Those of us with pets in our lives can often list some behaviors they perform that might annoy us.
But our furry, feathered, and finny friends might also find one or two of our behaviors annoying.
I asked pet lovers what they do that annoys the heck out of their pets!
Peggy Modjeski (Kentucky) My little 12 1/2 year old chihuahua mix hates it when I talk on the phone. He reminds me of my kids when they were toddlers. As soon as I start talking on the phone, he starts barking and jumps in my lap. I have rewarded the behavior by giving him treats to keep him quiet. I have created my own monster. It really tickles me when he does this. He can be sleeping or playing and still will seek me out if he hears me on the phone. He is very ill with congestive heart failure and I tend to encourage his “naughty” behavior to get him to eat. It’s also a convenient excuse to get off the phone. My friends and family encourage him by talking to him on the phone and asking if he wants treats.
Katharine Weber (Illinois) Pretending to kiss her. I make “smacking” noises. She pretends she’s going to bite my face. Black, female Labrador, six years old. Genetic? Her mother and great-grandma did it—the “alligator snap” when I pretended I was going to kiss them. Not sure she’s truly annoyed. She doesn’t go away when I do it. She likes the game. Sometimes I’ll grab her and smack kisses all over her face and she pretends to try to get away but when I let her go, she wants more.
Donna Furneaux (Ontario) Swear. (Not at her, either.) She doesn’t like it at all. Georgia is a six-year-old bichon. My friend got her at the age of two after her bichon died. Georgia trashed her condo and barked a lot, so I agreed to take care of her. She settled in quite nicely until one day I couldn’t get one of my apps on the computer to work. I lost my temper and yelled at the computer, swearing in my finest . . . the F word. She jumped off the chesterfield, looked at me, and ran away into another room. She has done this many times. I have to be careful about how I react reading news from the U.S.A. or cooking. She loves the kitchen, but not when I make a mistake and swear.
Jill Gibbs (Montana) Henry (golden retriever) hates having his picture taken. Of course, I love taking photos. He looks away—looks at the ground. And if I want to see his ears, I have to get creative. Acting like I am tossing a treat has been working. The cell phone is the worst. He thinks I’m shooting him or something. Drama king.
Photo by Jill Gibbs
Stephanie Milbrose (New Hampshire) Kenna, almost five years old, wants to lie on me for hours, so I try to read on my iPad and she will flail her head around. I can’t possibly read and dodge a wolfhound head at the same time. She is beastly when it comes to the iPad.
Kat Camplin (California) Tickle their foot pad hair while they’re sleeping. That little sleepy kick-out cracks me up, which wakes them up, which makes them give me the stink eye.
Briane Green (Texas) I say, “You want to go on a walk?” He gets pumped and ready—then I check my phone and sit down to send a needed work message for a long time. Major is a goldendoodle who will be one year old on December 21.
Julie Ellingson (California) Three cavaliers, aged 13.5, 9, and 1, and a little five-year-old rescued chihuahua mix with big ideas! Late suppers annoy them. Their tummy clocks are quite accurate. The fall time-change sucks pond water. Spring, however, is a national doggie holiday.
Kristy Gibson (Florida) I grab their tongues and hang on when they’re panting. I’ve played this game for 10+ years, with mastiffs, a wolfhound, a chihuahua, and a bull terrier.
Marni Dlin (Alberta) Clean their eyes.
Gail Jackson (Missouri) Play on my phone.
Sarah Adams (Oregon) Not share food.
Shelly Keel (California) When I read an email or text on my phone and my dog is ready to play or walk.
Jane Beecham (England) I sing at my dog. He looks away like he’s got a bad taste in his mouth.
Lisa Elliott Jankanish (Washington) Any time I cough, which unfortunately is often, Mandu goes running. i think maybe she thinks I am barking.
Marie Hammerling (Florida) Sasha (a cat) hates to get her claws clipped.
Micha Michlewicz (Maryland) I sMother my dog. I always want kisses, cuddles, pets, and attention from her. 24/7! I’m very careful to ask for consent, though. But I ask a lot! Her cuteness just blows my mind. I also annoy my parrot with the same, but she’s a “Velcro” bird, and I’m (trying to) replace an entire flock, so it’s less of an annoyance for her.
Photo by Micha Michiewicz
David Smith (Washington) Packing for a trip. Our Henry is an overweight, but dieting, red heeler. No matter how hard we work to hide the suitcases, he will find them, sniff them, start moping, go sit in one of the chairs that he’s not allowed on and then give us sad and annoyed eyes.
Ruby J. Siegel (Washington) My red heeler does the same! Then, once a suitcase is packed, she stands sideways and blocks my pathway to leave.
Carlos Alden (Washington) Halloween costumes on cats.
Lauren Fetterman (California) Take too many pics.
Jamie Wilke (Washington) Try to move a half inch in bed so I don’t fall off, or grab a tiny bit of covers that they are lying on, and I disrupt their precious sleep.
Amy Suggars (Ohio) Make my dog wear a costume.
Kelly Byam DVM (California) When I have the nerve to stop petting Lola for even a nanosecond, she always noses my hand to get back to business. According to her DNA test, Lola is 1/2 miniature poodle, 1/4 Maltese, and 1/4 Pekingese. In other words, a mutt. And she’ll be ten soon.
Karen Anne (England) Attempt to play the harmonica. He howls the place down (springer—high-pitched). What do I do about it? Nothing. I still can’t play the darn thing. I’d love to learn but I love my boy more.
Nichola Walker (Northern Ireland) The humans not leaving the house on his schedule or, god forbid, taking too long to get ready when he’s coming with us. He stomps around huffing and pouting until you’re ready. Buster’s a 12-year-old cairn mix of some sort.
Terri Anderson (Washington) Travel. He howls while I’m gone and pouts for days when I return. He’s a cat named Spunky who is Siamese-looking—and he has that Siamese howl.
Alicia Graybill (Nebraska) I talk to them through an empty cardboard tube. Sometimes I sing to them or say their names or blow raspberries through the tube. I’ve actually caused a couple of them to have the zoomies. Dogs: Australian shepherd (Sage); Australian shepherd (Quinn); papillon (Sadzi). But I’ve done it for years with dogs of all ages and sizes. Most dogs realize it’s a game and have a blast.
Megan Cuilla (Washington) Jasper and Francine (both young cats) get annoyed when I lock them out of the bathroom when I want to take a bath without disruptions. They will literally sigh on the other side of the door.
Photo by Megan Cuilla
Oona Mcguinness-fischer (Washington) Our cat gets very upset if she sees you in the hot tub. She worries, paces, meows . . . because why are the humans choosing to soak in the noisy water?
Rhea Giffin (Idaho) We used to have a cat that couldn’t stand it when anyone sneezed. She was very vocal when it happened, and it wasn’t in the tone of “bless you.”
Julia Holbert (Oregon) Ignore his stares for treats.
Mindi Finch (Oregon) 12-hour work days.
Stacy Braslau-Schneck (California) Hugs and kisses.
Janet Galante (Arizona) Closing the door when I go to the bathroom.
George Guba (Virginia) Go to the bathroom before letting them out. Came back into the bedroom to socks in the water bowl and a bucket of dumped food. They can potty in the yard without repercussions. If I do it, the police get called!
What do you do that annoys the heck out of your pet or pets?
