Does your dog seem a bit aloof, avoiding eye contact and moving away from you when you go near them? Your pet may very well be upset with you. Certified veterinary technician (CVT) Kait Hembree explains that if your dog has a "negative association" towards you—meaning they're upset with you—"it will be clear by their body language." This highlights the importance of recognizing our furry friends' emotional states to maintain a healthy and trusting relationship.
It's no surprise that dogs can get upset because our canines are incredibly perceptive, sensitive beings that are capable of sensing emotions and reading the facial expressions of humans. Research has shown that dogs combine hearing and sight to correspond happy and angry human faces with happy and angry vocalizations, as noted by Stephanie Gibeault, a certified personal dog trainer. Dogs are even able to distinguish intentional actions from unintentional behavior, which means they can pick up on our feelings more than we might realize!
But how do you know when your pup is mad at you? And can dogs forgive you after you've upset them? Understanding the signs that indicate your dog is upset and knowing how to mend that relationship is crucial for any dog owner. In this article, we'll explore how to identify when your dog is unhappy and the steps you can take to rebuild trust.
What You Will Learn
- Recognize the signs that indicate your dog is upset.
- Understand the importance of body language in canine communication.
- Learn effective strategies to help your dog forgive you.
- Explore the emotional intelligence of dogs and how they perceive human behaviors.
How to Tell When You've Upset Your Dog
According to Hembree, if your dog is struggling with a negative association towards you, it will be clear by their body language. This body language might entail moving away from you, being more aloof, or even avoiding your gaze when you look in their direction. If these signs appear, it's essential to respect your dog's feelings and give them the space they need.
Some common signs that your dog may be upset include:
- Moving away from you
- Being more aloof
- Averting your gaze when you look in their direction
- Sitting in another location if you come near them
- Holding their tail low or even between their legs
- Snarling or growling at you
Can Dogs Forgive You?
The short answer is yes, but it will require some training for your dog to get rid of their negative association toward you. Hembree suggests that to change this negative association, you may need to implement behavior modification using desensitization and counterconditioning.
This involves exposing your dog to you, or what you did that bothered them, at an intensity level that results in little to no stress while countering their negative association with something they love, such as food. Over time, you can slowly increase the intensity of what your dog deemed as adverse.
With patience and understanding, you will know that your dog no longer has a negative association toward you, as their body language will be more relaxed and inviting. Signs of a happy dog include looser body posture, ears forward, soft brows, and wagging tails level with their back.
Do you have a pet-related question or dilemma to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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