The relationship between a dog and a human can be incredibly strong and deep. We – humans – often tell our pets how much we love them, how important they are to us, and how much we missed them while at work. Dogs, although they do not use spoken language, also communicate with us, but their language is based on nonverbal communication. We can notice when our dog "says" that it is afraid, feeling unwell, or having a great time. But what about the dog language of love? How do we know that he/she loves us too?
You will probably agree with me that our canine companions are extraordinary friends who bring a lot of joy and good moments into our lives. They can also show their love and attachment to us in a special way, and their behaviors are full of tenderness and devotion, which makes our relationship with a dog one of the deepest and most emotional.
How do dogs show love?
The first thing that probably comes to mind on this topic is, of course, tail wagging. However, focusing only on the tail of our four-legged friends can be misleading. Dogs can express many things through tail movements, including alertness, excitement, or anxiety. However, wide and joyful tail wagging, combined with wagging the whole rear end ("the tail wags the dog"), is an undeniable expression of love and joy, which you have probably had the chance to observe in your dogs, especially when returning home.
Hugging and seeking closeness with the caregiver, leaning against the caregiver, or resting the head on the lap (one of my dogs does this habitually when I am holding a cup of hot coffee) is a way to show love and desire for closeness. We can also include sleeping near their human ("near" also includes taking up the whole bed and adopting positions that are not entirely comfortable for the human part of this relationship), which is a sign that the dog feels comfortable and safe with them. Besides sleeping, dogs often accompany their caregivers in daily activities. They show in this way that they feel safe and enjoy their presence, you know – turning on the dishwasher together, waiting by the bathroom door, or lounging with a person on the sofa watching Netflix.
Looking into the eyes is another signal from the repertoire of "I love you," "I trust you," "you are important to me." When a dog looks into our eyes, it is not only a sign of trust but also a sign of deep attachment. Unlike looks between dogs, which can be interpreted as dominance, looking into the caregiver’s eyes is an act of submission and love. Research shows that such contact increases oxytocin levels, which strengthens the bond. Exactly! It all comes down to oxytocin, the attachment hormone. Both dogs and humans experience oxytocin release during interactions, which contributes to building and strengthening bonds.
Licking the caregiver’s hands and face, sending long and calm looks, sharing toys ("look what a cool ball I have!"), initiating play with the caregiver, or exposing the belly asking for petting are other often observed signals that speak about our dogs’ feelings.
Dogs and human emotions
Dogs are extremely sensitive to human emotions and have the ability to read them. When we are happy, our dogs share that joy by jumping, wagging their tails, and inviting play. When sadness overwhelms us, the dog will most likely sit next to us, offering companionship and support. Don’t you think this kind of empathy makes dogs the best companions in difficult times? None of them will ever downplay the reason for our sadness or think that we are happy about something insignificant. For them, the equation is simple – joy is joy, sadness is sadness, and they are always by our side.
The relationship with a dog is rich in many experiences, emotions, and mutual understanding. Dogs show love in many ways, and their ability to understand human emotions makes them not only pets but true friends. It is worth observing your companion at every step and learning their ways of communicating with us because not everything is always as obvious as it might seem – like tail wagging, for example. However, the bond between a human and their dog can be truly extraordinary. This extraordinary bond is based on mutual attachment and emotional support, which brings joy to both dogs and humans.
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