7 Common Human Behaviors That Could Be Confusing Your Dog

Brush Stroke

Petting Your Stressed Out Dog

When our dogs are stressed, we may console them like humans. However, vet Heather Venkat told Insider, "You're actually encouraging fearful behavior through sweet talk and petting."

Brush Stroke

Letting Puppies Knaw On Your Hand

Young dogs chomp on everything. Though they may not bite hard yet, the owner should not let it. Any puppy that's accustomed to knawing on its owner's hand won't know not to bite.

Brush Stroke

Picking Up Dogs From Behind

Someone giving you a hearty embrace from behind might be shocking. The feeling of being scooped up from behind is intensified when dogs are lifted off the ground.

Brush Stroke

Giving A Treat At The Wrong Time

Dog training often uses treats as an incentive mechanism to teach rules. The treats must be timed correctly for this method to work.

Brush Stroke

Playing Tug-Of-War

Several causes make tug-of-war problematic. Aggressive dogs may overact and get overstimulated. Game instructions concerning pulling might often be misleading.

Brush Stroke

Giving Your Dog A Confusing Name

Creative dog names might be amusing, but they also confuse your pet. Command rhymes might get confusing.

Brush Stroke

Using Different Words For The Same Command

While dogs may absorb words, they lack the vocabulary to understand synonyms. Telling your dog to "heel" one day and "come closer" the next might be perplexing.