Humans and dogs: It’s a friendship for the ages. But even so, there are things we do that can drive our pooches crazy.

For one thing, dogs rely on our body language more than our words. So if we say one thing and do another, our dogs are left to puzzle it out. Try this: See if you can keep mum with your dog for a day and just let your body language do the talking.

Something else most dogs don’t like is the human penchant for hugging. In a dog’s world, body-on-body pressure is a sign of dominance, which can be scary. In fact, innocent hugs from children result in many dog bites each year. So next time you reach for a hug, watch your canine companion for a lack of eye contact, licking lips or other signs of anxiety.

Once you put yourself in your dog’s paws, you’ll be surprised what you can learn.