Indy is a leaning sort of dog. My brown and black Rottweiler-Shepherd mix will carefully sidle up, sit close, and lean against you at every opportunity. He'll lean against your legs, back, side – any part of you he can reach. And there's nothing halfway about it. He puts intention into it. Determination. Heart.
Over years of experience with dogs in my life, I believe this is the canine version of a hug. And, being wise and sensitive creatures, they know how important hugs can be. Whether warranted or unwarranted (most notably unwarranted), a dog knows the significance of a well-timed, good and proper hug. Indy is one of the best at this.
According to the experts, we humans are now catching up with this knowledge and understanding. And, at last count, the necessary number of hugs for sufficient well-being is eight a day (12 is better, four is an absolute minimum).
Additionally, I've learned that the duration of each hug should be at least three seconds long. Apparently, that's the time it takes to release all those good brain chemicals that make us feel good about life and ourselves and each other.
Also according to recent scientific research, nothing else comforts or connects us like a good hug. Hugs share our joys as well as our sorrows. Hugs are a delighted hello and a sincere goodbye. Hugs are inclusive and erase boundaries. They disarm our enemies and confirm our friendships. They heal. Babies can't thrive without them. Neither can oldies.
Hugs don't just hit the spot with our brains either. They actually have a measurable effect on our skin and hearts and tummies. (Who knows what great stuff is going on even at the cell level.) And one more bonus (albeit an odd one) – hugs spread less germs than handshakes.
I've always been a great believer in hugs, myself. I was one who personally cheered Michelle Obama who unwittingly threw all royal protocol into the Thames when she spontaneously hugged Queen Elizabeth after their first meeting. Even Her Highness had to smile and hugged her back. Hugs should be spontaneous. And they're pretty much guaranteed to get a grin and a squeeze in return.
I'm sorry for cultures that don't appreciate hugging. But I'm also not surprised that most non-human mammals do get it. I'm also quite sure that the culture of dog has probably always intuited the importance and benefits of the gesture – both giving and receiving. I've further observed firsthand that most cats appreciate it as well – even though some of them would rather not get caught at it.
When Indy is leaning on someone, he is rarely the first to move. He'll stay with it as long as you do. Perhaps it is the perfect example of something else I read recently about hugs: "When hugging someone, always be the last one to let go. You never know how long they may need it." Apparently, Indy already understands that.