It’s no challenge to see when a dog is truly happy. A wagging tale is guaranteed proof that your dog is over the moon. In the language of dogs however, there are many more signals that they use to say “I love you”. Sometimes they’re obvious, and sometimes their love language can be pretty subtle, only to be observed by the keenest of dog-lover’s eyes.
Here’s a list of ten ways our dogs tell us that they love us.
1. Your dog being excited when you return means they missed you.
This is one of the more common ways that a dog’s behaviour tells us just how obsessed with us they are. Anyone with a dog knows what it’s like to return home, spent from work, to being overwhelmed by the affections of a dog which just missed you so much. The greeting you receive is their way of saying that they missed you and they’re ecstatic that you’re back.
2. They’re by your side when you’re upset.
We know that dogs can be highly intelligent, but let’s not forget that they can also have tremendous emotional intelligence too. This means that they can tell when we are happy, angry and sad. In fact, they seem to be able to read and react to most of our emotions as if they understand them fully. Studies have shown that dogs not only understand when we’re sad, but will actively try to comfort us. This is a sure sign that they love us.
3. Pressing against you or leaning on you is a “hello” signal.
In dog terms, this is equivalent to a greeting hug. It’s a loving gesture that they use to show that they feel safe and secure around you. They’re saying “I appreciate you, love you and want to relax close to you.”
4. They’re sitting on your feet to protect you.
When your dog sits on your feet, it’s another time to appreciate their love for you. The reasons are multiple. They sit on our feet to claim us as their own, stand by us for our protection and so that they themselves feel secure about their place in our lives.
5. Pay attention to their eyes.
Eye contact is essential to doggy talk. They use their eyes to communicate a broad range of emotions, so knowing how to look them in the eyes to figure out what they’re trying to tell us is essential to reading their little doggo minds. The difference is in the fact they they maintain eye contact with their beloved humans more than they do with strangers, so if your dog is staring lovingly into your eyes, take some pleasure in that.
6. Bringing you their most prized possessions.
Quite often, when a dog brings you a toy, they may be expecting you to engage in a game of good old fashioned catch. This however, is not always the case. Sharing their favorite toys with you is their way of showing you that they like you and care about you. By sharing their prized possessions, they are telling you that you’re important to them.
7. Quietly watching you before you leave implies trust.
Dogs have a habit of watching you before you leave your home. Some dogs get hysterical or cry, others quietly stare at you as you prepare to leave. When they freak out at seeing that you’re about to leave, it indicates that they’re feeling separation anxiety and possibly fear that you may never return. When they quietly watch you as you’re about to leave it indicates that they will miss you, but they trust you to return to them.
8. A stare equals love.
As with the fact that they will make eye contact to communicate with us, the persistence of the stare means a lot too. Even when they’re not trying to tell you anything in particular, a constant stare indicates that they’re thinking about you and want to feel like you love them back.
9. After-dinner cuddles mean they value you too.
Just because your dog is being extra-affectionate after it eats, doesn’t mean that it’s just because you fed it. Cuddling after eating is bond-building, and indicates that they like you a whole lot.
10. Sharing sleeping quarters.
This too is a method that dogs use to get closer to the humans they love most. Sleeping in the same area means that they trust you and feel love for you. So go ahead and snuggle, they want you to!
How does your dog show that they love you?
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
