Why you shouldn't blow in your dog's face

This gesture affects your pet more than you think



Topic: Dog care


WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU BLOW IN A DOG'S FACE?

Reading time about  5 minutes

Knowing your furry friend is fundamental in order to offer the animal the attention and care it deserves. Misinformation about the true nature and dog's organism can lead us to adopt certain behaviours with them that, although carried out with the best of our intentions, may harm them. If you have ever tried blowing in your pet's face as part of a game or simply to see what its reaction would be like, you have probably realized that the animal didn‘t like this gesture at all. What may be a simple, innocent joke to you is a very annoying, irritating and disconcerting experience for your dog.


Person blowing in a dog's face

Table of contents


  1. Problems in the sense of smell

  2. Eye irritation

  3. Pain in the ears

- How can I tell if my dog is bothered by blowing in its face?

- Blowing on your dog weakens your bond

Blowing on your dog not only causes emotional damage to the animal, but can also alter its heightened senses in a number of ways. Here are the reasons why you shouldn't blow in your dog's face:


Problems in the sense of smell


Picture of a labradoodle's nose Surely you already know that smell is the most developed sense in dogs. Thanks to the natural lubrication of their powerful nose, they can pick up all kinds of scents, particles and information about the environment. In addition, the moisture in their nose helps them to find their way around. But what happens if a strong, directed air current dries out that powerful olfactory tool? You guessed it: blowing in your dog's face can dehydrate its nose and cause the animal to lose that intensity in the sense of smell. If you often blow on your pet, you may even irritate this area, causing your dog severe disorientation and stress.


 

Eye irritation


Irritated labradoodle's eye from blowing on it When you blow directly into your dog's face, the animal will reflexively close its eyes. However, during that brief moment, your dog may feel frightened and insecure, a feeling that will be heightened by being deprived of its sense of sight. This could lead to your furry friend reacting defensively, barking and causing an unnecessary moment of tension. On the other hand, even if your dog closes its eyes to protect itself, air may still reach these organs, drying them out and causing a lot of discomfort and irritation.



 

Pain in the ears


Labradoodle's ears When you blow into your dog's face, not only its eyes and nose are affected, but also its ears. Hearing is a sense involved in your pet's balance, so receiving air into the dog’s ear cavities could cause the animal to become unbalanced and disoriented. If, on top of that, the blow is accompanied by a whistle, the high-pitched sound will be super annoying to your dog's sensitive hearing. Don't do it!



How can I tell if my dog is bothered by blowing in its face?


If you think your dog doesn't mind if you blow directly in its face, perhaps you haven’t taken into account that the animal is probably warning you through canine body language, also known as calm signals. Dogs use a large variety of signals and body postures to reflect their discomfort. Did you know that yawning or licking their lips may be some of them? If you observe these gestures in your furry friend after blowing in its face, your dog is undoubtedly communicating to you that it doesn't like you doing this to it at all. Be careful, because if you repeatedly ignore these signals from your dog, the animal may adopt other, more abrupt ways of letting you know its frustration.

Blowing on your dog weakens your bond


If you love your dog, stop blowing in its face. As you already know, this seemingly innocent gesture on our part fills our furry friends with confusion, fear and anxiety. If you think that blowing in your dog's face gives the animal the same sensation as when the wind blows in its face on the street, you are wrong, since the blow is much more direct, concentrated and forced. If you often play blowing in your dog's face, your trusting relationship could be deteriorated. By blowing in your dog's face, you not only invade its space and irritate the animal unnecessarily, but it could also stop trusting you. This will greatly impoverish your playtime and therefore your bond. Don't do it again! Your dog shows you its love and loyalty every day. Not only is it your duty to look ater your animal‘s physical and mental health and respect its needs, but it is also the right thing to return this unconditional affection with care and play that doesn‘t bother or harm the dog. Never blow in your dog's face! 

Person receiving cuddles from their dog