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August 12th
Most dogs are laid back, carefree animals that will put up with just about anything. But even the most relaxed dog will occasionally get annoyed with their human family.
They might try to move away from you when you hug them, or even growl at you if you touch them on their paws.
Every dog has their unique sensitivities and personality, and it can take some time to learn what really irritates your dog. By learning what makes them tick, you can keep your dog happy and prevent misbehavior.
Here are some common reasons why dogs get upset, and what you can do about it.
Hugging is another area where humans differ from dogs. For understandable reasons, dogs do not hug each other as a sign of affection. Instead, they’ll nuzzle up against one another, or maybe lick and sniff.
Your dog may not know how to respond when you run up to them and give them a big hug. Some dogs do just fine with this level of affection, adjusting quickly to their human’s enthusiasm.
But other dogs will not like when you give them tight hugs, and may even respond aggressively. Remember, dogs value their personal space- even if they don’t always value yours. They might see the closeness as a form of dominance.
If you go up to give them a hug, do so slowly, waiting to see how they respond. If they are interested in cuddling, keep hugging them. But if they pull away, let them have some space.
You can also approach your puppy like other dogs would, nuzzling up to them and rubbing against their coat. Dogs often prefer this over tight hugs, and it’s a great way of bonding with your puppy.
A dog’s life might seem quite chaotic. But dogs value structure as much or even more than humans. If your dog doesn’t have a routine, they may start to get stressed out, and they may start to misbehave.
It’s important that you keep your dog on a regular feeding and exercise schedule. This will keep them from getting stressed, as well as help them burn off any build up energy they have.
A dog’s exercise and food needs will vary depending on the breed and their age. In most cases, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, and 1-2 filling meals.
Dogs don’t explore the world the same way we do. They use their nose and mouth to try to make sense of their environment. Although this can be annoying to you when you take them out on walks, it’s an important part of being a dog.
You don’t have to give your dog free reign when you take them on walks. In fact, it’s important that you learn to control your dog to prevent them from running off every time they smell something interesting.
But you also need to let your dog explore. If you tug at their collar every time they try to smell a plant or chew on a stick, they’ll get frustrated and irritated, which can make their behavior even worse in the future.
Keep your dog on a long leash, or even let them go off leash and explore. This will give them a bit more freedom, so they don’t feel as stir crazy or anxious.
It goes without saying that your dog doesn’t like it when you yell or hit them. Dogs can be frustrating, and it’s easy to lose your temper. But getting angry at your dog often makes behavior even worse.
If you yell loudly at your dog, you might scare them and make them anxious. Instead of correcting the bad behavior, you might just make them more stressed, which can lead to misbehavior.
Always avoid physical punishment when dealing with your dog. Hitting your dog only makes them fear you, which can lead to aggression and disobedience.
The best way to teach a dog is with positive reinforcement, where you reward good behavior without punishing them for doing something wrong. This training method is effective, and it will also help you build a strong, healthy bond with your dog.
You’ve probably noticed that your dog has a sensitive nose. Open a jar of peanut butter and they’ll sprint from the other side of the house in seconds.
This sensitive nose can cause dogs a lot of discomfort around strong smells. Perfumes, detergents, and cleaning supplies can put a lot of strain on your dog’s nose.
Just imagine that feeling when someone wearing too much cologne walks into a room. Now try to picture it if your sense of smell was 10,000 times stronger. That’s what a dog is going through.
Try to avoid using any products on your dog’s coat that have a strong scent, as these can start to irritate their nose.
Unfortunately, you’re going to have to leave your dog alone at some point. And these periods of solitude can be quite tough on dogs, especially puppies.
Dogs are social animals that are at their best when surrounded by plenty of other people and animals. If they’re left alone, they start to get anxious, and may act out by barking, biting, and yelping.
There are some steps you can take to teach your dog to at least tolerate being alone. They may never love it, but you can train them to spend a few hours in their crate without developing separation anxiety.
You should also make sure that your dog gets plenty of socialization when they’re young. It’s important that a puppy learn how to behave when they’re around people and other dogs.
Dog parks are a good place to teach a puppy all of the social skills they’ll need later in life. Just make sure that they have all of their immunizations before taking them out to the dog park.
You’ve probably seen pictures of your friends’ dogs all dressed up for the holidays, a big frown on their face. Maybe you’ve even done this to your own dog.
Although cute, getting dressed up is not most dogs’ idea of a good time. Dogs have very sensitive temperature regulation systems, and all of that extra layering feels uncomfortable to them.
They also don’t like when you stick something on their face. Dogs don’t wear hats, so keep the beanie away from your puppy.
Dogs are creatures of habit. They like routine, and they may get anxious if you throw them for a loop and take them to new places or put them in new situations.
Dogs vary widely in how they respond to novelty. Some dogs love meeting new people and going to interesting new places. But others dread it, and will get anxious if you force them into environments outside of their comfort zone.
If you notice that your dog gets anxious when you take them to new places, try to start slow and work your way up. For dogs that have issues going to the park, try to socialize them at home with other people or on short walks.
You’ve probably noticed that dogs like to eat almost as they like to cuddle. It takes a lot of food to keep a growing dog happy, and if you don’t satisfy their appetite, they may start to get moody.
Try to keep your dog on a regular feeding schedule. You’ll need to feed puppies more meals per day than you will adults, as they need extra nutrition to grow.
Puppies will often need 3 to 4 meals per day when they’re young to meet all of their nutritional needs. After about a year, you can switch to feeding them once or twice per day.
Also make sure that your feeding your dog high quality food. Cheap dog food is often packed with filler that does little to nourish your dog, and can leave them with low energy levels. Choose a food that is designed for your dog’s breed, age, and energy levels.
Most dogs will get sick at some point in their life. However, they can’t speak up and tell you when they’re feeling bad. If you notice that your dog seems unusually grumpy or tired, that could be a sign that they need to go to the vet.
Speak to your vet about any symptoms your dog has, as well as their diet and exercise schedule. Dogs that have parasites may not be getting the nutrition they need, which can have an impact on their mood.
Dogs are called man’s best friend for a reason. They’re deeply in tune with human emotions, and can often detect when something is wrong before we can.
Since dogs are also very social, they tend to mirror the mood of the people and animals around them. If you’re sad or depressed for an extended time, this can also have an effect on your dog’s mood.
If you notice that your dog is a bit down in the dumps, a short walk can do a lot to improve their- and your- mood.
You should also keep in mind that dogs have mood swings as well. Is your puppy being a brat? They’re young, and will often snap out of it quickly. Is your older dog grumpy? They may not have slept well.
Looking for your dream dog? Then head over to our puppy finder page. At Uptown Puppies, we help you find the perfect dog by connecting you to some of the best breeders and companies around.
We only work with people who follow strict ethical and breeding standards when they raise dogs. That means no dogs come from puppy mills or backyard breeders.
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