A place that varies according to the dogs
You must have observed your dog kicking his paws while you scratched his stomach, flanks or certain parts of his back. And, the fact is that the "tender point" that triggers this reaction varies between individuals. Some dogs even have multiple points that move their paws.
But what makes a dog's paw move when you tickle its "sweet spot" ? Is it because they are ticklish or is it something else?
A reflex reaction
In reality, the reaction of our domestic canines has a scientific explanation and is called the scratch reflex. This is an involuntary reaction by your dog, much like when the doctor hits your knee with a small mallet. Veterinarians can also use this particular point to assess the animal's reflexes, as part of a neurological assessment.
Scratching your dog at his sensitive spot stimulates the many free nerve endings located under his skin at that exact spot and triggers an itching sensation to which the dog "automatically" responds with activation of its paw in order to scratch.
So when you scratch or tickle your dog's belly, it triggers his scratching reflex, in the same way that wind moves his hair or an insect lands on his skin. The nerve endings present under its skin then transmit a message to the muscles of its legs, via the spinal cord, so that they kick in order to get rid of the element which bothers or irritates it.
Should you stop scratching your dog when he shakes his paw?
When you find your dog's "itching point" , it's often very funny and you only want one thing: to find it again. But is it pleasant for the dog?
Well, it depends on the dogs. Some of them will appreciate the caress and "ask for more" by looking at you as soon as you stop scratching it while others are rather resistant to it.
To find out if your dog is in the first or second category, watch your dog's reactions. If your dog's body language shows signs of discomfort such as yawning or repeated licking of truffles (among other signs of appeasement), prefer to stop the petting or move it to a place much less sensitive for your pet.
If, on the other hand, your dog is rather receptive, you can continue your cuddling/scratching session without any problem.