Knowing how pets show their love is not always easy – after all, they cannot simply express their feelings. At least not in a way that we humans understand. Here you can find out how you can find out whether your dog loves you anyway.
Animals and humans communicate differently – it’s no wonder that dogs show affection differently from us humans. New dog owners in particular (and there are a few of them in the year of the corona pandemic ) still have to learn to correctly interpret the love of their four-legged friends.
Instead of listening to vocal utterances – in the case of dogs, for example, barking or whimpering – animal communication focuses primarily on facial expressions and body language. Your dog shows you how much he cares about you, especially with his looks and behavior.
Veterinarian Dr. Vanessa Spano specializes in pet behavior. To the magazine “The Dodo” she explains: “It is so important to understand the body language of pets, that is how they communicate with us.”
Dogs show their love through body language
These signs indicate that your dog really loves you:
- His body is relaxed: ears pointing forward, soft, round eyes
- He wiggles his eyebrows
- He’s looking for your attention
- Your dog licks you extensively
- He is leaning on you
If you observe these behavior patterns in your dog, it is a pretty good indication that he likes you very much. However, the latter point can also indicate other feelings: Your dog can also seek physical contact with you because he is currently anxious or nervous.
However, this also shows that he perceives you as a protective caregiver with whom he feels secure. So actually that’s a big sign of love too, isn’t it?
Does your dog love you when he wags his tail?
And what about the typical signs of love like wagging your tail? Here the veterinarian urges closer observation. “When a dog wags its tail, it simply means that it is excited about the situation. That can be a good thing, but not mandatory. ”
Therefore, it helps if you develop an understanding of your dog’s reactions to different situations: For example, if your dog always wags its tail when you enter a room, that probably means joy. However, if he wags his tail stiffly as soon as he sees other dogs and growls at that, it is more a sign of tension.
Likewise, a dog showing you its belly can trust you a lot. Or he is afraid and therefore adopts this submissive attitude. If your dog cannot show his love straight away, don’t worry: “Dogs can trust you and love you, but depending on their own fears, stress levels, and experiences, it can take a while,” explains Dr. Spano.
So be patient – and show your dog how much he means to you and that he can rely on you.
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