7 Things Dogs Don't Understand

One of the best things about dogs is the fact that they’re so smart. Fido can learn up to 100 words and commands! However, our canine pals don’t think the way we do, and they don’t process information in the same way. A Washington DC vet lists some things that confuse pups in this article. 

Phrase Variations

When training your dog, or even just communicating with him, it’s very important to use the same words or phrases every time. Fido won’t know that ‘Come’ means the exact same thing as ‘Fido, get over here now!’

Punishment

We know, it can be frustrating to come home and find that Fido ate your shoes or tore up the trash. However, punishing him won’t help. Your furry friend won’t necessarily associate your reaction with his behavior, and may not understand why you’re angry.

The Concept Of Poison

Unlike cats, who tend to be quite finicky, dogs will eat pretty much anything. This can be very dangerous, as Fido could easily ingest something that isn’t safe. Sago palms, for example, are highly toxic to pets. Many of our favorite foods, including garlic and onions; grapes, currants, and raisins; chocolate; and avocado are also unsafe for them. Ask your vet for more information. 

Vacuum Cleaners

Our canine companions are quite protective of their humans. Fido may very well bark at these evil robots to try and scare them away!

Cats

We really can’t blame Fido for this one. Our feline pals can be quite ‘purrplexing.’ After all, Fluffy cleans herself on purpose, wags her tail when she’s mad, and spends a ridiculous amount of time sleeping! 

Changes

Major adjustments, such as getting a new owner or moving to a new house, are very stressful for pets. Fido won’t really know what is going on, and he can get quite anxious. Pay extra attention to your pup during these types of changes. 

Us

While it’s easy to joke about pets not wanting to go to the vet, it is important to realize that clinics can be stressful for them. There’s all those unfamiliar scents, as well as the presence and smells of other nervous animals. We know this, and do everything we can to make appointments easy on our patients!

Please contact us, your Washington DC veterinary clinic, for all of your pup’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!