These irritating dog habits might get you in hot water with your pooch!
Canines are well-known for their loyalty and unconditional love for their humans. But even best friends can sometimes get annoyed with each other, right?
As a dog owner, it’s easy to neglect the small things that might bother your furry pal. Even the most laid-back dog will find certain human behaviors awful. And if they put up with it, it’s either out of a desire to avoid taking charge or affection for you.
What do I mean? Well, continue reading as I share 6 irritating dog habits that indicate you could be annoying your dog without knowing it.
Irritating dog habit: You taunt them with their toys
Have you ever done a fake throw of a ball or Frisbee with your dog? This type of teasing might be funny to you, but it isn’t pleasant to a pup. Why? Because canines don’t think like us. They don’t understand that playing pranks and teasing can be harmless and fun.
Your dog wants to enjoy playtime with you, which, in their eyes, means that you throw them the toy so they can fetch it. End of story. If you ridicule a dog during playtime, they might not trust you as much, weakening your connection. So, instead of teasing your dog, throw the Frisbee whenever you make the throwing motion.
If you offer your pup a toy during playtime, let them have it rather than snatching it away as they reach for it. Of course, this doesn’t pertain to a good-natured, mutually enjoyable game of tug-of-war.
And remember that by not ridiculing, your pooch will continue to trust you, just like they trust you to feed them when they’re hungry, take them outside when they need to go to the bathroom and take care of them when they’re injured or sick.
Irritating dog habit: You rush through your dog’s walks
Dogs explore their world mainly through scent. Being outdoors allows them to engage with their environment and experience everything more than they would if they weren’t allowed outside the house.
And, after a day of being cooped up, they’re bursting with energy and ready to spend quality time with you and socialize with other dogs. So, how could they not be irritated if you rush them through the best part of their day?
That blade of grass tells them an entire story, not just about what’s happening now but also about what happened earlier that day. Stretching their legs feels very good to them. And they get to hang out with their favorite person at the same time.
So, instead of rushing them, move at your pup’s pace and let them sniff and explore to their heart’s content. And be sure to make some time for this in your daily schedule so you don’t skimp on it.
Irritating dog habit: You stare too much at them
It’s not just your imagination playing tricks on you: Your dog constantly gazes at you. It promotes bonding, helps them learn your quirks and habits, and even communicates their needs, such as needing to go outside or wanting food. So it’s OK if you stare back, right? Wrong!
A hard stare can irritate a dog, at best, and make them feel threatened, at worst. Staring is something that’s confrontational for canines and can be misinterpreted as a signal of aggression. While it’s fine to briefly return a stare if your dog approaches you and looks into your eyes, don’t do it for more than a couple of seconds.
Also, make sure it’s a loving and soft gaze. This sort of interaction is a good thing, encouraging the release of oxytocin in both of you, which triggers fuzzy and warm feelings and ultimately reinforces your bond, according to studies.
Whatever you do, though, don’t turn the gaze into a staring contest. Even if you don’t hold your dog’s gaze for all that long, you can show love by briefly petting them.
Irritating dog habit: You’re being too loud
Someone speaking loudly isn’t easy on anybody’s ears, and our pups don’t like it any more than we do. To dogs, this sounds like loud, annoying barking, not actual words. Think about it this way: Most canines have a relatively limited vocabulary.
So they probably don’t understand your words and have no idea why you’re acting like this. And this irritating dog habit can turn risky if you yell at your dog. In this case, they might react, possibly in fear, to your nonverbal cues, like your body posture, tone of voice, and gestures.
So, as a result, your dog might hide under the bed or cower. Remember that their ears are sensitive, so try to take it down a notch. Yes, this can be true even if you’re having a good time. And if you happen to be intentionally yelling at your dog, you should stop because you won’t get the result you’re looking for.
A better way to communicate what you want to your pup is to reward good behavior when it happens. That way, they have a reason to exhibit that good behavior again.
Irritating dog habit: You interrupt their sleep
Just like we can feel disgruntled or irritated when someone wakes us up from a good sleep, our pups don’t appreciate interrupting their sleep, either! If you wake up a dog all of a sudden, they’ll likely be confused and disoriented, wondering what’s going on.
They’ll also be grouchy and won’t be in the mood to hang out with you until they’re fully awake. But this isn’t just a quirky dog trait or a mere annoyance. Ample amounts of sleep are a serious doggy requirement. Those zzz’s provide recovery and rest from vigorous exercise or play.
It also gives their brains time to process the day’s events and helps keep their immune system in good working order. That’s actually the reason why dogs sleep so much.
Puppies need about 18 to 20 hours of sleep daily to support development and healthy growth, while adult canines generally do well on roughly 12 hours of sleep per day. The bottom line, though, is that if your dog is sleeping and enjoying a blissful dream, let them snooze and wake up naturally.
Irritating dog habit: You switch up the rules
Do you let your dog lounge on the couch all the time but forbid this behavior when you have people over? If so, you should know that it’s a bad idea. Changing the rules irritates a canine because you’re fuzzy about how they should behave in different circumstances.
At the moment, your pup will probably look at you with a big question mark on their face. You know the look: Head tilted to the side, waiting for you to give them a clear suggestion on what to do. If you don’t, they might go to their bed or leave the room entirely, deciding it’s not worth the trouble to figure out why you switched up the rules.
As with any routine, keep your rules consistent, no matter what. This will help your dog feel confident about how to behave. In a multi person household, ensure that every member of the family knows and enforces the rules for your pup.
For instance, if you have a rule that they can’t eat table scraps, make sure no one sneaks a morsel of food to your dog when it’s chow time.
What do you think about these irritating dog habits? Have you been guilty of them? Let me know in the comments section below. And if you have, make it up to them by spending more time together, maybe buying them a new toy!
Meanwhile, if you liked this article, check out: Pet Distress Signs: 5 Ways to Know When a Pet Is Begging for Help
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