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I’m a vet and these are six signs your dog is saying ‘I love you’
We all love our dogs, but do they actually love us back? It can be difficult to know what your dog is feeling, but they do show emotion through their body language.
We spoke to a vet to find out the typical canine behavior that is your pet’s way of saying ‘I love you’ without using words – and there are all kinds of things from tail wagging to eye contact.
6 signs your dog is saying ‘I love you’
“Dogs, much like humans, express affection in different ways, some subtle and others quite overt. From my years of clinical experience, here are key behaviors that indicate your dog not only adores you but sees you as their trusted companion,” holistic veterinarian Dr Kathryn Dench told The Focus.
1. Tail wagging
A dog wagging its tail can express a range of emotions from happiness to excitement, but it’s also a display of love too. If your pooch does a “relaxed, full-body wag” that seems to involve its whole rear end when it sees you (often called the helicopter tail), that’s a clear sign of affection.
2. Following you around
Another sign that your dog loves you is following you around the house, even to the bathroom. Dogs that love their owners tend to be “velcro dogs,” meaning they follow you from room to room like they are stuck to you with velcro and never want to be apart.
3. Licking and nuzzling
Whether you like your dog licking your face is a personal preference, but gentle licking and nuzzling are a form of “dog kisses” that show affection and trust. We often see the behavior between two dogs who are well bonded, and it extends to their human family as well.
4. Eye contact
Have you ever noticed your dog randomly staring at you? Well, prolonged eye contact between a dog and its owner releases oxytocin in both the human and the dog, a “love hormone” which enhances emotional bonding.
5. Bringing toys to you
If your dog loves to bring you their favorite toy and drop it on your lap, it doesn’t only mean they want to play. It shows that they trust you with their most prized possession, which is a certain sign of “deep affection and trust”.
6. Leaning on you
Finally, dogs often lean on or sit at the feet of people they are bonded with. This behavior can be a sign of affection or a request for comfort and security, both of which are your dog’s way of telling you they love you.
Does your pet do these things?
Dr. Kathryn Dench (MA, VetMB) is a holistic & integrative veterinarian from Cambridge University and a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. She is currently Chief Scientific Advisor at Paw Origins, based in Chicago IL.
