{"id":4574,"date":"2018-08-13T09:00:32","date_gmt":"2018-08-13T16:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/?p=4574"},"modified":"2018-08-14T23:03:54","modified_gmt":"2018-08-15T06:03:54","slug":"21-things-your-dog-hates-when-you-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/pet-ownership\/21-things-your-dog-hates-when-you-do\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Things Your Dog Hates When You Do"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s face it: dogs are pretty much perfect. Okay, that\u2019s a bit exaggerated. Our<\/em> dogs are perfect in our eyes. No matter how many socks they rip, trash cans they get in to, or messes they make in the house, we continue to love them no matter what. However, just like humans, there are some things your dog dislikes. No, I\u2019m not talking about treat preferences or dog beds! Have you ever noticed the uncomfortable looks they give when you hug them? The sad eyes when you pull them on a tight leash?<\/p>\n

Dogs have certain things that make them uncomfortable, just like their owners. But sometimes, these actions have negative effects on your pup that can affect their behavior and overall demeanor while they\u2019re around you. Every dog is different, but it\u2019s always important to pay attention to your pet to make sure they\u2019re never put in a situation that may cause them distress.<\/p>\n

Here are 21 things your dog may dislike:<\/p>\n

1. Hugging<\/strong><\/p>\n

While hugging is a way for humans to bond, dogs are strongly averse to having arms conceal their bodies. Why? Have you ever been in a very, very crowded room? Did you ever feel claustrophobic? That\u2019s what hugging feels like to dogs. Not only do they feel trapped, but your hugging them may also come off as a sign of dominance. Now, every dog is different. Overly affectionate dogs may love<\/em> hugs, some may tolerate it out of their love for you (it still means they may not like it), and others may become violent. If you attempt to hug your dog and notice that their ears are pinned back, their posture is stiff, or their expression is tense, refrain from hugs. Tip: make sure visitors or strangers know this as well. It\u2019s better to be safe and to respect your dog\u2019s boundaries.<\/p>\n

2. Yelling<\/strong><\/p>\n

When did yelling ever solve anything? I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve never appreciated it when someone yelled at you\u2014it\u2019s the same with your pet. Yelling at them will make them anxious and scared (or they may not pay attention at all), and they most likely won\u2019t even understand what you\u2019re yelling about! Try positive reinforcement instead when they do something right as opposed to raising your voice when they do something wrong.<\/p>\n

\"things<\/a>3. Wordy Commands<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although dogs can be very smart, they aren\u2019t scholars. By all means, talk to your dog! They may not understand what you\u2019re saying, but it definitely helps you two bond. However, when it comes to commands, it\u2019s best to make it short and simple. Use key words such as \u201csit\u201d, \u201cwalk\u201d, \u201cgood\u201d, \u201ctoy\u201d, etc., tone, and positive body language. You\u2019ll have a better chance of getting your message across!<\/p>\n

4. Lack of Structure<\/strong><\/p>\n

While we humans crave spontaneity from the regular routine of everyday life, our dogs couldn\u2019t love it more! Routine is a comfort for them, so try to make sure that you feed them, take them out, and walk them around the same time every day. Additionally, the exercise and regular schedule keeps them from acting out!<\/p>\n

5. Face Petting<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just like hugging, every dog will have a different reaction to your hands on their face. While some love the touch, others may only tolerate it. It also goes without saying that if you do pet your dog\u2019s face, make sure to be gentle. But, to be safe, stay in safe zones such as the neck, shoulders, or chest (especially with new dogs)!<\/p>\n

6. Eye Contact<\/strong><\/p>\n

We love to look at our dogs, especially in the eyes, to convey our love for them. However, it\u2019s best to avoid this with dogs you don\u2019t know. Direct eye contact can be interpreted as a challenge or even a threat!<\/p>\n

\"things<\/a>7. Stopping the Sniff Fest<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever taken your dog on a walk, you know how much your dog likes to sniff! It may be annoying to you, but for them, it\u2019s a chance to see who\u2019s been around their neighborhood. Don\u2019t pull them away or berate them for sniffing. This is their version of social media. Imagine if you were on your phone and someone took it from you. That\u2019s what it feels like to dogs when you pull them away from their sniffing spots!<\/p>\n

8. Making Them Play Dress Up<\/strong><\/p>\n

It may be cute to dress your dog up in different outfits or old clothes you\u2019ve had for years, but most dogs tolerate it and don\u2019t really enjoy it. There may be exceptions, such as dog-specific jackets or coats during the winter to keep them warm. Nevertheless, silly costumes that you dress them up in for fun and giggles is not okay. While they\u2019re being laughed at and seen by you and other humans, they may feel confused or anxious at the attention and reactions. Again, every dog is different, so they may love the attention. But pay attention to their expression and moods to make sure they aren\u2019t uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

9. Scary Situations<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are going to be things that your dog won\u2019t like such as vacuums, the vet, or other specific things (for example, my dog hates when my brother plays his trumpet)! While some things can be counterproductive, there are ways that you can positively introduce your pup to these new and exciting stimuli. The best option is to do it gradually over time, at a distance. You can reward them for being calm and then slowly keep moving them towards the object or person until they become comfortable with it.<\/p>\n

