5 Signs of Deep Affection You Wont Want to Ignore

You know your dog loves you, but sometimes she may “say” it and you could miss, or ignore, the cue. Here are five ways she might express love that warrant your returning the sentiment with some soft stroking and loving words. After all, you’d feel a little bad if you told someone you loved them and they didn’t say it back, even if you knew they felt that way.

1. Docking. Usually, when talking about a dog, “docking” means removing part of her tail (which we are not fans of if it is done for cosmetic rather than medical reasons). But we’re talking about the kind of docking a space capsule does, connecting with the mother ship with the tip of its sharp “nose.” You see where we’re going here, right? When a dog sticks her nose between your legs, she’s connecting with her mother (or father) ship. She’s saying, “I need warmth; I need closeness.”

2. Sighing and grunting. When a person sighs, it could signal boredom or frustration. And when a person makes a noise akin to grunting, it could signal that she’s really focusing on something. But when a dog plops down next to you and sighs, it means she is supremely content. And a grunt signifies extreme pleasure; it’s not a meaningless noise, so keep doing whatever you’re doing, whether it’s petting or belly rubbing.

3. Eye contact. Generally speaking, dogs do not make direct eye contact with people or with other dogs. It’s considered rude or too familiar — aggressive at best and threatening at worst. But if your dog makes direct eye contact with you, she’s expressing that the two of you have an intimate connection. In fact, when your dog looks straight at you, her brain releases oxytocin, the hormone that makes new mothers bond with their babies. When you look straight back, your brain releases oxytocin, too.

4. Jumping. One of the reasons breaking a dog’s habit of jumping on you (and other people) can be difficult probably has to do with the instinctive recognition that it’s a sign of affection. People want their dog to be able to jump on them but not on others, who often find it upsetting. Unfortunately, dogs are very bad at “sometimes.” There’s just too much nuance in that for them. As much as it might seem clear that your dog only means well when jumping, if you don’t want her to jump on neighbors and others for whom she wants to express excitement and good feelings, you’ve got to teach her “Off” — and not reward her with smiles and giggles for her affectionate leaps. You might feel conflicted about it, but there are plenty of other ways for the two of you to express your close bond.

5. Leaning. Ever notice how some dogs like to lean in against people they trust deeply? When a dog puts her full weight against your legs in a calm and relaxed manner, she’s sending the clearest signal that she feels really special about you.