How do you tell if a dog loves you

10 signs your dog loves you

On the lookout for signs your dog loves you? Well, search no further because youll find them all right here! The good news is, our canine companions are a little bit more forthcoming with their feelings than our feline friends are, so theyre pretty good at making their love for their humans crystal clear.

Its worth noting that which love language your pet speaks can influence the way they show their love for you. So while one dog may bring you household items and toys as gifts to demonstrate their affection for you, others may prefer to curl up next to you on the couch.

And while the most affectionate dog breeds are very good at physical displays of love and admiration, if your dog holds back, thats far more likely to be a sign of an independent nature than it is a lack of love. Unless your dog feels anxious or uncomfortable around you (and were pretty darn sure thats not the case!) then you can rest assured that your forever friend loves you just as much as you love them.

To help make deciphering your dogs love signals a little easier for you, weve compiled a list of the 10 most common ways that our canine companions express their love and devotion, from maintaining eye contact to following you around the house. Remember, every dog is different, but if your pup engages in any of the following, take it as confirmation that their love goggles are firmly fastened where youre concerned!

Does your dog curl up on the couch next to you when youre reading or watching TV? Do they lie at your feet when youre eating? Do they clamber onto your lap when youre sitting cross-legged on the floor? Seeking physical contact is one of the many ways our canine companions show their love for us.

Sara Ochoa, a veterinarian and veterinary consultant for DogLab, says that rubbing their face on their owners is another way dogs show their love through being physical. "It's a common way to show affection. By rubbing their face on you, your dog is marking you as theirs," said Ochoa.

Dogs are much like humans when it comes to physical contact - theyre highly unlikely to want to be in close proximity to someone they dont love or feel safe with. So if your canine companion is actively wanting to be near you, this is a great sign they feel secure and comfortable in your presence.

2. Theyre excited to see you

Whether youve been gone for five minutes or five hours, one of the best parts of being a doggy parent is having that excited face greet you every time you reappear.

If your dog jumps up and down when you come home, starts running around excitedly, is wagging their tail, licking you, or brings you their favorite toy, these are all signs that your pup loves you and is thrilled to have you back.

Jamie Richardson, a veterinarian and medical chief of staff at Small Door Veterinary, says that merely hearing your name will be enough to get some dogs excited. "Over time, dogs learn to recognize human names. If they hear a loved one's name mentioned who isn't present, they'll get excited at the thought that they might appear," said Richardson.

3. They follow you around

For some of us, having a canine companion in the house is a bit like having a second shadow and being followed from room to room is always a good sign our pup is feeling the love. Checking in on you and accompanying you wherever you go is often a dog's way of showing they care.

But dont take it as a bad sign if your dog doesnt always trot along after you whenever you leave the couch and head into the kitchen. Some dogs are more independent than others, so if theyre not always by your side, it doesnt mean they dont love you.

4. They maintain eye contact

If you dont like someone or they make you feel threatened or uncomfortable, then chances are you wont be spending much time staring deeply into their eyes. The same goes for dogs - eye gazing is an attempt at bonding and something that all of us (humans and dogs alike) reserve for those we love.

"From the time they are puppies, dogs appear to be driven to establish eye contact with humans, which can be a marker of attachment," explains Rebecca Greenstein, a medical advisor for Rover.

When a dog looks into your eyes, its brain releases oxytocin, the love hormone that helps them feel connected to you. Its important to never force your dog to make or maintain eye contact though, instead let it happen naturally when playing or cuddling.

5. They lick you

While not all of us appreciate a good face licking, a dog's lick is their version of a kiss and they usually dish out those doggy kisses when theyre either happy to see you or feeling worried about you.

Licking is one of the primary ways that dogs show their love and affection. Its a natural action that they learned as puppies when they were licked by their mother and fellow litter mates. But dont worry if your dog doesnt lick you much, some didnt receive as much licks as puppies and others just prefer to demonstrate their love in other ways.

6. They bring you their favorite toy

Has your pup ever greeted you at the door with the latest object of their affection - a soft toy, a sock, a stick theyve just found outside, or the piece of cardboard theyre currently in the middle of destroying? If they have, consider yourself very loved indeed.

