Does your dog love you?
Do you want to know if your dog loves you? When we love someone, we want to know if they feel the same way about us. So it's natural that we want to be able to read the signs that our canine friends are showing us that they love us. But dogs have different ways of showing their love than we do, and they can't express "I love you" in words. But they do find other ways to show us how much they love us, and it's easier than you think to recognize these signs. The ability to understand the language of our beloved dogs lies within each of us.
Here are ten signs that your dog's heart is definitely beating and his tail is wagging for you. First and foremost, you must realize that your instincts are a key factor in understanding your dog's language. Just as our dogs rely entirely on their instincts, our instincts are also a reliable guide when it comes to understanding their language. For this reason, the following list is not meant to be exhaustive, and the following ten points can only be a rough guideline. Your dog may find other ways to show his love for you besides the ones mentioned here. The better your relationship with him, the easier it will be for you to interpret the signs of his affection for you.
Your dog looks deeply into your eyes
When your dog locks eyes with you, he's showing you that he loves you. Studies have even shown that your dog's oxytocin levels rise when he looks at you so intensely. This is the hormone that triggers an intense feeling of attachment, in dogs and humans alike.
He's always by your side
If your dog loves you, there's no place he feels better than by your side. Unlike a human being, he doesn't need moments of solitude, but he sees his owner's place as the most beautiful place in the world. This does not mean that he does not like his basket or the room where his bowl is. Above all, he likes to accompany you everywhere. It doesn't matter if you go for a walk together or if you only go to the kitchen. In fact, when you're cooking, he can expect to pick up a bite or two from the floor. (Just make sure it's a digestible food for the dog, which is not the case for many of man's favorite foods!)
little boy with his beagle sitting in front of the window© androsov858 / stock.adobe.com
Your dog gives you big gifts
Of course, your pet is not going to give you an 18-karat gold ring, but something much better: his favorite bone, of which he is very proud. When your dog gives you a gift of his favorite toy, it's a sure sign of love on his part. This is especially true when he leaves his toys with you. If he brings you the toy but doesn't want to leave it with you, it's more of a request to play.
He's not afraid of losing you
Your dog's fear of you leaving could be misinterpreted as a sign of love. In fact, the opposite is true: if your dog can be left alone with the confidence that you will return, it's a good sign. Even dogs that are scared at first eventually become confident. If he can be left alone, it also shows that he accepts his owner as a leader, which is a very positive thing. The dog accepts that the "leader" has decided to leave. Even if your dog is always happy to see you again, it's a good sign if he doesn't get too excited when he greets you. Excessive excitement can also be an expression of dominant behavior toward you.
Your dog jumps on you
This sign, which is often interpreted as a sign of love, actually has another meaning: its dominant behavior. If the dog shows this behavior, you should not look too excited or happy, otherwise, you are signaling to the dog that you are inferior to him. This would cause difficulties in your relationship with each other. Of course, you too can be happy, but you should always know how to be calm and sovereign.
He comforts you
Thanks to their well-developed instincts, dogs are very good at knowing when their owners are feeling good or bad. If he senses that something is wrong, he will do everything in his power to cheer you up by being close to you. If your dog behaves like this, you don't have to wonder if he loves you.
Your dog is worried about you
If he senses that you are in danger, your dog will try to protect you. On the other hand, this behavior is problematic because it shows that the dog does not see you as a leader who is in control of the situation. You must always be really confident and show your dog that he can fully rely on you and that you are in control of the situation.
Tail wagging
If your canine companion wags his tail in greeting, he is expressing his intense joy. It's a clear sign that he's happy you're there because he loves you. That's usually what it means. Be aware, however, that when a dog wags its tail, it only means that the dog is excited, and nothing more. The context will tell you if it is a positive wag. If a dog is scared, it will wag its tail while holding it down and stiff. The position of the ears also gives information about how the dog feels.
Your dog licks you
Does your dog lick you like you're a treat? Licking is synonymous with grooming. It's a clear sign of affection, showing that he cares about you. If you don't appreciate this kind of display of love, you can teach him. However, try to compromise by letting him lick your hand instead of your whole face. Otherwise, he may be offended.
He sleeps with you
If he likes to lie down next to you and sleep with you, that's a very good sign. It shows that he trusts you. And that trust is an indication of his deep love for you. Your dog's job is normally to look after you: But if you make your dog feel safe, it means he accepts you as a leader, and he can calm down around you. A leader doesn't need his dog's protection. But he may scratch him behind the ears from time to time.
Show your dog that you love him by allowing him to live a life that is appropriate to his breed and personality and by being a leader he can rely on. These are the greatest tokens of love you can show your dog.