5 surprising ways your dog shows that they love you!
A 2020 survey found that 47% of us in the UK have a dog for love and affection and thanks to scientific studies on oxytocin (the ‘love hormone’), we know that dogs definitely DO feel love back for us. Phew!
Unfortunately, they can’t tell us this in human language (as much as we would all love to hear our dogs say those three little words), but there are plenty of ways in which they show us with their body language and actions.
Here, we’ve summed up 5 of these ways, so that you can feel the love from your four-legged best friend this Valentine’s Day (and a few tips on how to show them some love back!).
- Look into their eyes
A Japanese study proved that gazes really are loving when it comes to our pooches. The research found that dogs who gazed at their owners for a period of time had elevated levels of oxytocin – which is associated with nurturing and attachment. What’s more, the study showed that after being lovingly stared at by our dogs, our oxytocin levels increased too!
- Ooh big stretch!
Whilst there are many reasons why a dog stretches, one of them is a reaction to when they’re calm, happy and relaxed. This is usually in situations when they are comfortable around their owners, i.e. they love and trust them. You can happily take your pup’s downward dog as a true sign of appreciation.
- Licking = kissing
In the canine world, licking can be interpreted as kissing and as we all know, the kiss is the universal sign of love and affection. Licking is a very natural action for dogs, having learnt it from their mothers as pups to aid grooming and feeding. It is also a learned behaviour from humans, as we tend to positively reinforce the occasional lick due to us receiving it as a sign of affection.
- Lean on me
Perhaps a favourite amongst owners, the ‘dog lean’ is a true sign of affection, where your pup leans against your legs to be as close to you as possible. If you reinforce leaning (i.e. by petting / stroking your dog), they may lean in even harder, which is the equivalent of squeezing harder whilst hugging someone. Sooo cute.
- The good old belly rub!
Now a favourite amongst pups… the belly rub! When you show your dog attention and they sink to the ground and roll onto their back – there’s only one thing they want! A dog who trusts and love their owner will feel safe and relaxed enough to put themselves in this exposing position, and they thoroughly enjoy the tummy tickle that tends to follow.
Many owners worry that their dogs don’t know just how much they love them. Yes, we know that we’ll happily pick up poop, clean dog hair out of every nook and cranny of the house and spend hundreds on food, toys and healthcare, but our dogs don’t know or understand that those things are signs that we love and appreciate them.
So, how can we show them that our hearts are full of love for them…?
Attention seekers
Attention is at the core of every way you can express love to your dog. Playing with them, talking to them, grooming them, giving them treats, involving them in activities, looking at them lovingly, cuddling them, stroking them, walking them – your attention is the ultimate love signal.
The way to their heart is through their stomach
And of course – giving your dog the absolute best at mealtimes is key. Show your dog that your love has no limits by choosing high-quality nutrition for them with Nutriment. Our comprehensive portfolio of nutrient-dense raw dog food and natural treats fulfils all of their physical and mental nutritional requirements, making them happy, healthy and full of love every day.
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