If you’ve lived with a pooch, you know how alike we are. Sometimes I think my dog is angry at me, but he’s completely thinking about something entirely different. We both love treats, new toys. and a comfortable spot to lie down. The problem is that dog owners put their dog’s thinking inside their own process and that is not always the case.
When we see the way they behave as something a human may do, we are into the realm of anthropomorphism.
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is when a person attributes human characteristics in a non-human thing or animal. We try to understand behaviors of others from our point of view, which is often a good thing. But not always, especially for our puppers. Often, their behaviors are just what dogs do and have nothing to do with human behavior or understanding.
Often anthropomorphism is a good thing. When it builds your bond with your dog when their are similarities between dogs and humans.
You can learn more about anthropomorphism at Wikipedia.
The one time I was sure my dog was angry at me
Nola and I spent a month on the road together. We went to Redmond, Washington to visit my son and his family. On the way back we stopped at Breckenridge, Colorado for a week. We spent almost every minute together and I stopped to walk Nola every day many times.
She got used to the constant attention. When we got home and I was unpacking, washing clothes, and the miscellaneous chores we have to do at the end of a trip, I could tell she was put out that I wasn’t paying as much attention to her. She was over it in a couple of days but I have no doubt that the feelings were real.
Dogs love to prank us and each other.
If you’ve ever called your dog and have him go into a game of Keep Away, or you see a dog grab a toy that another dog has or wants, just to feel superior, you have experienced this. I tell my pup to load up when I want her to jump in the car. Often she will hesitate and look around for awhile before she obeys the command. I’ll often let her take the extra time, but if I’m in a hurry I’ll distract her in some way that moves her into a different thought process.
Depending on how strict you are with your dog’s behavior, it will have a lot to do with the reaction. Myself, I am not particularly strict and I give my dog some time to play her “game” before I push her into obeying. She has lots of behaviors that are designed to assert her independence and as long as she is safe and the job is eventually completed, I’m good with it. Often the thought crosses your mind, “Is My Dog Angry at Me?”. The answer is no, he’s just having fun with you.
I use some commands that I have my dog obey immediately
When I say “No!”, I do it with a firm tone. I use that to stop unsafe or unwanted behavior. She has learned over time, to obey immediately and stop what she is doing. This allows me to give my pooch some extra independence at times when she wants it just to make her happy.
Some dog behaviors their parents don’t understand
- Humping – this is not always sexual behavior. It is often about domination during play.
- Growling serves as a warning. You should pay attention to what your pup is saying.
- Avoiding eye contact is not always about guilt. It’s often an automatic response for the dog to distance himself from an uncomfortable situation.
- Accidents are often caused by problems out of the dog’s control, at least after he understand what you want here. He may to be let out more often, or he may be sick. Don’t ever punish them for this. Be sure you are providing all the potty training that you can.
- Marking inside the home is an instinctive behavior that the dog uses to establish familiarity with his home.
- Taking the spot on the bed is just about his comfort. He probably doesn’t even realize he is taking YOUR spot.
The difference between training and education
Training is about doing a behavior over and over until the response becomes automatic and predictable. It becomes muscle memory and doesn’t involve thought. Education is more about providing information that will guide the dog to the proper conclusion but is not automatic. It allows your pup a modicum of independence that he will appreciate and will make your bond stronger.