5 Signs Your Dog Doesn’t Like Your Partner

By James On Feb 13, 2023

Those in budding relationships may be interested in our friends and family meeting, and hopefully liking, new partners.

But yes the most important member (the one with hair and four legs) of our family doesn’t like them?

Dogs are great judges of character, so how can we tell the difference between our beloved pooch who just has a little crooked nose and who is actually telling us to ditch our mate altogether?

Sometimes they’re just playing hard to get, but other times they’re really sending us a message, according to Kamal Fernandez, dog behavior specialist and consultant for ProDog Raw.

Here, FEMAIL reveals five Signs that your dog doesn’t like your partner, and some tips on what you can do about it.

Does your dog display hostile body language with your partner? If so, there’s a chance your dog won’t like them (stock image)

1. THEY HAVE HOSTILE BODY LANGUAGE

Dogs are great at reading body language – this is how they communicate and understand our intentions.

In the same way, your body language around a new person will be a great giveaway. Do they freak out if your partner tries to touch them? Do they avoid their eye contact? Do you start panting a lot or show signs of anxiety when this person is around?

While these behaviors can be attributed to something else, look for patterns and consistency in your dog’s behavior. If they are uncertain about someone, this will be reflected in how they act whenever they are around.

Of course, you’ll need to consider your dog’s natural personality. Yo

If your breed is innately quite aloof, like German Shepherds, for example, you’ll need to look for signs of increased anxiety or aloofness. If they’re super affectionate, like golden retrievers, you’ll know something’s up right away!

2. THEY IGNORE YOUR PARTNER

Does your dog turn away from your partner? Simply put, do they act like they’re not there, ignoring them, their calls, and any attempts to interact with them?

These are key indicators that your dog is not “feeling” this person and would prefer to exit stage left.

3. THEY GROW AND BEHAVE AGGRESSIVELY

Growling and other signs of aggression are pretty obvious indicators that you don’t like your new boyfriend.

It is important to monitor this, as aggression can easily turn into full contact or threats of contact.

Dogs communicate in many ways and growling is a sign of restlessness, it’s a warning you shouldn’t ignore. Take head, his message couldn’t be more cheeky!

4. THEY TRY TO COME BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR BOYFRIEND

If your partner is willing to do the footwork, you can follow these steps to help remedy their love struggles with your dog.

1. Quality time

Encourage your partner and your dog to spend time together without you by doing an activity your dog loves.

For example, ask him to go for a walk, play a game, or just ask your partner to feed your dog every day.

2. Teaching

Ask your partner to teach your dog a trick or a fun skill, this will help you build a relationship and take ownership of this achievement.

They’ll both be beaming with pride and bragging before you can say ‘wedding bells!’.

3. Understanding

Explain your dog’s personality traits and individual nuances to your partner.

It may be that they just don’t understand how your dog communicates; they may not like being patted on the head, for example.

As the newest member of your family, your new suitor may need help navigating the dos and don’ts of your dog!

4. Patience

Don’t force the process of getting your dog and your partner to like each other, it takes time.

Be patient and let them find their way. If your new partner is meant to be, you will work on it and help this relationship flourish.

Does your dog constantly get 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 he wants this person’s physical interaction to stop; he’s probably protecting you from someone he doesn’t trust.

Of course, this may just be jealousy if he has a strong bond with you specifically.

Consider whether or not this ties in with the other behaviors I’ve described and if they just feel 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 express their feelings about new mates very clearly, and sometimes they do it in the most primal way… by urinating or defecating on the person’s property.

Yes, that is correct! If your dog constantly urinates on your boyfriend’s clothing, or even where he has been sitting or sleeping, this may indicate that he is uncomfortable with this new presence in his home. You can also see this when there are new dogs in your house.

Dogs are social by nature, however, having a new person in your life may require an adjustment period.

It will take a concerted effort on both sides to create a healthy relationship that is independent of the bond you share with your dog; luckily, this is a good indicator of your new partner’s willingness to cuddle with you and everything you bring to the table.

If they’re not willing to invest this time and energy, maybe it’s time to find someone who will! After all, dogs are members of the family.

Kamal Fernandez is a dog behavior specialist and consultant for ProDog Raw. Visit prodograbado.com