7 Surprising Ways Your Dog Says I Love You

There’s a lot to love about a dog. Dogs are fiercely loyal, extremely intelligent and bring their fair share of laughter into any home. Most dog parents consider their dog a member of the family.

A dog makes a great walking or hiking companion and most love to go for a ride in the car with you. It’s easy to love a pup but sometimes you might wonder how your dog feels about you.

Do our dogs love us? The short answer is – YES! Dogs express their emotions in a variety of ways. Some of their expressions are totally obvious and others are super subtle – making it tough to tell exactly what our dog is trying to convey.

Our dogs love us unconditionally – but sometimes they show it in strange ways.

Here are 7 surprising ways your dog expresses his or her love for you.

1. Eye contact

Maintaining eye contact is one way your dog will show you he loves you. When your dog looks at you, his brain releases oxytocin, which is know as the “love hormone” (it’s the same hormone a mother’s brain releases when bonding with her baby). The key is to maintain eye contact when you’re playing or cuddling. Don’t try to force eye contact or it will make your dog uncomfortable. Just be natural and when you see a good opportunity, look into your dog’s eyes. If he holds eye contact with you, you know he loves and trusts you deeply.

2. Leans on you

Have you ever noticed your dog leaning on you? Or maybe she has a habit of sitting on your feet or placing her paw on some part of you. These are all signs your dog trusts and loves you. It means she feels safe, secure and totally comfortable. Sometimes a dog will lean on her person when she’s scared or uncomfortable, but that only means she sees you as her protector.

3. Sleeps in your bedroom

Dogs are pack animals; wanting to be close to you at night signals your dog really loves you and wants to be a part of your pack. Not everyone is comfortable letting their dog sleep in their bed, but even if your dog wants to sleep in your room, it’s a sign of true love.

Want dog bed ideas? Check out the Canine Campus Dog Beds Pinterest board.

4. Gets excited when you get home

Does your dog jump up and down, try to lick your face and bring you her favorite toy when you get home? Yes, that’s because she’s absolutely thrilled to see you. And, chances are, you’re pretty happy to see her too!

5. Carries your stuff around

Dogs that are attached to their people love to carry stuff with their people’s scent on it. This is why he may raid your shoe closet or laundry basket for stinky socks, t-shirts and underwear.

While the reasoning may be endearing, chewing on your stuff may be frustrating – and expensive!

Want to teach your puppy to stop chewing on your valuables? Check out this article “How to Curb Unwanted Chewing in Puppies”.

6. Yawns when you yawn

Just like humans, dogs will also echo another’s yawn. A study found that dogs are more likely to yawn when their owners yawned, as opposed to a stranger.

7. Calmly watches you leave the house

Some people think that separation anxiety is a sign that your dog loves you. According to research by Gregory Berns, if a dog is accepting when you leave, it is a sign your dog loves and trusts you and is confident you will return.

Want to know how to help your dog cope with separation anxiety? Click here to learn more

Being bonded with a dog is a special experience. Dogs have an innate sense whether or not you love them, so rest assured they know how you feel about them.

How does your beloved pup most often show you he or she loves you? Please share in the comments below…

———-

Sources:

Woods, Brian Hare and Vanessa. “Does Your Dog Love You? Yawn and Find Out (Op-Ed).” LiveScience, Purch, 16 Aug. 2013, www.livescience.com/38949-yawn-and-find-out-if-your-dog-loves-you.html.

Berns, Gregory. “How Dogs Love Us: A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain.” Amazon, Amazon, 22 Oct. 2013, www.amazon.com/dp/0544114515/?tag=littlethcom-20.