$$ 40 Common Human Behaviors That Actually Really Confuse Dogs
Communicating with dogs is a tricky business. "Dogs aren't humans with fur," said veterinarian Sarah Ochoa. "They're going to roll in the mud and do things that normal dogs do." We can't expect them to pick up on subtle human cues or inconsistent rules based on contextual situations; we have to meet them halfway and learn which of our own behaviors are hard for them to understand. Dog owners who avoid confusing their pets with these common moves will have a much simpler time training their canines — and have much happier dogs, too!
40. Dealing With Stress
When thunder is shaking the house and our dog is scared, we might leap to their protection, cradling them and whispering positive phrases. This could be confusing! "You can actually make your dog think it's good to be scared if you pet them and say 'good boy,'" veterinarian Heather Venkat. "You're actually encouraging fearful behavior through sweet talk and petting."
39. Command, Reward, And Repeat
If dogs could speak, all this would be so much easier. While our sci-fi fantasies await to be realized, we have to be mindful of how we command our pooches. "When training your dog," said veterinarian Sarah Ochoa, "try to stick to the same keywords. It can be puzzling for a dog when you ask them to 'go potty' one day and 'go pee' the next day."
38. Change In The Air
Canines are all about the smell. They don't just sniff butts and junk on the side of the road for fun (well, okay, it's a little fun for them). Scents help them understand the world, so if we change up how we smell too often — a new perfume, a change of coats — we may end up confusing our buddies.
37. Not So-Loving Hugs
We love our doggos no matter what, so of course we want to hug them to share our affection! Be careful, though: While some dogs feel secure in a loving embrace, others feel trapped or uncomfortable. Make sure you understand your dog's feelings on hugs before squeezing 'em tight.
36. What's In A Name?
A name can be the start of a beautiful friendship — or lead to disastrous miscommunication. According to veterinarian Antje Joslin, the sound of a name matters. If your pooch's name sounds too much like "sit," "heel," or "no," for example, there could be some confusion. So, maybe hold off naming your dog "Bruno."
35. Timing For Treats
Training is even harder than we thought. Emma Bowdrey, a canine behavioral expert, says that timing the reward is everything. "Give a treat too soon, they’ll simply learn to hover...wait too long, the dog will attempt some other behavior to see if that gets them the treat.” Complicated stuff here.
34. Inconsistent Rules
For pets, boundaries are a key to harmony. Fido needs to know which couches he can sit on, and which he'll stain with his greasy, outdoor coat. But we need to be consistent: if rules are only enforced sometimes, the pooch won't know how to behave in a certain moment and stress out.
33. Tug-of-War
Shockingly enough, a simple game of tug-of-war could lead to chaotic behavior. It's all fun and games when Sparky's pulling on a rope, but it's a lot less fun when he's tugging on your shoes or socks. Make sure he's rewarded when he tugs the right toys, and he knows it's wrong to tug other objects.
32. Don't Be Handsy
Dogs have a good memory for behavior and body language. We tend to use our hands for good and for bad. If your canine companion thinks a hand in their face is something negative, they may just retaliate when you least expect it. Be mindful of your hands.
31. Here's A Point
If you point your finger when scolding your pooch, be careful when you use it in other contexts. You may wind up hurting the dog's feelings if you use that technique to point out something positive after having only wagged your finger for misdeeds.
30. Stranger Danger
Perhaps you don't want another dog — or maybe you don't even have one yet — but be careful with dogs that aren't yours. Remember all those rules about keeping your training gestures consistent? Well, you don't know if, say, pointing might set a stranger's dog off. Be cool!
29. Natural Behaviors
Although they may be family, a dog is still a dog. Your house should be a judgement free zone when it comes to our pets, so hold back your fury if they drag dirt in the house. It's all natural, and a quick bath will set things right.
28. Leave The Past Behind
Your sweet doggo may not always be so sweet, but letting negative behavior go can be helpful to your dog's happiness. Dogs don't really get grudges. So, let them know that they did wrong immediately, then let it go. Otherwise, it'll just cause confusion, and you don't want you furry friend feeling bad for no reason.
27. Balancing Act
Dogs get jealous, too! When you show more love to one dog over others, the others can become depressed. If one is given a treat, then all have to be given a treat. In other words, treat animals like they're 8-year-old kid siblings that are really jealous of each other.
26. Dangerous Nibbles
Be careful about sticking your hands in a dog's mouth during playtime. "If gently nipping your hand in play is OK, the puppy won't know that it's not OK to bite a child or other person that's trying to pet them," veterinarian Antje Joslin said.
