He Refuses to Wag His Tail When He Sees You
A telltale sign that a dog is excited to see you is wagging his tail. He will hold the tail higher than its natural position and wag it furiously. This behavior is evident when playing with other dogs. Sometimes he adopts a playful stance with the bottom elevated, inviting you to play with him.
However, if he dislikes you, he may tuck away his tail. It could be he feels scared, nervous, or extremely submissive around you. Some dogs tuck the tail against their belly or between the rear legs, especially when feeling defensive.
Remember, dogs are emotional, and if scolded or spoken to sternly, they recoil and avoid their master. Talking softly and soothingly re-establishes trust.
You may have spent weeks or even months training your dog to obey simple cues like sit, stay or stop and you are confident he can obey these commands. However, a few months down, he no longer listens to you; instead, he glares at you and ignores your commands.
Although many reasons explain his rebellion, one of them could be he dislikes you. You may have upset them, or their environment could be uncomfortable, and the best way to communicate their feelings is by ignoring you.
When upset, stressed, or sad, you may create an uncomfortable environment, and your dog senses it. Your feelings influence your dog’s reaction, and taking steps to calm yourself down creates a more relaxed environment for your dog to obey commands and develop a loving relationship.
Dogs use their ears as a communication tool, and understanding their varying positions helps them learn a lot about their emotions. Typically, dogs keep their ears pinned back when relaxed. Most of them adopt this posture when getting head pats or kisses.
However, if the ears are pinned backward or flattens against the head, it indicates they are anxious, afraid, or dislike you. Most dogs adopt this posture when feeling defensive, and the tighter they hold their ears backward, the more fearful they become.
Ear scratches and belly rubs could ease the behavior, but it’s essential to look out for other triggers. The chances are that he’ll forget what you did to upset him as soon as you show some tender loving care.
How Do I Get My Dog to Like Me?
If your dog has been exhibiting any of these seven signs, it could be he dislikes you, and you need to re-establish trust with them. Probably, help him associate your presence with good things. Here are a few tips I found helpful:
I noted my pup exhibited most of the signs when I was upset. He could sense it and often responded by avoiding me. As a result, I learned to keep my cool when around him and speak softly.
You don’t have to designate a particular time to bond or play; rather, develop a habit of giving him belly rubs, gentle scratches, and patting him throughout the day. Regular physical contact reassures him about your love and care. He’ll also respond to these little interactions positively, e.g., by looking at you affectionately or sticking his tongue out.
Sometimes dogs dislike their masters because you’re not bonding. Walking two or three times a day is an excellent way to bond while shedding a few extra pounds. And if he’s a sucker for walking, consider going for longer walks as a special treat.
If his behavior began after training, it could be you were too hard on him. He probably associates specific cues with negative reinforcement. You can re-train him, but this time uses positive reinforcement, e.g., giving him his favorite treat or praising him when he follows your command.
Dogs love the people who groom and feed them. If you’ve been delegating this chore to a family member, it’s time you get back at it. You can schedule the grooming sessions once or twice a week, and when feeding him, do it by hand once in a while.
12They Yowl When You Pet Them
A little purr or a wiggling tail when you pet your pet? Definitely good signs. An unearthly yowl? Not so much. If youre giving your pet some affection and they start wailing, theyre telling you in no uncertain terms to stop.
Regular grooming is a good sign that your pet is healthy and happy. However, if your pet is constantly grooming themselves, even to the point of creating bald patches, thats a definite sign theyre unhappy. Over-grooming is often an anxiety response, so make sure you take your pet to the vet if you see them behaving this way.
Your pet is no dummy. In fact, many animals will show that theyre uncomfortable around a particular person, feeling upset, or scared by refusing to take a treat. If youve ever noticed that your dog isnt too keen on those Milk Bones the vet hands out after giving them shots, thats probably why.