Pet Peeves: 11 Things You Do That Your Dog Hates

1. Tight Collars and Short Leashes

Some people intentionally keep their dogs on a tight collar and short leash to keep them under control. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience with a dog escaping or being aggressive in the past and want to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Or maybe the dog has outgrown their collar and the owner just hasn’t replaced it yet. Few things are as uncomfortable as having something too tight around your neck. Get your dog a good-fitting collar and obedience training if that’s an issue.

2. Leaving Them Alone

Some dogs are more emotionally needy than others. Breeds that are noted for separation anxiety include labs, border collies, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Jack Russell terriers, and toy poodles. But any dog can get lonely and bored if left to itself for too long. Make sure yours has toys that stimulate its mind and maybe a doggie buddy to keep it company when you’re away.

3. Using Strong Fragrances

Dogs’ noses are vastly more sensitive than ours. Using strong fragrances can be, for them, the equivalent of someone playing music too loud or flashing lights in your eyes. It wouldn’t be a very pleasant environment. Select unscented cleaning supplies and go easy on the perfume.

4. Yelling At Them

You’re much larger, stronger, and louder than your dog. They respond not only to the volume and tone of your voice but they study your facial expressions to try to understand what you want. Yelling at them frightens them and can make them want to run, cower in fear, or attack—none of which are desirable behaviors. Over time, this can poison your relationship with your dog and bring out anxious coping behaviors in them. Focus instead on rewarding desirable behavior and ignoring or redirecting poor behavior.

5. Not Letting Them Stop & Sniff

Going for a walk, for a dog, isn’t about reaching a destination; it’s about the journey. A journey filled with wonderful, intriguing smells like urine, dead animals, scraps of food, and other dogs’ butts. Sure, you have to keep your doggo from eating things that could make it sick, but what’s the harm in letting them have a whiff when it makes them so happy? Take time to stop and smell the . . . whatever.

6. Making Loud Noises

Dogs not only don’t like it when you yell at them, they are uncomfortable with loud noises in general. Music, kids, fireworks, whatever. If you can’t tone it down, then give your pup a quiet place to retreat to. Maybe declare one room of your house a silent zone. You might even want to spend time in that room yourself.

7. Excessive Kissing

Dogs touch noses and give licks. But this whole “pucker up and kiss me, baby” thing that humans have going on is just weird to them. Seeing your big mouth coming at their face could mean you’re about to take a bite out of them. They just don’t know what you’re doing. But this is a two-way relationship. Everybody has to give a little. Puppy can’t expect to be that cute and not get a little lovin’. Just limit your dog-smooching to a quick peck on the head now and then.

8. Dressing Them

There are legitimate reasons to put clothes on dogs. Some breeds are not adapted well to cold weather. Dogs can get frostbite just like people if they spend too much time outdoors uncovered. But it can be overdone. Dogs can overheat if you dress them too warmly for too long. And while some enjoy the attention, others walk around humiliated until you set them free to walk around au natural. Let the dog be a dog.

9. Patting Their Head

Dogs can be trained to tolerate head pats, but they don’t like them. It feels scary and threatening to a dog. You can tell if your dog hates it if it lowers its head, walks away, pins back its ears, licks its lips, yawns, or shows the whites of its eyes. Try scratching its back, neck, or ears instead.

10. Hugging

Tight hugs make a dog feel captured. And if it could understand English, it would feel even more that way when you say things like, “You are all mine, my sweet ‘lil boo boo! I am gonna squish you and never gonna let you go. I’m just gonna eat you all up!” You are terrifying. Admit it. Humans being the way we are, hugs are gonna happen. Just keep them short.

11. Giving Them Nothing to Do

Dogs are intelligent creatures that have been bred for centuries to solve problems. They’re supposed to watch for danger, catch prey, pull sleds, carry loads, fetch things we drop, and attack our enemies. So when this intelligent little creature has nothing to do, it makes up things to do. Like chewing on the furniture, hiding one of your shoes, scratching the paint off the door, or crushing the t.v. remote into high tech confetti.

If you don’t want to lose your good stuff, give your puppy its own good stuff: sturdy toys, puzzles that require manipulation to dispense a treat, or even something to throw a ball for it. Better yet, spend more time with your pup yourself, teaching them to do tricks and giving them plenty of praise and tasty treats. Everybody needs a chance to show off and get praised, but no one more so than a dog.