8 Things Dogs Love from you

8 Things Dogs Love from you

#1 Your dirtiest, stinkiest, sweatiest clothes

Your dog’s favorite smell in the whole world is… you. And the more of your body odor on something, the better—as evidenced by the number of times dogs have embarrassingly dragged out their owner’s dirty underwear. “Dogs have much stronger noses than ours, and for them, a shirt covered in your scent is one of the most comforting objects in the world,” says Meg Marrs, a dog care expert and senior editor at K9 of Mine. “Next time your dog is anxious about being left alone or is staying at a kennel, leave them with that sweaty shirt you wore to hot yoga.”

#2 No outfits, please

Doggy couture may be adorable but pups hate being dressed up, says Melissa McCue-McGrath, CPDT-KA, author of Considerations for the City Dog. “Many dogs hate the feel of wearing clothes and they really don’t need additional clothing for warmth,” she says. The one exception: Using a dog coat or special blanket when you take short-haired or small dogs for a walk outside when the temps drop below freezing. Plus, this will help you save some cash in the long run—do you know how much owning a dog really costs you?

#3 Chest rubs, not belly rubs

The idea that dogs love a good belly rub is based on outdated dominance theories, says Sara Taylor, CPDT-KA, director of animal behavior and training at the spcaLA. “A lot of dogs roll over to be submissive, which shows insecurity and fear, and it is not a good time to rub the belly of a dog,” she explains. “As trainers, we only pet the belly when the dog is familiar to us, is initiating this contact for petting purposes, and is not scared or fearful.” Most dogs prefer a good chest rub to a belly rub any day, McCue-McGrath adds.

#4 To check their “pee-mail”

It may not be your jam, but sniffing every dirty, smelly thing around is one of your pup’s favorite activities, McCue-McGrath says. “When you take a walk, let them check their ‘pee-mail,’ catch up on all the changes in the neighborhood, or see what wild critter skittered by,” she says. “Dogs see the world through their noses and love nothing more than when we give them time to sniff instead of rushing on walks.” Here are 30 funny dog photos you need to see.

#5 For you to be their fearless leader

“Most dogs are not born leaders and they do not want to be in charge of anything, so they look to you to give them the structure they need,” says Andrew Horan, owner of Citizen K9. If you fail to be the leader by setting the schedule, providing consistent rules, and giving loving feedback, they’ll try and step in, which can cause serious behavioral issues, he adds.

#6 Soothing, positive (sounding) words

Dogs can’t really understand the words you’re saying but they sure can understand the tone of your voice and your expressions, Olshavsky says. So yelling at your dog won’t help them understand you better, it will just make them upset or it may even cause them to start barking, thinking you are trying to play a loud voice game with them. If you’re looking for the best companion, check out the most loyal dog breeds you’ll want to bring home.

#7 To be left alone by strangers

“This is a hard one for many dog owners to hear, but the truth is not all dogs want to be petted by strangers,” Marrs says. This means you need to protect your dog’s personal space from well-meaning folks and respect strange dogs’ wishes when you approach them. Not sure what a dog wants? Kneel down to their level and hold your hand out; if they approach you, give them a pet under their chin, not on the head, she advises. If they don’t? Leave them alone. This is just one of many etiquette rules all dog owners need to know.

#8 A nice, peaceful nap in a quiet spot

You may think your dog can sleep anywhere, anytime, but just because they can sleep through a six-year-old’s birthday party doesn’t mean they like it, Askeland says. And they definitely don’t like being awakened by a herd of said six-year-olds. In fact, startling your dog out of a deep sleep can make them grouchy or even aggressive. Move the doggie bed—one of the 15 necessities your dog needs—to a safe, quiet spot.