Tickle spots?

[tjguitar]

How come sometimes when you rub a corgi's tummy, if you find the right spot, the "tickle spot", one of their feet starts going bananas? I think my dad has even been able to get both feet going at once! Do they enjoy this or is not comfortable? He doesn't seem to complain.


edit: found a response on Yahoo! Answers:

I'm going to take a guess:

The only way to get that spot is for them to itch it with their back leg. Since the two things are so closely related, when you hit that spot, they involuntarily move their leg in that motion. Dogs evolved without humans being around to itch that spot, so they're very used to doing it themselves.

Yahoo! Answers - What is happening to a dog when you hit their "tickle spot" and their foot goes crazy?

[Michael Romanos]

dogs have tickle spots/areas just like we have. Around the tail joint is another as is one or other side of their rump (trousers or skirt or pants) and sometimes an area/spot on their back or on the sides of their back. When grooming you sometimes find these sensitive areas. Sometimes it is good for a dog to be tickled but in most areas that are ticklish, the tickling can be overdone and become uncomfortable and annoying to the dog.

[Cheetah]

Shippo's tickle spot is on his lower neck in front of his shoulder. It's so funny when he's plopped over on his back kicking his leg lol... he even stretches out his neck dramatically...

[glencorgi]

Think of it as an automatic reflex, like when the doctor hits your knee and your leg automatically swings upward.

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

I forgot to mention that probably the most ticklish spot on a dog is their feet. That is perhaps why some dogs don't enjoy having their feet touched. But gentle touching between a Corgis toes should be a pleasent experience for him/her.

[Pawsies]

To calm a dog down in showing, usually you tickle just before the back leg, it really works for some reason (it's not a reflex action though).

Isis's reflex action is if you move your finger along the side of her, she's bound to kick her leg out. I think of it as ballet dancing i.e point your toes. Lol.