12 Things You Do Every Day That Are Secretly Stressing Out Your Dog

Many of the things that wear them down are tiny habits we repeat every single day without a second thought. Here are 12 of the most common ones, and the easy swap for each.

1. Making a big fuss every time you leave or come home

Long goodbyes and loud hellos turn your comings and goings into an emotional event. For a dog prone to worry, that build-up makes the empty house feel even bigger.

Try this instead: keep exits and returns boring. Wait a minute after you get home, then say hello calmly once your dog has settled.

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2. Grabbing the leash at random times

Dogs read your routine better than any clock. When walks happen at completely unpredictable times, some dogs spend the day on alert, waiting and watching.

Try this instead: keep a loose daily rhythm for walks and meals. It does not have to be exact, just roughly the same.

3. Hugging your dog tight

We hug to show love. Many dogs, though, feel trapped when arms wrap around their chest and neck. Watch for a turned head, whale eye or stiff body.

Try this instead: a slow scratch on the chest or behind the ears says the same thing in dog language.

4. Staring straight into their eyes

A long, hard stare is a challenge in the dog world. Even a loving gaze can make a shy dog uneasy if it goes on too long.

Try this instead: soft eyes, a relaxed face, and the occasional slow blink. Let your dog choose to look back.

5. Leaving the TV or music loud all day

Dogs hear far more than we do. Constant noise, sudden explosions in movies, or booming bass can keep their nervous system switched on.

Try this instead: lower the volume, and give your dog a quiet room it can retreat to whenever it wants.

6. Rushing every walk

A walk is the main way your dog reads the news of the neighbourhood. Being pulled past every smell turns it into a forced march.

Try this instead: let at least part of each walk be a sniff walk, where your dog sets the pace.

7. Changing the rules from day to day

Allowed on the couch on Sunday, scolded for it on Monday. Mixed signals are confusing, and confusion is stressful.

Try this instead: agree on the house rules with everyone at home and stick to them.

8. Using a frustrated tone

Dogs are experts at reading voices. Snapping, sighing loudly or arguing near them can make them anxious even when it has nothing to do with them.

Try this instead: keep a calm voice around your dog, and take tense conversations to another room.

9. Skipping mental exercise

A tired body is not the same as a tired mind. Dogs with nothing to think about often turn to chewing, barking or pacing.

Try this instead: five minutes of a snuffle mat, a puzzle feeder or simple training games each day.

10. Waking them up to cuddle

Dogs need much more sleep than people, often 12 to 16 hours a day. Being woken again and again leaves them cranky and run down.

Try this instead: let sleeping dogs lie, and invite cuddles when your dog is already awake and coming to you.

11. Strong scents everywhere

Plug-in air fresheners, scented candles and heavy cleaning sprays are mild to us and overwhelming to a nose that is thousands of times stronger.

Try this instead: use unscented products where your dog sleeps, and air out the room after cleaning.

12. Never giving them a space of their own

Every dog needs one spot where nobody bothers it: no kids, no visitors, no reaching hands.

Try this instead: set up a bed or crate in a quiet corner and make it a rule that nobody disturbs the dog there.

You do not need to change everything at once. Pick two of these this week and watch your dog.

Softer eyes, longer naps and a looser body are your dog's way of saying thank you.