Dog owners love their dogs and do everything they can to make sure their dog feels loved and happy.
Yet, a common question most dog owners have is: “Does my dog love me?”.
The answer is most likely yes, but if you want to make sure here are the signs your dog loves you.
But before we begin here is how you can tell your dog that you love them back.
Table of Contents
What Are The Signs Your Dog Loves You?
Licking
Dog’s lick their dog family all the time. When your dog is licking you it means that they love you!
When dogs are puppies their mothers lick them as communication and to bathe them.
Usually, the puppies will also lick back. Your dog licks you as a sign of affection and comfort with you, it is their instincts to do this.
Yet, they could still be licking you because they love the taste of your salty skin as well.
Cuddling
This is another instinct that dogs start at a young age. As puppies, they cuddle with their family for warmth and protection.
If they feel you are someone they can trust they will cuddle with you as they did with their mother and siblings.
When dogs cuddle they also are releasing oxytocin. Which is a hormone that calms and comforts your dog in times of stress.
Sleeping In Your Bed
This is a good sign of affection that means your dog feels like you are a family. Your dog trusts you enough to sleep next to you.
They love you, they trust you, and they want your body warmth to sleep.
Staying Close To Your Smell
When your dog gets to know you and love you they don’t want to be without you. Dogs smell you so they can recognize you by smell.
If you leave the house and find that your dog is snuggling in your dirty clothes or your bedsheets. They are using your scent to be comfortable while you’re gone.
Following You Around
Your dog following you is an obvious sign of affection because they want to be with you all the time.
Some breeds are more prone to this kind of behavior, but they still do it from a place of love.
Your dog prefers being with you over being with other humans, dogs, or even by themself.
It is flattering to have your dog love you this much. But, you should be careful of letting your dog do this all the time.
If they get too attached they won’t be able to be without you!
Eye contact
When dogs make eye contact with their owners it releases oxytocin. This is a hormone that comforts your dog.
When your dog and you can make eye contact for long periods of time that means you have a strong bond with your dog.
Eyebrows
If your dog greets you with raised eyebrows and a big relaxed smile that means your dog is happy to see you.
Judging by their enthusiasm of how they greet you, is a good judge of how much they love you.
Wagging Tail
Most of the time dogs will have their tails in their resting positions. Dogs only change their tail movement or position if they feel an emotion.
Like raised eyebrows, a wagging tail when a dog sees you is a sign that your dog is glad to see you and open to interaction.
If your dog is glad to see you that means that they love you and can’t wait to spend time with you.
Negative tail emotions usually result in the lowering of their tail. If a dog is nervous around someone they will lower their tail past its normal state.
If a dog thinks someone is scary they will tuck their tail between their legs.
Yawning
Studies show that if your dog yawns when you yawn they have an emotional bond with you. Like when humans yawn and another human yawns right after.
It is a sign that your dog loves you and you have a strong bond.
Sharing Toys
If your dog walks up to you drops you their favorite toy and then walk away without expecting playtime.
They want you to enjoy their favorite toy as they do. Your dog loves you, and they want to give you joy by giving you what toys they enjoy most.
Belly Rubs
When a dog flips over and puts out their sensitive underbelly this is a sign of trust in a human from a dog.
Also, this is a sign that your dog relaxes around you, they can let their guard down and go into a vulnerable position.
If your dog trusts you this much and is this relaxed around you, they love you!
When dogs meet someone new it takes them time to know them and trust them before they can relax around them.
Your dog lets you rub their belly because they love you and know you love them and won’t do them any harm.