Those in budding relationships might be eager for our loved ones to satisfy – and ideally like – brand-new partners.
But what if the most essential member (the one with fur and 4 legs) of our family doesn’t like them?
Dogs are great judges of character, so how can we distinguish between our beloved dog just having their nose put a little out of joint and them genuinely telling us to ditch our partner altogether?
Sometimes they’re simply playing hard to get, but on other occasions they’re really sending us a message, according to Kamal Fernandez, a dog behaviour specialist and advisor to ProDog Raw.
Here, FEMAIL reveals five signs your dog does not like your significant other – and some tips on what you can do about it.
1. THEY HAVE HOSTILE BODY LANGUAGE
Dogs are terrific at reading body language: it’s how they communicate and understand our intentions.
In the same vein, their body language around a new person will be a huge give away. Do they shy away if your partner tries to touch them? Do they avoid their eye contact? Do they start to pant heavily or show signs of anxiety when this person is around?
Whilst these behaviours might be attributable to something else, look for patterns and consistency in your dog’s behaviour. If they’re not sure about someone, this will be reflected in how they act whenever they’re around.
Of course, you will need to consider your dog’s natural personality. I
f their breed is innately quite aloof, like German shepherds for example, you’ll need to look for signs of heightened anxiety or distancing. If they’re super affectionate, like golden retrievers, you’ll know something’s up straight away!
2. THEY IGNORE YOUR PARTNER
Does your dog give your partner the cold shoulder? Simply put, do they act like they’re not there, ignoring them, their calls, and any attempts to engage with them?
These are key indicators that your dog isn’t ‘feeling’ this person and they would rather exit stage left.
3. THEY GROWL AND BEHAVE AGGRESSIVELY
Growling and other signs of aggression are quite obvious pointers to a disliking for your new beau.
This is important to monitor as aggression can easily escalate into full contact or threats of contact.
Dogs communicate in many ways and growling is a sign of unease – it’s a warning you shouldn’t ignore. Take head, their message couldn’t be more blatant!’
4. THEY TRY TO GET IN BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR BEAU
Does your dog consistently come between you and your partner when you are close or trying to be intimate? This could definitely be your dog’s way of explaining that they want this person’s physical interaction to stop – they’re probably protecting you from someone they don’t trust.
Of course, this may just be jealousy if they’re strongly bonded to you specifically.
Consider whether or not this is paired with the other behaviours I’ve outlined and if they are just feeling a little left out, be sure to show them that your relationship doesn’t mean they won’t get affection too!
5. THEY URINATE ON YOUR PARTNER’S PROPERTY
Dogs have been known to make their feelings about new partners crystal clear and sometimes they do this in the most primal fashion… by peeing or defecating on the person’s property.
Yep, that’s right! If your dog is consistently urinating on your beau’s items of clothing, or even where they have sat or slept, this may indicate that they are uneasy about this new presence in their home. You can see this when new dogs are in their home too.
Dogs are naturally social, however having a new person in their life might require a period of adjustment.
It will take a concerted effort from both parties to create a healthy relationship that’s independent of the bond you share with your dog – fortunately, this is a good indicator of your new partner’s willingness to embrace you and all that you bring to the table.
If they’re not willing to invest this time and energy, maybe it’s time to look for someone who will! After all, dogs are members of the family.
Kamal Fernandez is a dog behaviour expert and ProDog Raw consultant. Visit prodograw.com
