Even if you’re a dog person and you would do anything for your furry friends, you might be accidentally getting on their nerves. And since your dogs can’t talk, we’re here to speak for them! Here are ten habits you might have that your dog hates.
Using Strong Scents
Your dog’s sense of smell is 100 thousand times stronger than yours. When you spray fragrances around the house (perhaps to mask pet odor), it’s the dog smell equivalent of a car alarm going off right next to your ear. This is also why they avoid you when you wear perfume or cologne.
Yelling
If you get fired up watching your team play a big game and yell at the screen, you might notice your dog avoiding you. This is because they perceive your agitated emotional state as a serious threat: if you’re upset, then they think they need to be upset as well. You should also never yell at your dog—even if you’re upset with them, yelling and harsh punishment is very bad for their mental health.
Not Sticking to a Schedule
Dogs really prefer a strict routine for eating, exercise, and playtime. If you’re unable to provide a consistent schedule for them, they can become anxious and stressed as they’re not able to predict what’s going to happen or when. If you give them a structured schedule, you’ll see your dog become happier.
Putting Clothes on Them
Yes, your dog is adorable in that Halloween outfit. No, your dog does not like wearing it. While humans are uncomfortable without clothes, dogs are the opposite. They already have a thick coat of fur, so adding fabric on top of that can be irritating and distracting for them.
Teasing Them with Food
Most dogs are highly food-motivated. As such, it’s not a good idea to tempt them with treats and then not feed them any. While you might find it funny, your dog doesn’t. In fact, repeatedly teasing your dog with food and then not giving them anything to eat can lead to serious behavior problems down the line.
Being Sad
You certainly can’t help when you’re in a bad mood, but your dog can’t stand it. They can immediately sense when you’re sad by reading your facial expression and smelling stress hormones from you, and they’ll go out of their way to try to comfort you and cheer you up.
Stopping Them from Sniffing
As we’ve mentioned, dogs have unbelievably good senses of smell. They insist on sniffing around when they’re outside because they’re picking up a massive amount of information from their surroundings. Not letting them sniff around for a while would be like interrupting you while you’re doing a deep internet search on a subject you’re fascinated by!
Forcing Them to Socialize
Some conventional wisdom holds that dogs need to be socialized to have a good temperament. While this is partially true, you also shouldn’t force your dog to socialize if they’re tired or irritated. Doing so can make them even less social in the future! It’s best to find a happy medium.
Read More: Why Do Dogs Like to Roll Around on Dead Things?
Leaving for Long Periods
It’s not always possible to bring your dog with you on a long trip. However, your dog can’t stand it when you leave for prolonged periods. Your furry friend shapes their life and identity around you, and when you’re not there it leaves them aimless and anxious.
Read More: The 10 Most Protective Dog Breeds
Hugging Them Too Much
This might sound counterintuitive, but your dog probably doesn’t like excessive hugs. For dogs, a strong embrace and lots of face-to-face contact can come off as invasive and unpleasant. Let them come to you and cuddle on their own terms. They prefer taking charge rather than being forced into a hug they might be uncomfortable with!
Read More: 10 Common Foods to NEVER Give Your Dog
