7 Ways Show Your Dog You Love Them

Being a dog lover comes naturally; they’re part of your family and showing them how much you love them should come naturally. However, apart from treating them with the best dog food you can find, there are other ways that your dog understands as you showing them that you love them, so if you want to express your love to your pooch then try a couple of these:

Use More Facial Expressions

A recent study showed that dogs communicate with people by raising their eyebrows. They are actually very expressive when they’re around humans as opposed to when they’re alone or with other dogs. It’s common for dogs to use the left eyebrow to greet their owners because the left side of the face is tied to emotion. So, when you come home to see your pet, consider using more facial activity and eyebrow movement to connect with your pet more – give raising your left eyebrow a go, you may get brownie points. 

Talk to your dog

You’re not going mad; Dogs do actually understand human language really quite well, so talking out loud to your dog isn’t crazy. Even reading to dogs has been shown to calm anxious and high-energy dogs in shelters, and brings shy dogs out of their shells.

Enjoy Eye Contact

When a dog gives you long and lingering gaze, it’s a way of saying “I love you.” A recent study showed that oxytocin, the ‘love chemical,’ goes up in both dogs and humans when they share this kind of eye contact.

Let Them Sleep With You

While some people don’t agree with this one, research which studied pet brains revealed that allowing your pet to sleep with you is the ultimate display of trust, love and affection. When a pet is sleeping, they are at their most vulnerable and sleeping with you demonstrates that you are part of their pack, and this allows them to connect with you. If it’s a total no-no to share a bed with the dog, then have a quick snuggle on the couch or on the floor for a few minutes each day to show them your love.

Lean On Them

A dog leaning against you is like them giving you a hug and is a sign of love and trust, so leaning against your dog is a great way to add a little love boost to your dog’s day. Who doesn’t love a doggy hug?

Rub Their Ears

Instead of rubbing your dog on the top of the head, try giving him a gentle rub behind the ears. This stimulates the release of endorphins which is the hormones that relieve pain and bring on feelings of pleasure.

Have Fun Together

Spend some time every day doing something that your dog enjoys. Try teaching them a new trick or practising ones they already know. Take them out in the back garden or down to the park for a game of frisbee or fetch. Not only will your dog feel loved, but the exercise will help to keep you both healthy.

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