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Do you know the 3 things that can hurt your Dog's Feelings?

Do you know the 3 things that can hurt your Dog's Feelings?

According to the East Valley Animal Hospital, dogs can experience five core emotions that we humans share—fear, anger, disgust, joy, and sadness. They can also feel more nuanced emotions like excitement, distress, contentment, anxiety, shyness, anticipation, and even love.  Moreover, because a dog's emotional maturity correlates to that of a two-year-old child, they aren't capable of feeling emotions that develop after this age, including shame, guilt, pride, or contempt.

  1. Rushing your dog on a walk - Dogs love taking time to sniff around while on a walk and hurrying them up when they're exploring can be frustrating for them.
  2. Forcing them into uncomfortable situations - Your pup might fear thunderstorms, fireworks, vacuum cleaners, or dominant dogs in dog parks. The best thing you can do is read their body language, understand how they feel, and remove them from the uncomfortable event when needed.
  3. Ignoring their pain - Dogs don't speak our language. As an owner, it's your job to be a pain detective and understand how they feel by recognizing signs of discomfort like paw licking or head shaking. Make sure to get to know your dog to avoid causing them additional stress.

From Maria Azzurra Volpe from Newsweek - 4/3/23