5 Things Your Dog Doesn’t Want You To Do
Pets tend to show affection for their owner quite often. However, there are gestures or customs that your dog does not want, that are typical of our species, and that can confuse and even irritate our animal.
We use little body language
Humans are an expressive species and tend to demonstrate our feelings through words. Although we may not realize it, we are probably constantly chatting with our dog about things that have happened to us during the day or about how we feel, just as we would with a close friend.
Dogs can associate some of our words with repetitive actions. For example, it is easy for it to recognize keywords such as ‘walk’, ‘eat’, ‘no’ or ‘very good’. But it does not mean that your dog can understand you because animals are not capable of speaking or understanding our language, no matter how hard you try to talk to them.
The only resource your dog has left to understand you is body language. Be very careful when teaching your dog new signals, because often a lack of knowledge of the owner can confuse their animal.
Your dog doesn’t really want you to hug him
We are bombarded every day with endearing photos of golden retrievers drowned by children in a whole series of endearing landscapes. Dogs, as we know, are expressive and even dependent animals that almost never disdain a caress from their owner.
However, we tend to forget that animals do not communicate like people, and that too close or prolonged contact with a human can become unpleasant for an animal. In the case of dogs, ‘hugs’ between members of the same species are used to show dominance and mark territory.
If a human does the same, they are likely to make this gesture in an aggressive or threatening way, even if they are tolerating it. Therefore, try to get the smallest children in the house to give your pet a little space.
Don’t look an unfamiliar dog directly in the eye
As humans, eye contact between members of our species is a good tool to establish connections and strengthen emotional ties. However, in the animal world it is often used as a warning or to emphasize its position of dominance.
If you decide to approach a dog that is not yours and, out of habit, you do so while looking directly into his eyes, your gesture is likely to be misinterpreted and put on the defensive. Try to approach him slowly, with your hand at his nose so he can smell it and know who you are, before stroking him or getting too close.
Your dog doesn’t want freedom, he wants routine
Domestic dogs keep in mind that they are part of a pack and accept that you are their leader. In nature, a leader gives orders, assigns roles within the hierarchical structure, and acts consistently.
Your dog expects you to do that for him. By giving orders and teaching your animal to obey them, you are not being a harsh or boring owner, but rather you are providing your animal with the structure it needs to be comfortable with its role in the pack.
This is especially important for dominant dogs, because they are made to have responsibilities and feel useful. For this reason, they are used as guard dogs or police dogs, despite posing a challenge when it comes to training.
Don’t force friendships with animals or people your dog can’t stand
Like any other person, a dog will tend to avoid contact with any animal or human that does not give him a good spine. It doesn’t matter whether the individual in question is your sister or your partner’s dog. There are times when there simply hasn’t been that ‘ click ‘, and there probably never will be.
Don’t force improbable relationships between your dog and people or animals that he doesn’t like. You will cause uncomfortable and even violent situations that will make your animal suffer or may endanger other people or pets. If you are taking a walk in the park and your dog growls at another animal, do not try to make friends, because it will not happen.
