Sometimes we wonder if our dogs really know how much they mean to us. There are five ways you can show your dog you love them.
- Rub their ears
- Lean on them
- Gaze softly into their eyes
- Have fun together
- Snuggle with them
4 minute read
I love my dog. But, really, that’s an understatement. I adore her. She is one of the best things in my life, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her healthy and happy. Showing your dog how much they mean to me can be a little tricky, though. And if they don’t respond the way you expect, you may wonder “Does my dog love me?”
Hugging your dog to show them love may feel natural, but do dogs like hugs? Not generally.
Even though I know that most dogs aren’t the biggest fans of big hugs, I sometimes have to fight the urge to give Tulip a loving squeeze. After all, hugging is one of the most natural ways for humans to show affection. However, for many of our canine companions, a hug is unwelcome or even threatening, especially if they feel trapped.
Some dog parents make the mistake of thinking that the best way to their dog’s heart is through his stomach. Don’t get me wrong — treats and goodies do have their place (especially as rewards when training), but too many of them can easily lead to weight gain and all of the health issues that come with it.
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While treats should be limited and hugs should often be avoided, there are still lots of ways that you can shower your dog with endless love in language they’re sure to understand.
Does My Dog Know I Love Him?
The short answer is “probably.” But only if you know how to speak your dog’s love language. As mentioned, things like hugs, kisses, and treats don’t necessarily translate to love in dog’s native language.
Dogs are pack animals, and they rely on their pack’s queues for signs of approval and love. They do this primarily through body language and physical touch, and group activities like hunting and exercising.
Here are 5 ways you can translate your love for your dog in ways they’ll understand.
5 Ways to Tell Your Dog You Love Him
1. Rub His Ears
Instead of patting your pup on the top of the head, try giving them a gentle rub behind the ears. Watch their reaction — they will most likely melt into a ball of doggy happiness. This is because rubbing a dog’s ears actually stimulates the release of endorphins — hormones that relieve pain and bring on feelings of pleasure.
2. Lean on Him
Has your dog ever pressed up against your legs or leaned into you while you were sitting together? This is one way that dogs seek affection, kind of like a doggie hug. You can “hug” them back by doing the same thing.
3. Gaze Softy Into His Eyes
One way to show your pup you love him is through eye contact. Take a quiet moment, speak softly to him and pet him gently, and just stare into his eyes. Try raising your eyebrows (especially the left one). Your dog will view this as a display of affection.
In fact, this action will naturally increase your dog’s level of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone that aids in bonding.
A word of caution: you should only maintain direct eye contact with a dog who knows and trusts you. A dog who is not familiar with you is more likely to interpret this gesture as a threat or a challenge.
4. Have Fun Together
Spend some time every day doing something that your dog enjoys. Try teaching him a new trick or practicing ones he already knows. Take him out in the back yard or down to the dog park for a game of frisbee or fetch with his favorite toy. (Click here to see my favorite dog bonding toy). Not only will your dog feel loved, but the exercise will help to keep him (and you) healthy.
5. Snuggle
Dogs may not enjoy being hugged, but they love cuddling. Dogs are pack animals, and close contact makes them feel safe and secure. Allowing your pooch to sleep with you is the ultimate display of trust and affection since this is when you are the most vulnerable.
However, even if you’d prefer to keep your bed dog-free, you can still create opportunities every day to tell your dog you love him by snuggling up on the couch or in a cozy corner with him on the floor. He’ll be sure to get your message.
One of the best things about dogs is how well they know their favorite people. They can tell when we’re stressed out and when we’re calm and happy. And we can be sure that our voices, our body language, and our actions communicate to them how much they mean to us.
The bond between human and dog has huge benefits for people and animals. My ebook explains how bonding with your dog can improve your mind, body, spirit, and community. Click here to download your free copy.
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Thank you for the words you’ve explained to me 🤍👉♥️👈🤍
Thanks for reading!
Kristen
I do all of these with my 3 but my youngest husky I have had since 6 weeks old and he will look back at me and start to talk and lick my face and jump all over me, the calm down for a good snuggle. My other two I adopted and have yet to built their trust enough to do the affectionate stare however they do love a good cuddle in bed once I showed them the love and affection humans can give… I think my other two huskies were not shown the full amount of love humans can give.
