To be left alone by strangers
“This is a hard one for many dog owners to hear, but the truth is not all dogs want to be petted by strangers,” Marrs says. This means you need to protect your dog’s personal space from well-meaning folks and respect strange dogs’ wishes when you approach them. Not sure what a dog wants? Kneel down to their level and hold your hand out; if they approach you, give them a pet under their chin, not on the head, she advises. If they don’t? Leave them alone. This is just one of many etiquette rules all dog owners need to know.
Think your dog lives for nose smooches and belly rubs? Not even close. Here’s what your dogs really, really enjoy (and what they hate).
For you to be their fearless leader
“Most dogs are not born leaders and they do not want to be in charge of anything, so they look to you to give them the structure they need,” says Andrew Horan, owner of Citizen K9. If you fail to be the leader by setting the schedule, providing consistent rules, and giving loving feedback, they’ll try and step in, which can cause serious behavioral issues, he adds.
“Dogs appreciate routine, and it can be difficult for them to adjust to abrupt schedule changes, even just going from a weekday to weekend,” Askeland says, adding this can lead to behavior problems like chewing, barking, digging, or other destructive behaviors. “Try to wake up, take them out, feed them and exercise them at the same time every day,” she recommends. And make sure you’re protecting them from these 11 common household items that can harm pets.
Think your dog loves your playful kisses on their snoot because they “kiss” you back? It turns out that when your dog licks your face and neck in response to your kiss, they’re really asking you to let them go, Taylor says. “Dogs hate to be kissed or have a human put their face close for any reason,” she explains. “This is very intimidating behavior for a dog to accept and can lead to aggressive behavior.”
Dogs can’t really understand the words you’re saying but they sure can understand the tone of your voice and your expressions, Olshavsky says. So yelling at your dog won’t help them understand you better, it will just make them upset or it may even cause them to start barking, thinking you are trying to play a loud voice game with them. If you’re looking for the best companion, check out the most loyal dog breeds you’ll want to bring home.
15 Things Dogs Love the Most
How well do you think you understand your dog? Sure, we all know our buddies love belly rubs, play time, afternoon naps, and nice, long walks. But, were you aware that your darling Dachshund or pretty Poodle have specific behaviors and preferences they enjoy?
Many humans have no idea that these ingrained actions or preferred choices even exist. But the truth is, our canine companions have a great many activities that make them happy, ones based on social preferences, nature, and instinct.
So, if you’re curious about how your pooch functions, then you’ll surely appreciate this post about what dogs like to do (with or without their human sidekicks).