You don’t play with them

Before adopting a pet, it’s important to know that they require some essential things, such as time spent together, affection, good food, care and so on. It’s perfectly normal not to always have the time or energy to play with your dog, but you should try your best to make them feel happy, relaxed and loved as often as possible. 

“Dogs are social and need more than food and shelter. One day your dog feels like she’s part of the family, and the next that she’s been kicked out. It can be very painful and may cause her to act out,” explained Dr. Yarnell.

You pat their head 

Unfortunately, we all tend to pat our pet on the head as a sign of affection or greeting, right? According to animal experts, this is a common mistake that people shouldn’t make. If you pat your dog’s head, they may perceive this action as threatening behavior. 

“That downward gesture is really tough for a lot of dogs, especially if they’ve been abused. Signs of being head shy include closing their eyes, ducking, or swaying away from your hand. If you see any of those behaviors, go for under the chest, then work your way up to scratch behind the ears. [Check their head and ears because] she may have developed an ear infection or have a toothache,” explained Dr. Warren.

You don’t choose their toys wisely

If you are going to leave your dog unattended for a few hours, you need to make sure that they have the right toys around them, otherwise, they risk injuring their teeth or swallowing various pieces of those toys. 

You should try to avoid tennis balls, because “they’re great for tossing around, but allowing a dog to gnaw on a tennis ball for hours on end will eventually wear the enamel off her teeth. The fuzz is like a Brillo pad. Depending on the size of your dog, use a racquetball or even a lacrosse ball,” said Dr. Brown. 

“A dog’s jaws are incredibly strong and can easily shatter cooked bones, antlers, and pigs ears,” she cautions. “The result can be broken teeth, cut gums, or a choking hazard.”