11 Signs Your Dog Is Secretly Mad at You

Although dogs don't get mad at someone in the same way that humans do, it’s possible for them to feel unhappy and uncomfortable around you.
More likely than not, they're simply trying to convey their feelings and looking to you to stop the source of their distress.
In this video, we will talk about 11 telltale signs that show your dog isn’t happy with you.

They keep licking their lips and there’s no food nearby
Dogs communicate via body language in many ways – licking their lips is just one of them.
Dogs may show that they’re mad or in distress by licking their lips and nose repeatedly.
Your dog won’t look you in the eye
Just like people won’t look you in the eye when they’re angry, dogs are likely to look away to express their displeasure. This is because dogs often choose flight as opposed to fight. By looking away from you, your dog is trying to keep the peace and avoid an attack.
A dog who is comfortable and happy will likely be willing to make eye contact with their owner and seek out their attention.
Your dog avoids your touch
Dogs are pack animals, and physical touch is a big part of their love language. Research has shown that dogs spend more time around owners who pet them, than those that praise them.
Petting and cuddling with your canine also releases chemicals and love hormones in them that make them feel good.
Well, while there may be times that your dog is just uninterested and don't want to be petted, if you notice your dog regularly ducks away from your hand, it could mean that they are annoyed, or that they don’t feel comfortable with you.
But remember, there could be another reason that your dog avoids your touch. Your dog could be in pain, or they may be suffering from an illness.
They don't let their guard down when you are around
Dogs are usually concerned about their safety and won’t expose their vulnerable parts when they aren’t sure about their surroundings.
If your dog doesn’t relax or let its guard down when you’re around, it could mean they feel uncomfortable around you. On the other hand, a happy dog will snooze, relax, and expose their belly.
Your dog keeps a distance
If your furry friend insists on maintaining a distance from you, then there's a good chance they’re trying to avoid you on purpose.
But remember, keeping distance can also mean something altogether different.
Dogs tend to hide outward expressions of pain as they believe showing any weakness makes them appear weaker and vulnerable.
Your dog refuses to sit and stay
Stubbornness can be a sign of discomfort or anger in dogs. Much like an insolent child, dogs, too, will deliberately ignore your commands when they are angry. If you know your dog is capable of sitting or rolling over, but they suddenly stop responding to you, that could be an indication that your dog is upset by you or something in their environment.
Your dog growls at you
A growl expresses so many emotions, but it often conveys that a dog is upset about something. More often than not, dogs growl to warn you that they are about to lash out because whatever situation they are facing is close to unbearable.
If your dog growls at you while you’re doing something to them, it means they are mad about it and you should stop.
Remember, sudden aggression in dogs is also a sign of the pain or perhaps an illness. Even a gentle, friendly dog may behave aggressively when they are hurting.
They reject a gift
Anyone who is familiar with dogs knows how much they appreciate a yummy treat. So, if a dog is avoiding a special snack just to avoid being near you, that's a sign they don’t feel comfortable in your presence, or that they don’t trust you.
Another reason that your dog refuses your treat is when they are experiencing physical pain or illness.
Your dog is nicer to others around you
If your dog turns to others for pets and interactions but consistently ignores you, this is a clear sign that the problem is not with them, it's you.
Stiffening up in your presence
Dogs mainly communicate through the use of body language, so you can learn a lot about your dog’s feelings by watching their body language.
When you try to pet your dog or cuddle with them, and the animal begins to stiffen up or hardens their body in your presence, it is a clear sign that they don’t feel comfortable in your presence.
If your dog reaches this point of stress, it’s important to give them plenty of space to calm down.
Your dog doesn’t want to play with you
Dogs love to play as much they love a good snack. And just like humans play together when get along, so do dogs. Playtime helps build cooperative relationships.
If you take your dog’s tennis ball out, and your playful dog is not interested in playing with you, then it’s a sign that your pet probably doesn’t want to spend time with you. But remember, a sudden lack of interest in playing might be a sign that your dog is sick or is not feeling well.