Aww, thanks for sharing Tara! It’s hard to get them used to a loving home after they are rescued from a different place. Thank you for showing them love and being a good dog mom!
Kristen
I absolutely live for my dog always have had close loving relationships with all my pets over the years. They hold a very special place in my life. I have a wonderful little chiweenie (part chiuahha And part dachshund). Just the cutest little guy you have ever seen. Has a happy personality and loves our life together. He’s curled up under the bed sheets right now while I watch tv. I am constantly petting him and rubbing his ears because it just makes me feel happy and loved and I hope he feels the same way. Just the love of my life! My husband runs a close second lol.
My puppy 🐶 is very smart and has learned a few things I have been teaching him and he catches on pretty quick, however I am having a hard time getting him to stop biting. I have tried some things and they work in the moment but he likes to bite your hands and feet.Can you help me???.He is 7weeks old and he sits and he will come when he is called and he does some other commands. But, he still wants to bite (nip).
Hi Steven,
Congrats on your new pup! Nipping is definitely a big challenge when it comes to puppy parenthood. It can be challenging to break that habit. More than likely, he is trying to play with you. So, you have to teach him that is not how you play. Since he is so young, now is a good time to start!
When he nips, take away your hand/foot and sternly tell him “No”. Then replace your hand or foot with a toy for him to play with. Puppies also teeth like babies! So, having teething toys around the house is a must! These gentle toys are great for that: https://amzn.to/399fPOu
I also have a blog post about this topic specifically that you can read here: https://kristenlevine.com/stop-new-puppy-chewing/
Hope this helps! Good luck!
Kristen
My dogs name is Hercules he is a male American Pitbull Terrier. I tried some of these things and now me and my dog have the strongest bond we could have! He and I are best friends. Unfortenetly he is very sick right now, he is 9 years old! Thank you for this.
Thank you for sharing!
I am so sorry to hear your dog is sick. Hope he begins to feel better soon!
Kristen
Ah hope hes ok I’m so attached to my dog shes nearly two I’ve had her from five weeks and had to feed her with a syringe and puppy milk shes doing so well now she sleeps in my arms like a baby
Looking for suggestions on how to stop our 1yr old chihuahua terrier mix from bullying or 13yr old Bichon. She likes to jump on him herd him, chew on his ears. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
My Yorkie is 16 years old. She is blind and deaf. Very healthy. I want her to know how much I love her. She sleeps most of the day. Doesn’t want to cuddle or sleep with me anymore. She lets me kiss her all over though
Nora, it sounds like you’ve found a great way to tell your senior pup how much you love her!
Even I have a puppy.
His breed is beegle and he is almost 1 year.
I love him and so does he.
Sometimes when I wake up I find him on my bed near me sleeping peacefully.
He mostly sleeps all day and has turned a little bit lazy.
He loves to jump and lick me.
He hates to wear clothes.
His name is Coco.
And thank you so much! These things actually helped.
He loves treats and now he starts to cry, beg and ask for extra.
What should I do? I do not won’t him to eat a lot of cookies and other treats.
Please answer
It sounds like Coco is a sweet puppy! Dogs are quick to learn what behavior will give them treats. They quickly catch on that if they beg long enough, you’ll eventually give in. It might be tough to say ‘No’ at first, especially if Coco is giving you puppy eyes. But be consistent. Try redirecting your dog’s energy toward physical activity like a game of fetch or playing with their favorite toy.
Check out my blog post here: https://kristenlevine.com/best-dog-training-treats/
I narrowed down the best dog training treats so you can reward your dog for good behavior without helping him pack on the extra pounds!
I have a 1yo husky, her love language is she’ll let me rub her belly for hours and she gets really comfortable. We also maintain long eye contact with each other on a daily basis for a few min and this is one of the best things for me! I wanna try the ears now, I feel she doesn’t really like when I keep touching her head sometimes. Thank you for writing this 🙂
Sounds like you two have an amazing bond! A word of caution, though. Not all dogs like all forms of affection we want to give them. So if your pup doesn’t like having her head touched, the ears might be off limits! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post.☺️
Just a question, why should we raise the left eyebrow when making eye contact?
Avery,
It’s because of a research study that showed dogs tend to raise their left eyebrow when they’re happy to see their owners. By copying this doggy mannerism, it helps you “speak” to your pup and show you care!
Wags,
Kristen