There's no question dogs love their masters, but despite their loyalty and devotion, there are just some things humans do that dogs will never, ever understand.
1. Hugging
Humans show their affection by wrapping their arms around another person and this gesture extends to pets. While many pooches endure the hugs, the truth is that their instincts tell them it's an invasion of space, according to Dog Breed Info. Close body contact can stress dogs and some children and strangers have needlessly gotten hurt by this.
To be safe, always check the canine's mood before attempting to give it a hug.
2. Eye contact
To humans, eye contact is very powerful, but to dogs, this is an intimidating gesture that tells which one is the dominant canine. Even if you're smiling and mouthing words in a high-pitched, sing-song voice, but you're making direct eye contact, the dog will see this as a challenge and will become aggressive towards you, according to Canidae.
Eye contact, however, can be advantageous to pack leaders or masters. A dog owner and his pet should be able to have this connection as a mark of a disciplined and obedient pet.
3. Your needing space and time alone
Because dogs are pack animals, they always feel more comfortable around their pack leader or companion around. It's normal for dogs to experience separation anxiety, but it's not right to let this become a behavioral problem.
Teaching the dog to muster patience and calmness when you're not around or when you intend to have a time alone begins during the puppy stages, according to Cesar's Way. The dogs must be taught, supervised and reinforced to acknowledge boundaries early on.
4. Yelling
Dogs pick up energy cues, and yelling, an overly emotional response that indicates frustration, will only worsen the tension they sense from you. Instead of doing this, dog experts suggest speaking in a firm but normal voice when correcting a dog's behavior. They will likely be more responsive if addressed in this manner.
5. Forcing interaction
While dogs are social animals, they don't instantly warm up to the first pet or person they see in a crowded park. Pushing them to bond with a friend's pet may only result in a fight. Learn to read the dog's body language first and don't force the situation if she prefers to ignore or growl at the other pet or person at first meeting.
6. Treating dogs like babies
Since dogs are family, most dog owners treat their pets like their own children by carrying them around like infants or by putting them in carriers. This practice must only be limited to special cases, such as when the dog is old or injured, according to Dogster. Otherwise, dogs must be left to freely explore their space.
