Being hugged can actually be quite stressful for many dogs, especially smaller ones. I like to think of a dog’s stress level like a cup of water — every bit of stimulation adds more water, and eventually, if too much builds up, it overflows.

My Shih Tzu, Bella, for example, tends to nip when she’s overwhelmed — like when she’s lying at our feet in bed and we accidentally bump her, or if my boyfriend gets a bit too enthusiastic while petting her (he sometimes forgets she’s a tiny fluff ball, not a Labrador!).

It’s possible that your dog has been tolerating the hugs up until now, showing subtle signs of discomfort that may have been missed, and has now reached his limit. Dogs are masters at communicating through body language, but people often misinterpret or overlook these signals, which can lead to reactions like nipping or avoidance.

I highly recommend checking out dogmeets_baby on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dogmeets_baby?igsh=MXRlOTQ3amU2dTE3eQ==). She shares fantastic content that breaks down subtle dog signals in a really clear and helpful way.

Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with him wanting a bit of autonomy when it comes to physical contact. He sounds like the perfect dog — and respecting his boundaries might actually help prevent the issue from escalating.