1. Gaze deeply into your eyes
Anderson Cooper interviewed renowned dog expert Brian Hare for 60 Minutes. They discussed how dogs express love. According to Hare, when your dog looks into your eyes, he is doing some serious soul-gazing.
When you play with your dog or just cuddle with him, a hormone called Oxytocin is released. This hormone is what helps mothers bond with their babies. But if you want to test this out, don’t go home and stare at your doggy. He’ll sense something is off and look away because he feels happy.
Looking into your dog’s eyes can help you understand what he’s feeling. By doing this, you may be able to connect with him on a deeper level.
2. Leaning on you
Lean on Me is a song about offering support. Dogs also crave to feel security and sometimes lean on humans for that same feeling. This type of affection can be due to the dog feeling anxious, wanting the human to do something, or take the dog somewhere. Some people believe that dogs lean on humans as a way of asking for help or as a sign of submission, while others think that dogs simply enjoy the comfort and security of leaning on someone they trust.
Your dog leans on you when he’s nervous? He does it because he trusts you; to keep him safe and protected.
3. Yawning when you yawn
When we see someone yawn, we might yawn too. Dogs, because they’ve been bred to read human emotions, also yawn when their owner or a loved one yawns, which often starts a contagious yawning chain.
Studies have found that when humans see someone yawn, the reflex in their brain is one of empathy. It’s impossible to know if dogs have empathy, but it’s possible that a dog will yawn at the same time as a human because they’ve bonded with them. This could be empathy, or it could simply be a coincidence.
The study found that dogs were more likely to yawn when their owner yawned rather than when a stranger yawned.
4. Cuddling with you after a meal
Do you think your dog really loves you? According to Gregory Berns in his book “How Dogs Love Us”, if they cuddle with you after eating, it’s a strong sign of their love.
Though most people know that dogs are motivated by food, Berns found that once a dog has eaten all its food, its next action can signify what’s most important to him besides eating.
There’s something extra special about the bond between a person and their pup. Even if your dog does his “business” right after you feed him, there may be something to be said about how he reacts in the morning and at night. If he’s always ready to cuddle up with you after one of these meals, then the feeling may be mutual!
5. Lifting and wiggling eyebrows
I believe that we can often tell what a dog is thinking or feeling by observing their tail, but their facial expressions are much more telling. Dogs, in general, are experts at deception. They know they are vulnerable and they want to appear as harmless as possible, so they make their faces into different shapes. Now, you’re probably thinking this all sounds a bit crazy!
A recent study in Japan found that when dogs saw their parents, the left eyebrow would raise, and when seeing a stranger there was less facial movement; the right eyebrow moved slightly. In addition, when the dog saw a toy he liked, there was a lot of movement in the eyebrows, and when they saw an item they didn’t like, their eyebrows weren’t very active.
6. Watching you leave calmly
People used to think that if a dog panics when left, it means they love their owner. But Gregory Berns, the author of “What It’s Like To Be A Dog,” says that’s not always the case. Some dogs may panic when left because they’re anxious and not because they love their owners. Some dogs might experience panic when they are separated from their loved ones, but this doesn’t mean they don’t love them.
Leaving your dog alone can be a difficult decision. The best way to know if your dog enjoys being left alone is to observe them when you leave. If the dog goes into its crate or is calm when you leave, it’s likely that the dog trusts you and feels confident that you will return. This shows that your dog is content when you’re not around and likely doesn’t mind being left alone.
7. Freaking out when you return
Dogs make us feel special. When we come home, our dogs greet us with wagging tails, favorite toys, and an enthusiastic welcome. We all know that a dog’s boundless enthusiasm is truly contagious!
People often think of dogs as loyal companions who are always happy to see their owners. But what many people don’t know is that one of the ways dogs show their love is by gently pressing their noses against their owner’s skin. It’s a sign of affection that many people cherish.
8. Sleeping in your room
There is much debate on the topic of whether or not dogs who sleep in bed with their owners really love them. However, the answer is clear: if your pup wants to snuggle up in bed with you, they adore you wholeheartedly.
Many people believe that if a dog wants to sleep on your bed, it is a good test of loyalty. Dogs are pack animals and typically don’t want to be separated from the pack, so if he is comfortable sleeping on your bed, it would mean he is loyal.
9. Bringing you his favorite toy
When your pup brings you his favorite toy, it means he wants to play and bond with you. This is a sign of affection in itself, but when your pup brings you his most coveted toy, it may also mean he looks up to you as his pack leader.
He wants to please you with his most prized possession- a squeaky toy, a well-worn Frisbee, anything to make you happy. He thinks you’ll love it as much as he does, and as they say: “sharing is caring!”
The fact that your dog is willing to share its old, tattered tennis ball with you is a sign of true affection.
10. Shows excitement When he hears your name
Dogs often get excited when they hear their favorite people’s names mentioned, which is not surprising considering how well they can learn their own names. Jamie Richardson, veterinarian and medical chief of staff at Small Door Veterinary, told Insider that many dogs will also respond to their owners’ names.
Dogs are capable of learning and recognizing human names over time. If they happen to hear someone they love’s name mentioned, and that person is not currently present, they will get excited at the prospect of seeing them again. Richardson said this is due to the dogs’ ability to learn and remember.
11. Enjoying your love
Do you truly love your dog? According to Gregory Berns, a neuroeconomist and director of the Emory University Center for Neuropolicy, dogs can actually sense whether or not we love them. Berns has been studying the behaviors of dogs for over 15 years, and he says that our love for them can be sensed by them.
According to Berns, there is no doubt that dogs can sense our love for them by the behaviors that we exhibit towards them. He also says that our dogs can feel when we’re angry or not happy with them and they feel disappointed. It’s important for us to realize that love should be unconditional and in return, it should make a dog happy.