How to Tell Your Dog You Love Them

To bond with your dog, it’s critical to let them know they’re loved and appreciated. To say, “I love you” to a dog is more than saying the words. There are numerous ways to communicate affection to a dog. In many cases, mimicking a dog is how many people do it. As dogs rely on facial expressions and whole-body language to communicate, use that as a starting point.

Here is how to tell your dog you love them.

Touch Your Dog

Simply touching your dog releases oxytocin, which puts them in a better mood and reduces anxiety. A side-by-side soothing pet session, grooming, or extended hangout session will express affection to your dog.

High-Quality Dog Food

A practical way to say “I love you” is to feed your pup high-quality dog food. Ensure their food sensitivities, energy needs, and age are considered. If they have gained or lost weight, plan a schedule for feeding your dog. Visit pet stores to stock up on dog food.

Play Games with Them

It could be chasing a ball, a game of catch, or any play around the house. However, every dog loves to play. Engaging with them in this way breeds love, joy, and positive thoughts.

Greet Your Dog with a Smile

Dogs feel our emotional states and can read human emotions through our facial expressions. For this reason, always greet your dog with raised eyebrows and a relaxed smile. This tells them that you’re happy to see them.

Mimic Hunting

As dogs enjoy the connections made when they are part of a pack, you can mimic hunting by helping them retrieve a ball. You can also play with them by letting them chase a squeaky toy. Take them to the dog park to provide an open area to run around and exercise.

Explore with Them

Take your dogs for walks. Let them explore the world with you and circulate through different walks and areas.

Train Your Dog

Training your dog’s basic obedience commands involves rewards. Dog treats, dog food, and positive reinforcement are all terrific ways to communicate love. Dogs enjoy learning and pleasing their owners, which is precisely why training your dog with new commands only strengthens your bond with them.

Teach Them New Tricks

No matter how old your dog is, dogs love learning new tricks. Teaching them more advanced commands or tricks is another way to build trust and communication while keeping your dog entertained and lessening stress.

Lean on Them

Yes, lean or press up against your dog when sitting together. Not to the point where they feel crushed or cornered, however. A dog will also lean on you to express love and trust. Let them do the same.

Talk in a High-Pitched Voice

MRIs show that dogs understand human language more than we thought. Many of us speak to our dogs in a high-pitched voice; they enjoy hearing it. When praising them, use that voice and keywords, like treat, walk, and do well. This is sure to put them in a good mood.

Read to Your Dog

Particularly for anxious dogs, reading to them calms them down. It can also bring shy dogs a little out of their shell. This will encourage them to get close and nestle up while listening to your voice.

Cuddles and Naps

You can never go wrong with cuddles and naps. Just like packs, dogs like to play together and then rest together. When they approach you and lie down next to you, it’s a sign that they acknowledge you as one of the packs. They feel safe and content in your company.

Know If a Dog Loves You Back

Dogs demonstrate love by wagging their tails, making eye contact, or raising their eyebrows. An anxious or unsure dog may have a tucked tail, lick their lips, or close their eyes.

Gaze into Their Eyes

A look says so much to a dog. A dog uses eye contact as language. Long, lingering eye contact means, “I love you.” When a gaze is shared, oxytocin increases in both dogs and humans. Just be careful not to appear aggressive or stare them down.

No Hugs or Kisses

Hugs can make dogs feel trapped or pinned down. Kisses can feel like a playful nip or gesture of dominance. Look for your dog’s responses to hugs and kisses to see how they interpret these acts. As sweet as they may appear, they don’t generally communicate love to your dog.