[kirkmorrison]

I had a rescue that hid in the bathroom. I set water and some food near his hiding spot
I took him treats, talked to him until he would let me touch him and gave him short ear scratches. After a week he was sleeping at the foot of the bed 2 more weeks and he slept on my pillow until winter and he slept under the blanket with his head on my arm.
Let the dog come to you

[markmac]

my minpin was never "secretly" mad at me. he made it very clear he was mad.

[Heaux]

*Me owning a dog for over 11 years that follows me in every room I go in, sleeps in the bed and cuddles every night, looks me in the eyes and tries to please me every day*
Me when I read this title: ahhh yes I definitely need to check this out.

[padubois]

I had to put down my Labrador a week ago because of a Lymphoma (cancer) but one thing I know, he was never mad at me

[BobbyEllaForever]

Absolutely the best dog behaviour channel I’ve found.

[PeacefulReveries]

Practical and useful information as always 👍 thank you for these amazing videos 😊

[glowwithmeowmeow]

This hurts more than a hard time breakup

[ObiKwabKenobi]

One year anniversary of our Leo’s passing. Still watch these videos.

[ge]

I always know when my dog is mad at me. He either lets the air out of my tires or takes out a bunch of magazine subscriptions in my name.

[DrNemesis]

My dog has hit 6 months and now it's not listening to me as much, but he wants all the cuddles and eye stares, so I'm putting it down to teen rebellion.

[laurelgallagher]

My spaniel gets mad at me whenever I bathe her or use trimmers to groom her, and #5 is exactly her speed, keeping her distance, acting scared & rejecting treats after a bath. I’m glad I’m doing the right thing by letting her hide and not invading her safe space, because I always feel bad that she’s not happy, but I let her be so she knows she’s not in danger. She always warms right up to me after, but god I hate those 10 minutes a month where she’s terrified of me 😔

[BulldogLady]

Or, if you have an English Bulldog like I do, you don’t have to wonder if they are mad because they will tell you in a variety of ways…side eye, pouting, turning their back on you and even telling you off! 🤣🤣 I won’t ever have another breed of dog. I love my temperamental divas to bits ❤️

[therongjr]

My dog growls when he is playing (or trying to get some else or another dog to play). He sounds like a rabid werewolf, so thankfully all of the dogs and dog parents at the park understand. But it was a little scary before we figured it out!

[simonjones]

Excellent advice thanks. My dog was abused before o got him, it's taken 5 years to get him to be s normal loving dog. However he does have bad days very occasionally. I cannot leave him alone as he howls. I have used tried and tested approaches but it is to avail.

[shelleyconte]

We just lost our 13 year old Akita. Was she ever mad at me? Sure she was an Akita. She didn’t always get her way. Did she love me? To the moon and back, just as I loved her. There is a hole in my heart.

[arvandor]

Our normally very VERY loved and loving dog, seems to not want to be pet anytime he wants something... play or a treat. He's very strange about being pet. But he's all about them any other time, especially when he comes for snuggles (he's VERY snuggly, and naps sideways near or on top of us all the time). He's also weird about pets when people are over (even people he absolutely adores, again I think it's because he wants them to play with him, but I'm not sure why that makes him avoidant of physical attention when he wants play).

[_camy_]

my dog has been doing some of these behaviors towards me and idk how to fix it... im so frustrated why he wont demonstrate the same level of affection he gives others so willingly

[funsized]

Sometimes I feel like my dog is mad at me because while she's cuddled up next to me on the couch, I pet her and she sits up, looks away, but then gives me the side-eye. But then when I stop petting her she cuddles up against me again. weird.

[msdoubtful]

My dog started ignoring me when I kept one of her puppies. I did this to give her some companionship while I’m working. She won’t sleep with me anymore, she doesn’t come to me, and if I pick her up to love on her, she tolerates it, but she’s a little stiff and not relaxed. She’s a dachshund and pretty stubborn and quite the diva, even before her puppy stayed..I don’t know how to fix this! The puppy is over 3 months old now…she should be over this jealousy by now…right?

[awetheatheraptor]

My golden retriever, Apollo, he never gets mad at me, he loves me, when ever I go outside, he just runs to me, and I pet him, he’s 3 years old, but he looks like a adult!