suggests. Dogs who either don't like it or are tired of the sensation will typically try to move away. Also, a dog that frequently turns over to reveal their belly to you is signaling that they are comfortable with you and likely they are comfortable with the belly scratches you tend to give them at this time.
Where do dogs like to be petted? With few exceptions, the dog scratch reflex gets activated when you scratch or tickle certain areas of the belly and not, for example, the rump or the head. That's because the nerve clusters specific to this reflex are only located within a saddle-shaped region of the belly, known as the "receptive field of the reflex," says DogDiscoveries.com.
Do dogs like it when you scratch their sweet spot? One theory on why this nerve reflex is localized to this region is that this area is not as mobile or protected as other parts of the body, leaving it more vulnerable to parasites and other irritants.
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So, why do dogs kick when you scratch them? At the turn of the 20th century, English neurophysiologist Sir Charles Sherrington became intrigued by this dog behavior and devoted considerable resources to its study.
According to his findings published in The Integrative Action of the Nervous System, the dog scratch reflex manifests in four stages:
The dog scratch reflex might be amusing, but it serves a purpose in protecting your dog from pests and provides key insights into their neurological health. Whether your dog is aware of any of this, or whether they just like the sensation of getting their sweet spot scratched, one thing is almost certain — belly rubs are pretty awesome.