Here is another thing humans unintentionally do that hurts animals feelings.
Get angry or frustrated with them.
It happens. Humans get tired, stress, spread too thin, lose patience. All these emotions are familiar to humans but they are not familiar to animals.
If your animal makes a mistake and you are angry at them in that moment or even worse, after you get home, it hurts their heart SO MUCH. If you have been gone (and for example they get in the trash or have an accident on the floor) and you come home and are angry or frustrated… they are crushed. They have forgotten about their mistake and they are so excited to see you. Your anger or frustration destroys them, anytime, but especially in that moment.
Instead, if they make a mistake, unless you catch them in the act, you have to ignore it. They live in the present, not the past. If you catch them making a mistake, talk to them they way you would want to be talked to. Then let it go.
Dont ever get angry or frustrated with them. Their whole world revolves around you. They spend their entire day waiting for you, trying to make you happy, loving you. They don’t speak our language, they are animals learning to live in a human world, and patience is what they need. Not anger or frustration. Those are two emotions they take personally. They feel unloved, hurt, and confused. Especially when it comes from the person they love most.
Their mistakes are the results of confusion, lack of education, or change / stress. They only want to please and never ever make mistakes intentionally. They always try to do the right thing. Have extra patience when they are old. Everything is harder for them when they are old and mistakes happen more often.
