We love our pets and always try to show our affection and friendship to our four-legged friends. But we do it our own human way, considering a dog understands it as we do. But dogs have different system of communication, gestures, body language and hints. Some of actions that are pleasant for people are irritating and annoying for dogs. To avoid these mistakes we gathered 12 actions of people that are the most irritating for dogs. May be you will recognize some of your habits and improve understanding with your dog.
Staring
A dog understands it as a challenge. Do not stare at a dog too long. This gesture is taken by a dog as a threat. Especially do not stare at dog's eyes if it is aggressive or worried.
Hugs
Such a natural expression of your feelings as hugs in fact is unpleasant and irritating for many dogs. Especially stressful it is taken from children and strangers. Dogs do not hug naturally to show affection. A dog puts its paws to another dog to express dominance. Even if your dog does not show irritation to your hugs, tell your family members and friends to keep from hugging and propose petting as an option instead.
Yelling
A dog takes yelling as aggressive barking. Usually a dog understands it as a trouble and keeps alert, becomes stressed or even scared. Yelling does not work to stop bad behavior of your dog. If you wish your dog to understand you, stay calm and keep a calm voice. Change your voice tone to get more understanding with a dog. Deep tone will let a dog know that you want its attention. A lighter tone shows you eager to play and expresses praise. Voice tone works much better than volume and does not scare or irritate a dog.
Teasing
Teasing does not do any good to dog behavior. Dog teasing is especially likely for kids, who like to bark back through a fence, pull a dog on ears and tail, move its plate while a dog eats, take its toys playing keep-away. All these actions irritate, annoy a dog, make it shy, insecure and aggressive.
Avoid teasing your dog and it will become more calm, obedient, balanced and well-bred.
Loneliness
Dogs are pack beings. They enjoy being with you and your family. Leaving a dog home along for a long time lead to many behavior problems, such as barking, digging, separation anxiety, destructive behavior, escaping etc.
If you are leaving your dog for a long time daily ask somebody to take a dog for a short walk. When you come home after leaving a dog home alone - spend enough time for active walking and playing with a dog. Allow a dog to be by your side when you come home. Socializing is very important for a dog. Take care for a company for your four-legged friend for its good feeling and behavior.
Crowded Parks
However dogs are social beings, they are getting stressed when thrown into a park with many strange dogs. Optimal number of dogs to socialize with your dog is 6-7, in case they have no behavior problems and provided the space is big enough. If the number of dogs is larger or space is less your dog will feel stressed.
This situation is common for doggy daycares. Normal situation for a dog is about one dog per 150 square feet.
Sleep Interruption
Sudden being awakened irritates a dog, especially an old one. Sudden touch or sound may scare a sleepy dog. It is better for a dog to wake up naturally.
If you need to wake your dog, do it slowly and gently.
Strange Dogs
It is a natural dog instinct to protect its home. That's why it will always be alert of strange people and animals entering your house. Respect feelings of your dog. If your friends wish to bring their dog with to their home, it is better to meet them first at a walk to introduce the dogs at a neutral territory. When a strange dog enters your home let the both dogs perform down for a few minutes. Then give a treat and praise. Minimize arguments and pick up treats and toys beforehand. If you have a yard with a fence, let dogs go out to release the energy and burn off the stress.
Routine Change
Dogs get used to a routine and depend on it. Feeding, grooming, walking, playtime are expected by a dog to happen without much variation. A dog gets used to it and expects the routine to repeat daily without changes. Each random change in a daily schedule may cause dog stress and may result in behavioral problems.
Care of your dog well-being and keep to the same time of feeding, walking, sleep and playtime each day including your weekends and days off.
Tight Leash
Good sign of dog behavior is walking on a loose leash. It shows that a dog is attentive and obedient.
But it is a common problem for dog owners when a dog is pulling on a leash and keeps it tight constantly. Tight leash creates tension on dog collar or harness that annoys a dog.
Train your dog to loose leash walking changing the speed and direction often and unexpectedly. It will keep a dog attentive and focused. When a dog obeys your speed and direction, praise it and give a treat. very soon you will get a focused, calm dog on a loose leash.
Inconsistency
Stick to the definite rules with your dog. If you allow a dog to jump on you but yell when it jumps to others it confuses a dog. Be consistent. If something is not allowed, it is not allowed always. If a dog is not allowed to beg, never give food while you are eating. If some undesirable actions are prohibited they are never to be tolerated.
Inadvertent Signs of Aggression
People and dogs have different body language. If you wish to greet a dog by staring, stretching your hand forward, talking in baby manner, it is treated by a dog as signs of aggression. Your greeting mimics resembles a pre-attack position of a predator. Up to dog body language, staring is a bright sign of aggression. And the stretched out hand threatens dog personal space. This way to greet a dog is not only annoying for it, but also dangerous for a person.
How to greet a strange dog then? First of all greet a dog owner. A dog will interpret your easy relationships and calm down. All you may do is to give a dog a quick pet on the head, if the owner allows. Nothing more.