10 Things Your Dog Wishes You’d Stop Doing

Quick Take:

• Hugging feels restrictive and can cause anxiety rather than feelings of love and affection.
• Verbal commands are understood by tone and body language, not the words you use.
• Not allowing dogs to sniff causes unnecessary stress and rushed walks.
• Contrary to popular belief, not all dogs enjoy socializing.

Our dogs are the loves of our lives. They’re a shoulder to cry on, a friend to play with, and a pal to fall asleep next to. And while many dogs tolerate our humanizing, that doesn’t mean they enjoy every moment. In fact, there are some things that dogs even wish their owners wouldn’t do. Learning your pup’s tells will only make them more comfortable. And you’ll be happier knowing whether they genuinely enjoy being smothered in smooches, or simply wish you’d blow them a kiss instead.

Rushing Walks and Not Letting Them Sniff

This is a double whammy for dogs. They have between 125 and 300 million scent receptors in their noses. You may have noticed your pup with its head down, nose to the ground, whenever they leave the house. Once they pick up on a scent, it’s hard to let that go. For your dog, this is a mystery to be solved and an unknown person or thing to identify. Not allowing them to sniff can cause stress and anxiety, two things no dog owner wants.

Additionally, rushing them through a walk can add stress. When they slow down to sniff, it’s instinctual. This behavior is rooted in centuries of their ancestors doing the same thing, and it’s natural. If you rush them through a walk, tugging on the leash to hurry them up, it feels rushed and jarring to a dog. Let them live and let them sniff!

Hugs and Face Nuzzling

As much as we hate to hear it, dogs are not the biggest fans of hugs. It’s so easy to anthropomorphize, or humanize, our family pets. Hugging is a show of love and affection for us, but it means something entirely different to animals. For a dog, it feels like being smothered. Their movements are restricted, which may cause panic and fear.

Some dogs may fight against your hug, while others sit there with “whale eyes.” If the whites of your dog’s eyes are showing and their focus darts around the room, chances are they’re stressed out. You can show affection in other ways, such as stroking their coats, scratching behind their ears, or rubbing their bellies if they roll over. This conveys safety and affection to a dog and is a much better way to bond than hugs.

Speaking to Them in Words Instead of Tones

It would be amazing if dogs could understand us, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, they don’t understand the English language or words in general. Commands such as “sit,” “lay,” “stay,” and “paw” are easily recognized by your dog for two reasons. The first is the tone of voice you use when you say these words. The second is the use of hand gestures and body language, as well as repetition. Dogs hear these sounds and the tone of your voice and know a treat is coming when they respond correctly.

If you talk to them like humans, they won’t understand, which may confuse them further. Saying something like, “Can you be a good girl and sit?” registers differently than simply saying, “sit” in a firm, authoritative tone. Dogs may catch certain words, such as “good girl” and “sit,” but can’t draw the same inferences as humans can.

Having Staring Contests

It’s all fun and games until your dog resigns the staring contest and hunkers down in their kennel. Centuries of instincts have taught your dog that direct eye contact is a threat. Humans are one of the only species to consider eye contact respectful. In the animal kingdom, it’s a sign of dominance and assertion. Those staring contests might be fun for you, but they feel uncomfortable for your pup.

If your dog looks at you, do them a favor and opt for fleeting glances rather than dead-on eye contact. They often look at their owners as a sign of love and affection, and you’ll notice this happens when you’re not paying attention. There’s a reason for that! Their love might be a little sneaky, but trust that it exists.

Waking Them to Play During a Nap

While most of us would love to lie in bed for 20 hours, most adult dogs need between 10 and 14 hours of sleep per day, while puppies and senior dogs may sleep up to 20 hours. The older the dog, the more sleep they need to recover from daily activities. This is why waking them during a nap isn’t only a bad idea; it can also cause fear or paranoia.

Dogs typically startle awake as a natural defense mechanism. Waking them to play, walk, or go out can disrupt their sleep cycles, which causes stress. It’s not unlike if someone were to shake you awake during your REM stage. The same groggy, anxious, and irritable feelings you get are similar to what your dog feels when forced awake.

Scolding Them Like a Little Kid

Guilt is a purely human emotion. While it’s something we may project, it’s not something that our dogs feel. What they do process is fear and anxiety. If your dog has an accident in the house, that “guilty” or “shameful” look is primarily due to knowing they’ve disappointed their owner, or alpha, in dog language.

Your dog’s biggest goal in life is to appease you, the one they look to for discipline and guidance. When the tone of your voice indicates they’ve failed, their ears go back, their eyes look downward, and their body language becomes distant. Scolding them as though they understand only adds to this fear. Trust that they know what they’ve done and, rather than talking down to them, reinforce the correct behavior.

Believing They Can Entertain Themselves

We’ve said anthropomorphizing your pup isn’t the answer, but in some ways, they are like children. This includes playtime. While dogs are perfectly capable of entertaining themselves, they shouldn’t need to do it all the time. They genuinely enjoy interacting with their owners, and playtime becomes a close bonding activity.

The closest thing your dog will feel to love is when you’re playing with them. This releases dopamine, a happy chemical, in their brains. It strengthens the bond between pup and owner and is also a great stress reliever. There’s no downside to playtime, only positive vibes and lots of happy barks.

CONCLUSION:

It’s always best to consult a professional trainer or dog handler if your dog shows extreme fear or aggression. But if your dog remains reclusive, comes back to your side repeatedly, or has no interest in socializing, take their cues. Just as you wouldn’t want someone to force a hangout, you don’t want to do that to your pup, either. Especially when you are a part of their comfort zone!