Talking to them in “their language”
A little woofing between friends is fun but constantly barking at your dog when they bark, especially if you are getting louder and louder, can be terrifying to your pup, says April Olshavsky, an AKC accredited Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and certified trainer. “Dogs don’t understand ‘talking,'” she says. “Just because you’re increasing the volume of your sound, does not mean the dog understands the words. And yelling at them to quiet them doesn’t work; in fact, your dog may even get louder thinking you are trying to play a barking game.” Instead, find out what your dog is really trying to say with all that barking, along with the other noises they make.
Sharing toys and snacks with them
Humans are taught at an early age to share their things but while that’s good manners for toddlers, for dogs it’s the opposite, Olshavsky says. “Dogs really like to have things that belong to just them,” she explains. So you might think it’s cute to “share” your childhood stuffed animal or “borrow” your dog’s favorite chew toy—and they might let you do it because you’re the boss—but it makes them feel very upset, she says. Do you know these 30 fun facts about dogs?
Throwing them a surprise birthday party
It’s Dog 101: Dogs love their routine and they really do not like schedule changes, particularly surprise ones, Askeland says. Even something you think is fun, like a birthday party, can feel very stressful to your dog, she says. “The best gift you can give them is to keep their schedule consistent: Waking up at the same time to take them out, feeding them at the same time with the same diet, and keeping their exercise routine consistent,” she explains. All that said, a puppy in a party hat is one of the cutest things ever, like these hilarious animal photos you have to see.
Making your dog apologize for destroying your plants
“Many people assume a dog knows he was ‘bad’ when he’s done something wrong because he will look ‘ashamed’ or ‘guilty’ but the truth is the dog is just reacting to your body language and tone,” Askeland says. Your dog isn’t “sorry” that he knocked over your plants, he’s scared and upset because he can see you are angry—dogs really aren’t capable of feeling those higher-level emotions that their owners often like to ascribe to them. Instead of making your dog apologize, work more on training the behaviors you want to see, she says.
Breaking up a puppy wrestling match
Owners see puppies nipping, growling, barking, and tackling each other and assume that they’re fighting but the truth is that is how puppies play and learn and breaking up “the fight” can stunt their doggy social skills, Askeland says. “This play fighting might seem scary to new pet parents but it is all perfectly normal dog behavior,” she says. “The only time an owner needs to remove their pups from a play situation is if a dog is clearly scared: tail tucked, trying to get away, hide, or appears to be frantic or panicked.”
Patting their head
You can pat your dog on her head, but that’s only because she loves you and recognizes you as the one in charge. For the most part, dogs really dislike being patted on the head, Marrs says. This is doubly true for anyone who’s not you. “To a dog, a head pat is a somewhat rude and threatening gesture, especially when the human stands over the dog, as most do,” she explains. Instead? Dogs prefer it if you crouch down to their level and let them come to you. And if you are petting another dog, opt for chin or chest scratches instead of head pats.
Chilling for hours in front of the TV
Eh, your dog doesn’t mind curling up on the couch with you for a Netflix marathon every once in a while, but if your first instinct when you get home from work is to kick off your shoes and spend the rest of the night in, your dog is going to suffer. “Dogs are desperate for stimulation,” Marrs says. “While most owners know that their dog needs a couple of walks each day, many don’t realize that their dog also needs mental stimulation by playing with you or interactive toys.” Make sure you’re taking some time every day to get your dog the mental and physical exercise he needs. But he sure to know the things your dog actually hates.
Each owner having their own rules
Does your partner forbid the dog from the bedroom while you let your pup sleep with you the second your partner is out of town? Stop. It. Now. “Dogs absolutely hate mixed signals,” Horan says. “Inconsistent rules causes confusion, confusion leads to frustration, and frustration leads to anxiety, destruction, or even aggression.” So don’t bring your dog into your pet-parenting battles; make sure you and your partner maintain the same consistent rules, always. You’ll also want to watch out for these 15 more signs your dog is secretly mad at you.
Dressing them up
Nothing is cuter than a poodle in a sweater with matching pom-pom booties. But even though their humans enjoy playing doggy dress-up, it’s not as fun for the dogs. “Clothes in many cases change the look of the dog, and many dogs hate the feel and smell of the clothes,” McCue-McGrath says. Plus, unless it’s extreme weather, they really don’t need additional clothing for protection, she adds.
