Just like humans, dogs and other pets have emotions running deep. You will observe how much your dog is so excited and happy to be around you. That’s because he loves you, but he might not be able to express love in like manner as humans do.
But do you know dogs do not like being hugged? Yea, recent behavioral research has shown that not everything you do is accepted by your dog. The question is how do you tell your dog you love him? You need to express your love and affection to your pup in a language that they can understand easily.
We’ve compiled some simple ways to tell your dog you love him. Check them out below:
1. Lean on him
Sometimes your dog can lean into you or press up against your legs when you sit together. Don’t ever push him away because, at this point, he seeks your affection. More so, that’s the doggie kind of hug. You can simply lean on him too to show that you love him so much.
Don’t only lean briefly, but stay there as long as the dog feels comfortable, but make sure not to press in too much to avoid discomfort.
2. Stare into his eyes
Eye contact is one of the effective ways we humans express our feelings and affections. But not only humans appreciate this, but also our furry friends. When you gaze into your dog’s eyes, softly speaking to him and petting his back, he feels so loved and safe in your care.
However, you should only do this to a dog that knows and trusts you. A dog that you do not have a good relationship with will most likely interpret this gesture as a challenge or threat. And you know sometimes, a furious dog may attack you in self-defense. So watch it!
3. Rub his ears
Have you observed how a dog melts into a ball of doggy happiness when you give him a gentle rub behind his ears? That’s simply because you stimulate the release of endorphins-hormones that bring on a feeling of pleasure and relieve stress.So instead of patting the top of your pup’s head to show him you love him, you can rub the back of his ears and he will get the message of love. You can do whenever you are alone with your pup; he may even fall asleep in the process.
4. Snuggle
Dogs surely love to cuddle, but they do not like being hugged. They are park animals and they feel safe and secure in close contact. You can show your dog you love him by allowing him to sleep close to you.
Remember! Your sleep time is your most vulnerable time, and allowing your pooch to lie calmly close to you is the ultimate display of affection and trust. But if you don’t want your dog on your bed, you can still show him love by snuggling up with him in a cozy corner or on the couch. He’ll definitely get your message of true love.
5. Raise your eyebrow
Do you know that dogs raise their eyebrows to show emotions or analyze a situation? Yea, a Japanese study published in 2013 showed that dogs usually raise their left eyebrows when greeted by their owners. Isn’t that interesting? The study scrutinized the facial movements of dogs when greeting by their owner vs strangers.
The dogs displayed less facial activity when greeted by strangers and most of it was right-sided- because the left brain controls the right side of the face, and it is connected with analytical behaviors. But the right side of the brain controls the right part of the face, and it is connected to emotions. Little wonder the dogs raised their left eyebrows when greeted by their owners.
Try to practice raising your left eyebrow and watch how your pup will feel so special. Yea, facial activity is a good way to tell your dog you love him.
6. Be yourself
A lot of people do not know that dogs read their voice, body language and action. This is one of the ways they know you truly love them.
Yea, it may be hard to know what your dog is thinking, but trust me, he reads your emotions. So don’t try to show fake feelings around your dog.
Be yourself and keep doing what you normally do. This way, your dog will reward you by showing you special affection in his own way.
7. Have fun together
Dogs love adventures, so you can take some time each day to do things that excite your dog. You can try new tricks or practice activities that he already knows.
Think of it, when you play and have fun with your kids, how do they feel? So happy and safe with you right? That’s the same way your dog feels when you have fun together.
You can teach your dog something fun using positive techniques like “spin,” “sit pretty,” or “take a bow” These can be pretty rewarding for you both.
More so, you can take your dog down to the park or to your backyard for a game of Frisbee. You can also fetch with his favorite toy to make him run around freely. This way, you’re not only telling your dog you love him, but you’re also giving him a chance to exercise to remain strong and healthy.
8. Allow your dog to express himself
When your dog turns his head away, showing the white edges of his eyes, that’s enough warning for you to either back-off or allow him into a less-stressful place. Sometimes, your dog may lick his lips and walk away. He needs his space at that moment.
You need to respect your dog’s emotions if you want to show him you love him wholeheartedly. If we as humans experience behaviors like throwing punches, gossiping, rudeness- and move on without conflict, we should also tolerate our furry friend’s aggression.
The truth is that your dog would always give you these warning signals before displaying actions like biting or snapping. Respect your dog and if his emotions escalate, make sure you respect that too.
More so, if you try to suppress your dog’s warning, he may see it as an act of hatred and can lead to your dog growling and biting you eventually.
9. Put your phone down
How do you feel when you try to communicate with a friend or your spouse and they bury their heads into their phone throughout? Unhappy or unloved, isn’t it? Same feeling your dog gets when you stare at your phone during times together.
A good way to show your dog you love him is to give him 100 percent of your attention, whether you are on a walk or snuggling on the sofa. This helps build a healthy relationship between you and your furry friend.
10. Foster their innate drive for food
How you feed your dog matters a lot in building their instincts. Yeah, you can foster your dog’s instinctual food drive by keeping pet-friendly treats on hand when you are with him. You can easily keep them engaged and interact with them this way, especially in between meals.
Conclusion
Your dog may not be able to speak, but he understands your act of love through your body language and actions. So if you want to tell your dog you love him, do not hug him (except it leans in first), but use the tips highlighted above which prove that you really care.