FYI, Your Dog Can’t Stand When You Do These 7 Things

Trust me, I’m a dog trainer

30 October 2023

As much as you and your dog are in sync – you know those pouty eyes mean they want your dinner, and they know your stern looks means you won’t share – there are some things about your pup you just don’t get. You could do without the crotch sniffing, for example. And they probably think you’re a weirdo, too.

Instead of sniffing each other, humans squeeze each other ‘hello’ in a way that dogs just don’t understand – or necessarily like. It’s not too far-fetched to say that they’d pass on many things people enjoy if given the choice.

Here are a few items on most dogs’ list of things they wish people wouldn’t do.

Your dog is probably thinking, Thanks, I hate it, if you…

1. Pat them on the head

Head pats are meant to convey affection, and many pet parents love to do it. But patting your dog on the head is not popular with them. Most dogs dislike it and will move away to avoid it. They do usually enjoy having their heads – including their ears and the sides of their faces – smoothly stroked, which is more likely to make them happy, keep them near and cause them to lean in for more.

2. Hug them

Every time a dog trainer or canine behaviourist mentions that dogs don’t necessarily like being hugged, the pushback is incredible. Everyone is sure their dog loves to be hugged, even if most dogs don’t. Primates (the order to which humans belong) are huggers, but canids, including dogs, don’t naturally engage in that behaviour. Dogs who are being hugged often display signs of stress, including tongue flicks, a tightly closed mouth, pulled-back ears, rigid facial muscles and/or a furrowed brow. Putting your arms around your dog’s neck and shoulders may feel like love to you, but to dogs, not so much.

3. Hoard the ball during a game of fetch

You’ve probably picked up the ball and held it while praising your dog. You think you’re playing fetch, but your dog thinks you’re hoarding the ball. They want it back, and they want it back now. Many dogs lose interest in fetch – or fail to learn how fun it can be – because of this human tendency to hold onto the ball instead of immediately throwing it. What they want us to do is toss the ball the instant they drop it anywhere in our vicinity. This sounds simple, but it can be a struggle for many pet parents.

4. Kiss them

Humans express love and affection with kisses, but kisses have no particular meaning to dogs. It is not a natural part of their repertoire. Dogs lick each other and will lick humans, too, and though we often call those ‘doggy kisses’, they’re different to human kisses.

Putting your face right next to a dog’s face can be perceived by the dog as threatening behaviour. Some dogs find it scary, while others simply find it annoying. It’s common for dogs who are being kissed to try to get away, to hold their ears back or to exhibit signs of discomfort such as tongue-flicking, yawning, lowering the tail or displaying facial and body tension. Some dogs wrinkle their noses or even scamper off once released – another sign that they don’t love being kissed no matter how much they love you.

5. Hold one of their paws – especially a back paw – when they’re standing

Dogs who’ve been consistently reinforced for shaking or giving a high-five may have good feelings about having you touch or hold their paws, but that usually only applies to brief contact while they’re sitting. Nothing good can come of grabbing a dog’s paw and holding on to it for a while. It may make them feel unstable, and that’s no fun, or they may associate it with nail trims (also no fun) or having their muddy paws wiped down (not awful, but not a favourite either). Holding a dog’s back paw is often particularly poorly received.

6. Use citrus-scented products

The majority of dogs hate the smell of citrus fruits such as lemons, tangerines and grapefruit. That’s why those scents are used in products meant to deter dogs from chewing on things we would prefer they leave alone. Because the smell repels dogs, it’s kind to avoid products with that scent, including lotion, shampoo, air fresheners or candles.

A small percentage of dogs aren’t averse to these smells. Find out if your dog is in this group by peeling a juicy orange, so your hands are covered in a sticky mess, then offer your hands to your dog. If they turn or back away, they (like most dogs) don’t care for the smell of citrus. If they lick your fingers, different story.

7. Dress them

The joy pet parents take in dressing up their dogs is often in direct conflict with the distaste dogs have for the experience. Yes, dogs look adorable in just about every outfit under the sun, but very few dogs enjoy the process of being put into clothes and costumes. Lots of dogs tense up, displaying facial expressions and body language that clearly indicate their discomfort. Wearing clothes, especially cumbersome and constricting costumes, is a misery for many dogs.

Through careful conditioning, dogs can be taught to accept costumes or other clothes. If you must, choose the least restrictive and most lightweight options, but dogs would really prefer you miss giving them a costume. Many pet parents can’t help but love the look of dogs dressed to the nines, but mostly, it’s better not to treat dogs like dolls.

Apologies to your Halloween plans.

Karen B. London, PhD, CAAB, CPDT-KA

Karen B. London, Ph.D., is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer who specializes in working with dogs with serious behavioral issues, including aggression, and has also trained other animals including cats, birds, snakes, and insects. She writes the animal column for the Arizona Daily Sun and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University. She is the author of six books about training and behavior, including her most recent, Treat Everyone Like a Dog: How a Dog Trainer’s World View Can Improve Your Life.