Many pet owners like to play with their pets as they believe it brings both themselves and their canine companion joy. This can sometimes include teasing behaviours, which many people think are harmless fun.
However, a vet has revealed that these actions could actually be having the reverse effect and may be upsetting your furry pooch. Dr Evan has shared four things that pet owners should avoid doing to their dogs, as it could be “hurting their feelings”.
He posted a TikTok video in response to another person’s clip, and has urged owners to stop upsetting their pets for their own amusement.
The initial video was captioned ‘Five surprising things that can hurt your dog’s feelings’, and Dr Evan suggested that four of the points could be true, while one is completely false.
In his own video, he agreed with the first point, which states: “Being angry at them. Dogs don’t understand anger in the same way we do. Anger doesn’t teach your dog to behave. It simply teaches them to be afraid of you.”
The Express reports the vet also agrees that owners should never take food away from their pet when they are in the middle of eating. He adds: “This will make them want to eat faster, which can cause anxiousness and potentially have a negative effect on their digestion.”
But the third argument made by the first video is one that Dr Evan does not agree with. This point said that pets can become upset if owners push them away while the fluffy friend is giving them kisses. Surprisingly, the vet said that this is something he would actually encourage owners to do.
By contrast, he strongly agreed with the fourth point which is “never to tease” your dogs. He added: “Blow on their nose or poking them while they’re asleep can make your dog feel confused which can really stress them out.”
At the end of the video, he urged owners to keep a close eye on their pets, especially if they are constantly scratching their ears or paws. He said: “These could indicate your pup has food or seasonal sensitivities. Not paying attention to your pup’s wellbeing can hurt their feelings. It can impact their long-term physical health.”
One user commented on her experience with her furry pal. She wrote: “Anytime I get mad or upset my dog growls and gets upset and I don’t poke my dog or tease her per se but my fiancé has this game he plays he teases her with a ball. I don’t know if that’s the same. She loves it.”
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