Things you think your dog loves but they actually hate

Dogs are the four-legged beasts that once lived in the mountains hunting in packs and have now been welcomed into our homes as part of the family. So how did they end up making such a drastic change? Some theorize the dogs began to follow the humans hunting as a way to land an easy meal while others believe it was the other way around, and humans were trying to learn from dogs and their hunting skills.

Whatever the case, those fluffy ears, wet noses, and wagging tails son became too much for us to handle. We had to have one to cuddle up with on the couch, and binge-watch an entire season of a show with for our lives to become complete. However, it looks as though there might be things you think your dog loves but they actually hate.

The little booties and Halloween costumes can be too much to handle – especially when there’s an adorable pooch as the model. We might love to see our canine friends in all kind of outfits, but they may not feel the same way. Some clothing can be restrictive for our pets meaning they might panic when they can’t move.

Plus, some get anxious with something pressing on their bodies or attached to their paws. A simple collar addition might be accepted by many, but sadly it might be time to hang up the doggy duffle coat once and for all. At least now we’ll have more money to spend on chew toys and treat instead, right?

Sometimes, it can be easy to spend hours in front of the TV as we watch an entire season of our favorite show. Before we know it, the whole weekend has disappeared in the blink of an eye, and we are left with a pretty upset pooch. Although our dogs usually love to spend time with the rest of their pack, they can need a lot of stimulation to keep amused.

One or two walks a day are typically enough to keep dogs active and stimulated for a few hours. However, they need more than just exercise. Our four-legged friends need some mental stimulation when they’re at home, too. Dog toys, playing fetch, or giving them a food-related chew toy can all be great ways to keep their minds ticking over while we relax and unwind. Plus, a little extra bonding time never hurt any relationship.

The rain pouring outside, the meeting you have at work, or not feeling right can all see us wanting those long-awaited walkies to be over before they have even begun. Most dogs love to explore the world with their sense of smell, and use these breaks from the house as a way to learn about the neighborhood they call “home.”

It’s one of the many ways our dogs keep their minds stimulated as well as marking all those fire hydrants as their own. It’s a win-win situation for our four-legged friends. So why do so many of us want to tug on the leash and get home? It looks as though we could learn a lesson from our dogs and start to relax, taking in the smell of the roses on the way.

Hands up which of us really enjoy making friends? We thought not. Apparently, our dogs might have learned the same anti-social stance that many of us take against the world. Although it can be tempting to push our pup onto anyone that glances in their direction, our dogs might not like meeting all these new people. Some experts state our four-legged friends may begin to show signs of affection as they wonder what is happening but could be doing it to please their owner.

However, it’s important to keep a close watch on your dog. It’s vital to remove them from the situation if there are any signs they might be feeling uncomfortable. The best way to introduce them to new people? Give your dog plenty of space and let the, choose if they want to say “hello” or not. Everybody wins!

Owning a pet with someone else can be a fantastic feeling, as well as one that might cause a few fights along the way. Many of us have different ideas about how we should be raising these pets. However, that doesn’t mean that a good cop/bad cop situation is the best way to go forward. In fact, this can have the opposite effect on your pooch.

Just like many animals, dogs crave routines and like to know where the stand. One person letting them get away with most things around the home might land them in trouble with the other. They simply won’t understand that they have different rules depending on who is looking after them, it’s essential to explain these set boundaries to anyone that cares for your dog to ensure you are giving them the most consistent upbringing possible.

On the other hand, not having any rules at all can also cause some significant issues for our pooches. It’s thought that most dogs are born to follow rather than lead; they need us to be the person controlling the pack.

Giving your dog structure will help to recreate their natural pecking order they would have followed in the wild. If not, you may find your canine begins to act out as they become confused about who is really in charge in your relationship.

Some of us appear to need constant reassurance that everything is going to be okay. However, our dogs aren’t like us. In fact, many canines respond much better to body language than spoken words.

That means that telling your dog everything will be okay might not be doing anything at all. What’s the best way to show your pet that everything will be okay? Act calm and lead by example. They should soon pick up on your behavior and begin to relax around the home.

Bringing home a baby can be a hugely exciting time for any new parents. Sadly, our dogs typically aren’t as excited as we are. In fact, they can often feel pretty anxious when a little person enters their safe zone.

Thankfully, there are many ways we can make it easier for our friends to adjust. Letting them sniff something like a blanket from our newborn before they meet means they should understand the smell. It’s also suggested to meet on neutral ground, so your dog doesn’t get protective of the house.

Okay, so not many of us like being shouted at, and this is the same for our furry companions. Although many dogs don’t understand the language we are using, they can quickly pick up on the change of body language and tone of voice.

This can cause major fear. Rather than worrying our pets, there are plenty of chances we can use positive reinforcement instead. Plus, teaching simple commands such as “leave” or “drop” should help if you find yourself in a sticky situation.

A quick pat on the head is a simple way to tell your dog they have been a good boy, right? It turns out that we might not be choosing the perfect spot after all. Some dog behaviorists believe canines find this movement threatening – especially when someone is standing over them.

Instead, they recommend that we crouch to their level and let dogs approach us. Then, merely reward them with chest or chin scratches instead as a reward. This should help to keep your companion a lot more relaxed.

Sometimes, it can be too tempting to give our fluffy friends a great big hug to show how much we love them. Unfortunately, there might be some bad news: dogs don’t tend to enjoy these cuddles as much as we once thought.

What is it that gets our friends all upset? It’s believed it’s the feeling they are being restricted that makes dogs so anxious. Plus, some don’t like us so up close and in their face. While we might want a snuggle, we might have to lay off the contact with our fluffy friends.

Many of us have heard the phrase “let sleeping dogs lie,” right? It looks as though there might be more truth to it than we once thought. Most of us would be a little grouchy if we were woken from a deep sleep; canines are no exception.