25. Not Rewarding Obedience
On the flip side, when your good boy or girl does follows your orders, you also have to reward right away. If you don't reward at all, they'll question why they should follow you at all. Then who'll be the alpha dog?
24. Quality Walk
One thing the coronavirus pandemic taught us is that being cooped up in your own home can make you go crazy. Well, this is no different for dogs. Make time to bring your pooch outside for a quality walk; it's a great way to calm them, and yourself, down.
23. Absence Makes The Heart
Here comes the hardest part about owning a dog: leaving them alone at home. You have to go out for work and to see friends and family, which will, in turn, leave your furry friend feeling abandoned. They never know that you're coming back, but they'll be happy when you return.
22. Furry Friendship
Not every dog interacts with the outside world similarly. Don't force doggy friendships — your pooch might be shy! "Forcing a shy dog into social situations with other dogs will often confuse them and intensify their fear," said dog behaviorist Emma Bowdrey.
21. Table Manners
Eating at the dinner table is trivial to humans, but for dogs, it's a big deal. Naturally, they're inclined to search for food anywhere it may be — so don't reinforce the bad habit. This part of training will be hard, especially saying "no" to such cute little eyes.
20. Rising Bark
A loud bark doesn't always mean a dog's in distress. If your good ol' boy gives a bark that starts at a low volume but rises at the end, it means they want to play!
19. Floppy Tongue
Don't fret if your dog's tongue is dangling out of their mouth all willy-nilly. Even though it might look super goofy, it simply means they are relaxed as can be.
18. Tail Chasing
When dogs are young, sometimes they'll chase their tails because they legitimately don't know they belong to them. However, older dogs sometimes do it out of sheer boredom or restlessness.
17. Butt Sniffing
This may be one of the grossest habits dogs have, but it shares the exact same sentiment as two humans shaking hands. They get a whiff of the other's scent to see if their energies align.
16. Open Mouth, High Ears, Relaxed Tail
Although the high ears might seem to indicate a dog is cautious about something happening nearby, the open mouth and relaxed tail mean they're actually cool as a cucumber.
15. Straight Tail, Forward Ears
A canine's body in this position looks like a soldier on high alert, and that's basically what it is. A dog will assume this pose when there's something nearby they're curious about.
14. Low Growl
A dog doesn't always have to snap with its teeth when it's upset. Sometimes before they give you a full-fledged barrage with their chompers, they'll give a low growl, meaning, "Stay away!"
13. Awaiting Approval
Unless you completely dropped the ball during the formative years of training, your dog's likely somewhat obedient. When they peer up at you after obeying a command, they're seeking your approval.
12. Howl
How annoying is it when a dog just won't stop howling away at the sky? Well, the reason they're screaming their head off is because they're actually annoyed by some outside stimulus.
11. Superman Pose
This guy is pooped! If you ever catch your pooch sleeping on their stomach with their arms and legs out like the Man of Steel himself, it means they are overly gassed from an active day.
10. Puppy Eyes
It's impossible to ignore your dog when you glance down and they're staring up at you with those big innocent eyes. It's just so cute! This adorable look is them telling you they love and trust you.
9. Passed Out On Back
This is another sign of total exhaustion. The dog is literally trying to stretch their body out as much as possible so all those muscles can get some badly needed rest.
8. Open-Leg Snooze
If your pup is sleeping on their back with those legs wide open, it indicates they feel very comfortable and safe in your home, considering that position leaves them incredibly vulnerable.
7. Side Sleeper
It seems the way a dog sleeps indicates a lot about their daily mood. When you see your four-legged buddy zonked out on his side, you can rest assured they feel happy.
6. Squinting
If you're outside in the sun and your dog squints, it's easy to assume the sun's in their eyes. However, it's usually a sign they are craving your attention, so go pet your little buddy ASAP.
5. Stomach Snoozer
Stay alert if your dog is frequently passing out in this position. This is far from the most ideal way to get sleep, and your dog may very well struggle to obtain a healthy amount of rest.
4. "Fox" Sleep
Named for the position foxes sleep in, when the tail is wrapped around a dog's body in front of their face, it can mean they feel cold. Get that dog a blanket, already!
3. Back To Back
There are few things cuter than two dogs who love each other sleeping back to back. This comfort with sleeping so close means they thoroughly trust each other.
2. Snarl
Anyone who's read Cujo knows when a dog starts snarling and baring their teeth, it's best to run for the hills! They're not happy and readying themselves for an act of aggression.
1. Gift Giving
Dogs want their owners to know they love them, and one of the best ways to do this is bring them gifts. The presents may not be very exciting, but they're a meaningful gesture.
No comments: