Dogs do love their humans unconditionally. But, even dogs can get annoyed by human behavior. Are you guilty of this? Here are a few ways you’re annoying your dog:

1. Teasing Your Dog

Children are often known for teasing dogs, but you may be doing it as well without realizing it. Plus, teasing them is also one of the ways you’re confusing your dog. Pretending to throw them a toy or ball and watching them run after nothing might seem humorous.

But, your dog often doesn’t understand the humor in this situation. When done frequently, it’s unfair and breaks down trust with your dog. Follow through in your games of fetch and watch your relationship blossom.

2. Rushing Your Dog on Walks

Taking your dog out for a walk might sometimes feel like a chore and you might rush them. Maybe it’s cold or raining or hot and you think less time outside is better. Or, maybe you just want to exercise them and not waste time with them sniffing every few feet.

Rushing your dog actually defeats what they see as the purpose of walks. They see this time as a chance to explore their surroundings and learn new things. Rushing them on these walks disrupts that chance and most certainly bugs them.

Allow them to take their time to do these activities and your dog will be happy! In fact, it’s one of the best ways to make your dog happy. Not only do exploratory walks help socialize a puppy and can help you continue to socialize a grown dog, but they are also something your dog likes and can be a great bonding activity.

You likely can’t make every walk a leisurely exploration, so just make sure you are including a walk or two a day that gives your dog a chance to smell and explore. You can even use some dog walking tips and train them to recognize the difference by training them with a special command or dedicating a specific place for exploratory walks.

3. Hugging Them Too Much

Sometimes you just want a good dog hug, right? As natural as it can feel to hug your dog, some dogs might feel like it is an invasion of their space. Hugging them can make them feel restrained and they may act out if they feel threatened.

As the owner of your dog, you know certain signs your dog is stressed and of uneasiness. If they exhibit any of them when you hug, they might prefer you do not hug them. Find other ways to show your dog affection, like petting, scratching their belly, giving belly rubs, or letting them initiate contact.

4. Staring at Your Dog

Even though dogs love to watch and stare at their humans, staring can be off-putting to them if you initiate it. Although looking at you and being close to you are some of the ways dogs show love, prolonged eye contact is a threatening behavior to dogs so be sure to have your dog associate it with good things, like treats or ear scratches.

5. Not Working Your Dog

Dogs need activity in their life. Most breeds were bred with the intent of performing some sort of job or task. Now that most dogs live comfortable lives, they don’t get to work as much. Bored dogs lead to problematic behaviors.

Be sure to exercise your dog well. Teach them some new tricks or tasks to exercise them mentally and physically. If they are a working dog, you’ll need to give them a job to do or they will find one of their own. Thankfully, there are plenty of things they can do, and even jobs your dog can do at home.

6. Deviating Too Much From Your Routine

Much like some humans, dogs rely on routine and it’s important to create a good daily routine for your dog. Routines are comforting to dogs. They have a general idea of when they’ll be fed, exercised, and let out for the bathroom. Deviating from your regular routine can be hard on your canine friend.

Not having a reliable routine can cause anxiety and behavior problems. Try to stick to your dog’s routine as much as possible to build trust. When your dog knows they can depend on you to meet their needs, they will shower you with love and affection!

These are just a few possible ways you’re annoying your dog. Changing or avoiding some of these behaviors will help you build a healthy and loving bond between you and your dog.