As a pet parent, one question often pops up in my head Does my dog know I love him? If you are also a pet parent just like me, and you also keep wondering whether my dog knows how much I love him. You are in the right place, my friend. We keep on showering love on our furry babies and spoiling them with treats, toys, cuddles, and unconditional love.
We make sure that our furry friends live their best and healthiest lives. But the question is, do they know how much they mean to us? Although, every pet parent shares a special bond with their dog.
If you also love your dog more than anything in the world? Today I am going to tell you surprising signs that prove that your dog loves you, and trust me, your dog loves you as much as you love him.
How dogs can Express Themself?
Just like us humans, a man’s best friend also uses their body language to express their love for their hooman. From their nose to tail, they use their whole to express their love for you all you need to do is just learn to read these signs.
Trust me, no one knows your dog better than you. Just like us, they have a different love language. For instance, some dogs like belly rubs, cuddles, and licking your face these are some of the ways of showing their love.
We all have seen those viral videos floating around where a dog meets his hooman after a long time and just cannot control his happiness. Trust me, these furry friends are very expressive, although they cannot speak. However, they sure do know how to express themselves.
How does a dog know you love them?
Dogs are intelligent and emotional beings moreover, they are very well aware that we adore and love them. Love is an evident, strong, and powerful emotion, but it is driven by hormones in your body called oxytocin.
Interactions with your dog raise the level of the “love hormone” oxytocin in both of you. Oxytocin is the hormone responsible for connecting parents and newborns as well as romantically involved couples. When you gaze or look at your furry buddy, your oxytocin levels rise.
In reality, when dogs stare or look directly into your eyes for no apparent reason, they are showing their love from their eyes. It’s their way of showing affection and love to their hooman.
Aside from the oxytocin release, other studies show that dogs are more in tune with humans than people realize. Another study revealed that when dogs smell their owner’s scent, a portion of their canine brain known as the caudate nucleus lights up differently as compared to when they smell a stranger.
Another research from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences found that dogs understood the tone of their owner’s voices, which means that they can understand the emotions we express. That implies dogs can sense our emotions from our tone of voice, whether they be rage, grief, excitement, disappointment, pleasure, or joy.
6 Signs that show your dog loves you
For your dog, you are their whole world, and every pet parent shares a special bond with their furry friend. However, there are certain signs that can show that your dog loves and trust you completely. Here are some signs that you need to observe:
1. Tail
Have you ever walked into your home and your dog starts wagging their tail? Tails can tell a lot about your dog’s emotions, from fear to anger or happiness. However, a dog wagging tells different emotions.
For instance, when a dog is wagging its tail in a circular motion, it means they are happy, excited, and playful. Moreover, when a dog’s tail is still and stiff, it’s a warning sign, and you should not get any closer to the dog.
If they are wagging their tail uncontrollably, it means they either want to play with you or are excited to be fed.
However, if your dog is wagging its tail softly, it means they are expressing its love and is happy to see you.
2. Eye contact
If you ever notice your dog staring into your eyes or gazing at you, this is their way of showing love and affection. Moreover, it’s also a sign of trust as well. Even a study also reveals that when a dog is making eye contact with a human, their oxytocin level (love hormones) shoots.
On the other hand, if your dog is uncomfortable, he will look away and never make eye contact. However, it is also advisable not to make direct eye contact with a strange dog as they can think of it as a threat. So first, gain trust and then make eye contact with a dog.
3. Leaning
Leaning is a common sign of showing love in adult dogs, as they cannot be picked up like puppies. So by leaning on their human, they express their love and care for them. Moreover, if a dog is in any kind of danger or is scared, this is their way of telling that they need protection.
Just like kids, if they need anything from you or want you to take them for a walk, or just want some treats, this is how they express their emotions.
4. Nudging
This is much more common in smaller dogs, and by nudging, they are asking for your attention. My dog does it all the time, and it’s a sign of affection, love, and just them feeling secure in your presence.
Moreover, when you meet your dog after returning from school or after an exhausting day at work, this is the way your dog tells you that it missed you!
5. Licking
Humans commonly refer to dogs licking us as “doggie kisses,” although dogs do not understand kisses in the same way that we do. When a dog licks you, it is essentially an attempt to groom you.
Dog’s instinctive behavior, as puppies are licked by their mother to ensure they are clean and secure. As a result, when dogs lick their family members, it demonstrates that they care about you.
Licking you also signals that they consider you as a family member or pack leader and respect you. However, It might mean they want something and are trying to grab your attention, or it could mean they are worried or a sign of stress.
6. Following you
Have you ever noticed your dog following you around? This is their way of telling you that they feel secure and happy around you.
As dogs are social animals who thrive on human interaction. They want to be wherever you are and would follow you everywhere you go if they could because they believe they are protecting you in some manner.
However, when you are not around, your dog may get uneasy, which might indicate that they are suffering from separation anxiety. Whenever your dogs meet you after a long time, they’ll keep on following you as they are afraid of being away from you.
How to improve your bonding with Dogs?
Now that we know what the signs are that show your dog loves you. Just like humans, dogs also take time to trust and develop a bond. Trust me, there is nothing better than having a dog as a best friend. However, here are some expert-approved ways that will help you bond with your dog.
1. Spend time doing your dog’s favorite activities
Just how it’s important for you to know that your dog loves you. They also want to feel loved, and only you know what makes them happy. Spent time with your dog doing their favorite activity, such as taking them on walks, giving them treats, cuddling them, or petting them.
For instance, my dog loves going on walks and playing with me before going to bed. This way, the dog also utilizes his energy in a positive manner and also strengthens our bond. However, this is my way of showing love for her.
2. Teach your dog something new
This is one of the best ways to build trust between you and your dog. Giving them a treat at the end of teaching something is also a great way to appreciate them. You can teach them fetching or make them learn some tricks.
All these will make your dog active and also help you establish great relationships with him. This way, your dog can also learn to behave, and you can also groom him like this.
3. Give your dog their own space
It depends on the breed of the dog some dogs are more independent than others. Hence, just like us, they also need some time alone. Especially when a dog is eating or sleeping, do not disturb them.
No matter how friendly your dog is, do not disturb them while they are sleeping or eating. You can be together all the time hence, make a kennel for your dog or give them a separate bed. So while being close to you, they also have their own space as well. This is a great way to establish healthy boundaries and strengthen your bond with your dog.
4. Pet your furry friend
Every dog loves being pet, and it can reduce stress as well. Petting your dog is a great way to establish a healthy bond with your canine. Moreover, it has proven to be calming and relaxing for both you are your pet.
Even studies have shown that petting your dog for 10 to 15 minutes a day can significantly reduce stress in dogs. However, if a dog lets you rub its belly, it shows that they trust you. However, do not hurry in petting a new dog; give him some time and let them trust you first.
5. Reciprocate their love
Just like your dog shows his excitement, he also wants you to be excited and happy to see him. So when your dog leans on you, you show them affection and make them realize how much they mean to you. As dogs can sense emotions and read a human’s body language as well.
Show them how much you love them through your body language and tone of voice. So make sure whenever you walk into your home, you greet them with the same amount of love and affection so that your dog knows you love him.
Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen
Humans and dogs have shared a close bond for centuries. There is a reason why dogs are called a man’s best friend. However, they are extremely intelligent and emotional beings. So the answer to your question is an absolute yes; your dog knows you love him.
Moreover, just like you want them to know that you love them. Similarly, your sog also likes to be reminded that they are loved. So be expressive and shower your dog with all the love and affection. Make them realize that they are your world!
