Amanda Teixeira
With your body language, you can say “I love you” to your dog. You can find out how this works best here.
Dogs show us their love in many different ways. But you too can easily show your affection for your dog with the right body language. Your dog understands these small gestures as “I love you”.
Raise eyebrows
When a dog sees its owner or something it is very fond of, it raises its eyebrows. This is confirmed by a study from Japan.
You can also use this gesture to show your dog that you love him. Raise your eyebrows and use strong facial expressions when you see or talk to your dog. He will take it as “I love you”.
Eye contact is important
Dogs like to make intense eye contact with people they care about. So you can say “I love you” to your dog by looking him in the eye calmly and relaxed. By the way: This gesture releases oxytocin, the so-called “cuddling hormone”, in both humans and dogs. Oxytocin strengthens the bond.
But be careful: if you force eye contact with a dog, it can react irritably. Both should want to make eye contact and be relaxed and easygoing. Otherwise, you damage the human-dog relationship.
Common night rest
Some dogs show affection by wanting to sleep with their owner at night. If you also want your dog to be with you when you sleep, he will understand this sign as “I love you”.
If you don’t want your dog to sleep in the bed with you, you can also provide him with a crate in the same room. So he is also near you.
Leaning is calming
If your dog trusts you, he will certainly lean on you from time to time. Conversely, you can also lean on him to show him your love. Of course, don’t lean too hard on your dog.
Physical contact with their caregiver means familiarity and relaxation for dogs. But beware: hugs are taboo. They’re one of those things that dogs don’t like at all.
Show real love
Show your love to your dog in the way that feels most natural and comfortable for you. If you feel uncomfortable using strong facial expressions or maintaining intense eye contact, you shouldn’t do that either.
Your dog is very smart and will recognize when you are trying to force something. This can even damage the human-dog relationship. So be honest and natural when dealing with your dog. If you’re relaxed and happy around him, he’ll take that as a sign that you love him, too.