The love that we have for our dogs is very precious, and it can create a powerful emotional bond that will almost certainly last a lifetime.
A lot of owners are often left wondering if their dogs can reciprocate these feelings. With all of the love and affection showered on man’s best friend, it would be good to know that it is appreciated and the feeling is mutual. I
f you want to find out more about that or if you want to know if your dog loves you, then this guide will help you out.
Soft Eye Contact
Believe it or not, eye contact can mean so many different things. With humans, maintaining eye contact shows you are interested in what the other person has to say.
It means you are sincere and honest. It can also connote anger, depending on the situation. It works out the same with dogs. They are quite often hesitant to make any kind of eye contact, especially with their furry counterparts.
Of course, when dogs stare at each other, it can be quite uncomfortable for them as sometimes it can be viewed as a challenge. Dogs feel that a fight is about to ensue.
Think about when someone stares at you, you may feel quite uncomfortable. Believe it or not, it is the same for dogs. When your puppy looks at you with eyes that are relaxed and soft, it shows that they trust you, and it could be argued that trust is the highest form of love you could hope to receive.
If you notice that the whites of your pet’s eyes aren’t visible when they look at you, you have gained their respect and trust.
You can be sure that your pet is comfortable around you. If your dog keeps staring at you, then you know there is a strong bond there.
Wagging Tails
Your dog’s tail can be used to display a whole range of emotions. A wag doesn’t always mean that they are pleased, though. That being said, it’s easy to see when your dog loves you because they will treat you to a full wiggle, which starts at the shoulders before carrying on through to the tip of the tail.
The tail will sometimes spin around like a helicopter too. This particular kind of tail-wagging is often reserved for when dogs see their owners after a long time of being apart.
On the other hand, you also need to take note of your pet’s body language. If you notice a stiffening of the muscles even while your dog wags its tail, it can signify irritation.
Cuddling
Your dog can easily choose to curl up whenever they want. When they decide to cuddle you, they will be, in fact, choosing you. This can vary from full body cuddles to them leaning on you because they want some love. You must make sure that the cuddles are always done on your dog’s terms.
Some dogs will find restrictions, such as having someone’s arms wrapped around them, which can cause them to shy away from close contact, so it’s vital to keep this in mind. Just the same, if your dog consistently enjoys being beside you and snuggling up, you can be sure that they are enjoying their special bonding time with you.
Happy Greetings
If your dog greets you at the door, then you will know what a great feeling this can be. Your dog is not doing this for the sake of it; after all, they are genuinely happy to see you.
This is also the case if your dog meets you when they are either playing or eating. After all, it is known how much dogs love their treats, so if they are willing to choose you over that, then this is a real privilege.
Your pet’s enthusiastic greeting is a sure sign that you are welcome in their world.
Licking you
Dogs can lick you for a wide variety of reasons. One of them is because they are trying to show you affection. Much like a human kiss, dogs demonstrate their devotion with licking.
They are also seeking some kind of attention from you because they want to interact with you, and licking is one way to do this.
Facial expressions
It may come as a surprise, but dogs have facial expressions that can give you an idea of how they are feeling.
If you look closely enough, you may even see a smile, which only shows how happy they are to see you and have you around. Another expression they have when they are glad to see you is when they lift their eyebrows when you enter the room.
This is a sign of recognition and welcome.
Playing with your clothes
A lot of pet owners can be annoyed by this practice of their dogs. While you aren’t looking or not around, your dog could search for your personal items and play or snuggle with them.
Much like humans who find comfort in smelling clothes of people they miss, your dog feels the same way.
Your scent is present in your clothes, and they can still maintain contact with you even if you aren’t there. They love the way you smell and feel, which means that they love you.
Sleeping with you
Another way of knowing if your dog loves you is when they enjoy sleeping beside you. They would much rather spend precious time beside you, asleep or awake.
It makes them feel safe and secure, which can only mean that there is no other place they would rather be in than with you.
There is no denying the fact that dogs are a man’s best friend. They are incredibly loyal and are there for you in your happiest and lowest times.
They are the best stress relievers and can quickly help you relax with their warm welcome after a long and tiring day.
They empathize with how you feel because of that strong connection. If you treat them with love and affection, you need not wonder if the feelings are reciprocated because they most certainly are.
