Top 11 Signs Your Dog Loves You

As dog owners, we do our best to give our furry friends the life they deserve, filled with love and happiness, spoiling them all the way through, but do our dogs have a way of saying I love you? It turns out there are clear-cut signs you can look after.

Though dogs cannot buy us a gift or say I love you, they have their own purest way of showing that you mean the world to them. Dogs have various ways of showing affection toward us, and yeah, giving you their favorite toy, slobbery and all, is just one of the many indicators that your dog loves you.

Let’s dive right into the 10 signs your dog loves you. We are as eager to go through all the signs as you are.

The Science Behind Puppy Love: What Does the Research Say?

Before we start, let’s see what research tells us about the human-animal bond.

The first study, conducted at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, showed that dogs could differentiate between various odors. In the research, they used MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to scan canine brains, only to find out that the “reward center” (caudate nucleus) was activated when exposed to the scent of their human companions. Breathing in their owners’ scent triggered the pleasure centers in your dog’s brain.

Learn How to Turn Your Dog into a Genius Here>>

Another study, however, showed that dogs responded positively to happy sounds. Moreover, the same study showed that humans and many dogs process sounds similarly.

11 Signs Dogs Show Love and Affection

Here are some indicators to tell when your canine is showing dog love:

Shows Excitement Every Time You Enter the Room

We’ve all been there. You enter the room, and your dog is right in front of you, the dog’s tail wagging to the right, waiting to be petted. Your dog might even jump on and lick you, indicating how excited it is to see you.

We can all agree that there is nothing better than a happy greeting from your dog after a long day of work or every time you enter the room (even if you’ve been gone for like 5 minutes tops).

Seeks Physical Contact

Dogs cannot express their love through words– the only way to signal you how strong of a bond the dog has with you is through actions. So, pets, snuggles, the occasional lean, and even hugging them from time to time show just how devoted they are to you and you are to them.

Loves to Sleep With You

Dogs are constantly alarmed by threats and tend to sleep in a defensive position when in the wild, and as pack animals, generally, dogs tend to sleep in a pack.

So, the fact that they prefer sleeping with you or near you (if your bed is off limits) every night over sleeping in their bed only shows how safe and secure they feel by your side.

If they even roll on their backs when sleeping in your bed, consider yourself the luckiest person in the world. Dogs sleeping on their back feel entirely unbothered by the environment and are completely relaxed.

Leans on You

Don’t you just love it when your dog jumps on your bed and leans on you? Well, dogs love this, too. If your pups lean on you when they see you lying or sitting on the floor, it means they feel safe and secure around you, and more often than not, dogs see you as their protector.

A fun fact: Herding breeds, such as the Australian Shepherd and the Old English Sheepdog, tend to display a herding behavior that is innate to herd and protect livestock, but it’s also their unique way of how the dog feels around you.

Holds Eye Contact

Holding eye contact is twofold: to assert dominance or create a deep bond. While eye contact is often used for showing power in the wild, it’s also used for dogs to develop an affectionate relationship with the pet owner. Your dog staring at you with fully relaxed puppy eyes refers to the latter.

Canine brains have been known to release the “love hormone”- oxytocin – a hormone that only mothers release when bonding with their newborns. So, that means your pooch loves you unconditionally and puts all its trust in you.

Follows You Everywhere

Does your dog follow you around like a lost little pup? They’ll open doors and stick their heads in places to see what’s happening. Unlike other pets, dogs love being with people because they can’t get enough of our company.

Some independent dogs would check up on you if you are in the other room, stop for one belly rub, and mind their own business. However, they choose to go on with their regular check-ups; they only ensure you are nearby.

Licks You or Rubs Their Face Onto Yours

Dogs have been (wo)man’s best friend for centuries now. They are known for their loyalty, companionship, and love. While some might view a dog’s lick as nothing more than slobber, it is a sign of affection. Dogs lick to show that they care about you and want to make you happy, as they see their loved ones as family members.

Sometimes, not very often, dogs might even rub their face against yours to mark you as their possession.

Brings You Their Favorite Toys

If your dog brings you its favorite toy is not always because they want to play. Sometimes it refers to the fact that your dog sees you as you are their alpha and wants to share their most prized possession with you, the person they care most about in the world.

Carries Your Socks and Shoes Around

Since dogs love their owners’ scents, it’s no wonder to see your dog bringing your shoes or socks with them to bed or running around the house with your socks in its mouth. They sure have a funny way of showing how much we mean to them, don’t they?

Pees When Seeing You

We know how frustrating it is to pet owners when the dog pees indoors and they are the ones left cleaning up the mess. But dogs peeing is not always a sign of regression; often, puppies tend to pee when they see their owner, but as they grow older, they tend to get out of this habit.

Raises the Eyebrows

The good news is that tail wagging is not the only visible indicator of your dog’s love. For example, researchers in Japan found that dogs immediately lifted their eyebrows when reunited with their humans. So, whenever you see your little furry friends raising their eyebrows to the right every time they take a look at you, it means one thing, your dog has a whole lot of love for you.

FAQs

Do Dogs Know When You Kiss Them?

Sadly, no, they do not understand what kisses mean, but if that becomes a constant practice, followed by a positive tone, they will come to understand that kisses convey a positive message and act accordingly.

Do Dogs Pick a Favorite Human?

The short answer is yes; dogs can pick their favorite human primarily depending on the interaction and socialization level shared in the past.

How Do Dogs Show True Love?

Leaning against you, a tail wag, some facial expressions, or following you around at all times are just a few signs your dog loves you.

Bottom Line

Now that you know how canines express feelings, rest assured that they love you as much as you love them. So, get away from the laptop and shower them with love in the way they understand what love is.