Why do I get hard when I pet my dog? A Simple Guide to a Strange Feeling
Okay, so this is a bit of an awkward topic, but hey, it's something I noticed and got curious about, so I figured, why not document it? It all started a few weeks ago. I've got this awesome Golden Retriever, Max. He's super fluffy and loves belly rubs. I noticed that, well, sometimes when I'm giving him a really good petting session, I, uh, get a little… excited. Yeah, that kind of excited.
My Little Experiment
It wasn't every time, but it was frequent enough that I started to wonder what the heck was going on. Was I some kind of weirdo? Was this normal? So, I did what any curious (and slightly embarrassed) person would do: I started keeping track.
First thing I did: Noticed the environment.
- Was I already feeling relaxed? Stressed?
- Had I been watching or reading anything, ahem, stimulating beforehand?
- What time of day was it?
Second, I focused on the petting itself:
- Where was I petting Max? Belly, back, head?
- Was I using a lot of pressure, or just light strokes?
- How long was the petting session lasting?
I tired many of petting ways, petting his Belly, back, head, using a lot of pressure, or just light strokes, try to make our petting session longger or shorter.
My "Findings" (So Far):
It's not super scientific, but here's what I've gathered. It seems to happen more often when:
- I'm already feeling pretty relaxed, like after a long day.
- I'm giving him a really good, long petting session, especially on his belly. I guess all that rhythmic motion or something?
- It's, shall we say, not first thing in the morning. My body's probably more… receptive… later in the day.
So what did I do? Basically, I paid more attention. I noticed that feeling, started trying to shift my focus. Put down my phone, no more scrolling before bed. Spend time with the dog, yeah, but maybe keep the petting sessions a little shorter, a little less… intense. It’s kinda worked! The, uh, reactions have definitely become less frequent.
I'm still not 100% sure what's up. Maybe it's just some weird quirk of my body. Maybe it's totally normal. But at least now I'm more aware of it, and I'm not freaking out thinking I'm some kind of deviant. It’s just one of those things, I guess. Bodies are weird.