10. Strong Smells<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you know that dogs have extremely sensitive noses? I mean, 10,000-100,000 times more sensitive than ours. That means extremely potent perfumes, cleaners, and products may have negative effects on your pooch\u2019s nose. Try to keep these high-smelling items out of sniffing reach for your dog; they\u2019ll thank you!<\/p>\n

\"things<\/a>11. Alone Time<\/strong><\/p>\n

There comes a time when we have to go to work, go on a trip, or leave the house for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, we can\u2019t always take our dogs with us. Our dogs live for us and want to spend time with us as much as possible. While there may be times you can\u2019t control your schedule, try to find time to spend with your pup. If it\u2019s extended time, maybe hire a sitter<\/a> or take them to a dog daycare. That being said, nothing compares to spending time with their actual owner!<\/p>\n

12. Bad Moods<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our dogs are highly empathetic, so whenever we\u2019re stressed, sad, or upset our dog knows! However, if you remain in a bad mood for an extended period of time, it can also negatively affect your dog\u2019s mood and may even cause them to become physically ill.<\/p>\n

13. Forcing Interaction<\/strong><\/p>\n

If there are certain dogs or people you know your dog dislikes, do not try to force them to interact with one another. If your dog has already made it clear that he or she is uncomfortable or upset, take note of it and remove them from the situation. Sometimes it\u2019s hard to pick up cues that your dog is upset, but look for obvious signs such as growling, ignoring, and avoidance. If you neglect these signs, it may lead to something much worse than growling. Also, your dog\u2019s trust in you will fall a bit since they rely on you to help them out of uncomfortable situations!<\/p>\n

\"things<\/a>14. Tight Leashes<\/strong><\/p>\n

When we put our dog on a leash, they tend to have a higher sensitivity to our emotions and worries! Keeping a tight lease conveys stress, frustration, and undiscernible excitement. There may be times when you want to keep them on a tight leash, but it\u2019s better to try to keep it slack. Teaching them how to walk properly is key, and can save you both the hassle of a difficult walk. Keeping a clam, loose leach conveys relaxation and makes it a better walk for your dog!<\/p>\n

15. Teasing<\/strong><\/p>\n

This one may be a little self-explanatory, but dogs hate teasing. Don\u2019t pretend to throw their ball, don\u2019t pull on their tail, don\u2019t wave at them as they bark behind a window, and don\u2019t bark at them from across the street. These are just a few examples, but if there\u2019s anything you\u2019re doing that you could consider to be teasing, it\u2019s better to refrain from it.<\/p>\n

16. Loud Environments<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re throwing a large party, celebrating with fireworks, or there\u2019s just a lot of commotion going on around your house, your dog may feel anxious or worried and could act out if they feel threatened. It\u2019s best to remove them from the situation and place them in a quieter, calmer area where they can feel safe and secure from the noise and crowds.<\/p>\n

\"things<\/a>17. Baths<\/strong><\/p>\n

We love being clean, but our dogs would rather do without the need to bathe. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to give them the utmost care, love, and support when we clean them. The sounds, smell, and splashing water is uncomfortable for them, so make sure to give them a lot of praise and treats!<\/p>\n

18. Baby Treatment<\/strong><\/p>\n

They technically are our children, but pets aren\u2019t babies. Some of them can even be older (in dog years) than we are! It may feel good to you to pick them up and cradle them, but it\u2019s best to leave them on the stable ground where they know you won\u2019t possibly drop them.<\/p>\n

19. Kisses<\/strong><\/p>\n

We love kisses from our pups (well, some of us at least)! We see it as a sign of affection, but in reality, it\u2019s them showing that they are submissive to us via their licking. When we give them kisses, they become confused because they only see it as a sign of submission. To remove this confusion, show your love for them by giving them a good, relaxing belly rub!<\/p>\n

20. Leaning<\/strong><\/p>\n

Try not to lean over your pup since this asserts dominance in the wrong way and can make your dog fearful of you. If they give obvious signs of discomfort, they are trying to tell you to give them space. Be firm and have assertive body language to enforce dominance instead.<\/p>\n

\"things<\/a>21. Being Bored<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you tend to be boring with your pets, they may have more reason to act out or do things they shouldn\u2019t. They tend to go stir-crazy at home and when you don\u2019t give them enough attention, they\u2019ll be sure to let you know in a negative way. Don\u2019t be a boring pet parent. Have fun with your fur-kids!<\/p>\n

As I mentioned, every dog is different so you may not know if any of these things really have an impact or not. It\u2019s important to pay attention if you ever find yourself in one of these situations with your dog. Our pups mean the world to us so it\u2019s important to make sure they\u2019re enjoying their time with you too! If you have other concerns, your vet can fill you in a bit more as well as give you helpful tips that may not have been mentioned here. Also, the internet is a wonderful place to ask other dog owners what bothers their pooch from time to time. The more you know, the better you can keep your pup happy and comfortable!<\/p>\n

What have you noticed that your dog doesn’t like you doing? Leave a comment and let us know!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s face it: dogs are pretty much perfect. Okay, that\u2019s a bit exaggerated. Our dogs are perfect in our eyes. No matter how many socks they rip, trash cans they get in to, or messes they make in the house, we continue to love them no matter what. However, just like humans, there are some things your dog dislikes. No, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":4593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[726,550],"tags":[47,170,737,736,721],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4574"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4574"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4574\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4594,"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4574\/revisions\/4594"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sittingforacause.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}