Many dogs, especially older individuals, can be easily startled by any sudden noise. If you pet it snoozing then why not let them wake up in their own time? The chances are that they will probably wake up by the time you’re in the room anyway.

Fireworks can be a highly stressful time for many animals. Although locking your dog away at certain times of the year might seem as though you’re keeping them safe, you could be doing more harm than good.

If sending your pooch to another house away from the display isn’t an option, there are several others we can try. Some vets offer sedation medicine to take away the anxiety, while there are also room fragrances, dog-friendly radio stations, and safe spots that can be just as effective.

Dogs were born to be part of a pack; it’s written in their genes. Some pooches are content with having another dog to play with at home. However, other dogs merely want a human for chin scratches and a walk instead.

Using the time at home to bond with your four-legged friend and keep them mentally stimulated is one way to ensure they are happy while you are out of the house. If you need to leave for too long, then having a pet sitter or leaving your dog with a friend might help keep them company.

The smell of fresh daisies is one that many of us dream about, but one we should forget if we have a dog in the house. However, one a dog’s strongest selling points is their sense of smell. So why would they want to spend the day smelling all those freshly washed sheets that feel entirely alien?

Dogs love to know that their homes are marked as their own. Rather than cleaning the home top to bottom, it’s best to give your pooch their private area they can mark with their own smell while you enjoy the rest.

There is a reason that so many of us have tried to perfect the puppy dog eye look over the year – it’s one that can usually win us just about whatever we’d like. It might be tempting to stare into our dogs’ eyes as we tell them, how much we love them but we need to be careful.

While we’re busy using our people skills – or lack of – to talk to our pets, they often view being stared at as a threat. It can be a power play that can either make your dog feel uncomfortable or want to fight for dominance.

A leash is just one of the many ways we can communicate with our pets. Walks are supposed to be a fun experience. Do you want to ruin them with tension in the leash and causing stress and frustration?

While it might sound easier said than done, it’s important to teach your dog how to walk next to you from an early age. This way, your walks should become stress-free as they calmly walk by your side opposed to pulling all over the place.

Can you go to the bathroom on demand? Well, neither can your dog! Even though you may be crunched for time, you should try to avoid constantly urging your pup to do its business.

Instead, be patient and give your dog the time it needs to sniff around and find its perfect potty spot. If you’re yelling at your dog to go to the bathroom already, it can add stress to the situation and make it even harder for it to go.

Your dog can sense how you’re feeling, so if you’re stressed out or in a bad mood, your dog can tell and will likely adopt that feeling.

This is especially true if you’re tense and nervous around your dog, which can cause them to freak out. Even if your feelings are not directed at your dog, they will still pick up on it. In fact, your negative feelings can lead to aggression, and prolonged sadness can even cause your dog to get physically ill.

Some people seem to think that dogs are their toys and that they can pet them whenever and wherever they want. We all need to remember that dogs are living animals, and they have personal space just like we do.

Dogs particularly dislike when strangers put their hands in their faces. They often put up with it because they know that you’re the boss, but most dogs get nervous and uncomfortable when it happens. It’s better to pet them on their back, chest, or near their tail.

Treating a dog like a baby can be very confusing for them. When you speak in a high pitched baby-voice, it might sound like you’re in distress, which can worry your dog.

In addition, when you pick them up, carry them around, and even put them in a stroller like a baby, they have no idea what’s going on or why they are being treated this way. Dogs like to walk around and sniff their surroundings, so this baby treatment can really irritate them.

When you have a dog, vacuuming is a necessary part of life. How else are you going to get rid of all that dog hair all over your house? However, dogs often run and hide as soon as you turn on the vacuum cleaner.

This is because dogs tend to have a fear of vibrations. They can feel the vibrations from the vacuum through their sensitive paws, and it makes them feel as though danger is nearby. So, try to avoid vacuuming when your dog is in the room.

While a bath might be a nice, calming experience for you, dogs often feel the opposite about bathtime. Baths are almost always uncomfortable for dogs – they don’t like the water splashing on their fur and skin, and the sound of running water makes them nervous.

Since you have to bathe your dog anyway, try to make the experience more pleasant by being gentle and offering praise and rewards. This can help keep your dog from being traumatized and lessen their fear of the bath.

Dogs have a very developed sense of smell. In fact, a dog’s sense of smell is about 10,000 to 100,000 times as acute as a human’s. Smells help dogs get around and recognize people and other animals.

However, even though they often like smelling their surroundings, strong smells and chemicals can bother your furry friends. Odors such as citrus, vinegar, and cleaning products can be unbearable for your dog. Try to avoid using smelly sprays around your dog to keep them more comfortable.

People often love taking their dogs with them wherever they go, and this can include loud events, restaurants, and places with large crowds.

However, many dogs get anxious when they are in loud environments due to past trauma or because they were born with this fear. So, even if you think it will be fun to bring your dog to a party, you might want to think twice if you know it’s going to be particularly noisy.

We have a tendency to talk to our dogs, sometimes forgetting that they can’t actually understand spoken language. What they do understand, however, is our body language.

Sometimes, when people try to communicate with dogs, they use too many words without paying attention to what their bodies are saying. This can be quite confusing for your pet, especially if your tone and words do not match your physical behaviors. Simple commands like “sit” and “stay” are useful, but dogs can’t understand much more than that.

This might be a no-brainer, but many people think that it’s fun and harmless to tease dogs. There are many teasing behaviors that people engage in that can be quite upsetting for dogs, including barking at dogs as they pass by, pulling their tails, or talking to a strange dog that is barking at you.

Making a dog mad might seem funny, but it can lead to aggression and behavioral issues. Plus, if the dog is not well trained, you could be putting yourself in danger as well.