Nicole Skeehan, a dog trainer and owner of Philly Unleashed, recommended thinking about how you might react if someone encroached on your space when you were, say, napping or trying to focus on work. You might, understandably, be taken aback or even irritated.
“If we can understand this reaction in human terms, why are we surprised when our dogs react the same way?” she said.
Dogs can similarly become surprised or agitated when we sneak up on them, especially when they’re asleep, playing with their toys, or enjoying a snack. Some dogs may growl or snap, whereas others may scoot away or, in severe cases, hide and shiver, explained Valli Parthasarathy, a veterinary behavior specialist and co-founder of Synergy Veterinary Behavior in Portland, Oregon. Certain pups may merely give you a hard stare or continue sleeping peacefully — but that still doesn’t mean they enjoy a surprise pet.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