"If your dog really loves you, they will often bring their favorite toy. This is their way of sharing their stuff with you and showing they care," said Ochoa. While you may not have any interest in their tatty toy thats been slobbered all over, when you receive their gift, you receive their love. Oh, but just a word of warning - theyll probably be asking for it back a few seconds later!

7. They smile at you

While they cant quite smile in the same way that we humans can, many dogs often get pretty close. "[Pet] dogs can raise their inner eyebrows much more dramatically than wild dogs, and this sympathetic, adorable expression is thought to induce feelings of care and nurturing in their human owners," said Greenstein.

If your dog often pulls their lips back to reveal a wide, toothy grin, this is definitely a sign of love. Youll likely find that the more you reciprocate by giving them a big, happy smile back, the more theyll repeat the behavior.

8. They comfort you

Like our feline friends, our canine companions tend to be very in tune with our emotions and will often pick up when were in need of a little extra TLC. This concern for your wellbeing is an ultimate expression of love.

"Dogs can innately sense when you are sad or struggling with something. They will find a way to cuddle up to you, rest their head on you, or generally find a way to be close to you during these times," said Richardson.

9. They steal your clothes and carry them around

Frustrating as it may be, theres a good reason your dog is constantly wandering around the house with your socks, shoes or scarf stuffed into their mouth - these items are covered in your scent.

While its probably not behavior you want to encourage, most of the time your dog isnt collecting up your personal belongings to be naughty, but rather because the smell makes them feel closer to you.

Rather than telling them off, which feels like a rejection to them, try gently redirecting their attention towards one of the best dog chew toys to help them learn the behavior you expect of them.

10. They want to sleep next to you

You may prefer to use one of the best dog crates to keep your pup safe and secure during the night, but if you tend to let them have free reign of the house and they always end up in your bedroom snuggled up beside you, thats a good sign that they love you.

"Gentle touching and nuzzling mimic maternal affection between puppies and their original dog moms. These physical activities induce the release of the feel-good hormone, oxytocin, in both species," said Greenstein.

To find out the answer to, 'Why does my dog lay on top of me?' check out this feature.

9 Signs Your Dog Is Super Connected to You

Like cats, dogs enjoy giving gifts to people they love. Unlike cats, who tend to present family members with nothing more than dead birds, dogs prefer toys. Of course, this is also a way to ask for something. It could be a cry for attention (Look at me!) or a bid for playtime (Throw this please!). Whats sweet about this behavior is your dogs interest in you. They want you to pay attention to them. They want to play with you. Sometimes, they are simply sharing their favorite stuff with you, like a kid at recess! Essentially, youre friends and your dog is texting you to hang out.

11 surprising ways your dog is showing that they love you, according to veterinarians

• Insider asked veterinarians about the surprising ways you can tell that your dog loves you or trusts you.
• Guarding and herding are two subtle affectionate behaviors.
• Dogs will often cuddle with or try to protect those they love.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Though they can't put their love into words, dogs have an unexpectedly large repertoire of ways to show they care.

From subtle body language to over-the-top displays of affection, your pooch is probably showering you with devotion in plenty of surprising ways.

Here are some ways dogs show they love or trust someone, according to veterinarians.

5 Signs Your Dog Loves You More Than Anything

Dogs are some of the most lovable creatures on the planet, right?

I am totally biased since I have a 4-year-old Yorkie named Chloe at home, but there's no denying that there's a reason the phrase a "man's," err, "woman's best friend" exists. Though we like to assume from their licks and tail-wagging that they're expressing how content they are, if you've ever wondered what your four-legged friend is really thinking, we turned to Dr. Angela Hughes, DVM, PhD, a veterinary genetics research manager at Wisdom Health.

Each breed has different behavioral traits, so they each show their affection in a number of ways, she explains.

Dogs that are meant to be in close contact with humans can often "read" our needs and anticipate what we want from them, she says. Here's what else we can infer:

Asian Breeds

Chow Chows or Akita dogs were originally bred to guard people and property, so they are very loyal to their pack.

"They often show their love by attentively sitting near (but not on) their family members," Hughes says.

Arctic Breeds

Siberian Husky

Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes fall under this category. They were bred to be social, highly active dogs that also work well in a pack. When it comes time to show love, they like to jump, play with toys, and roughhouse.

"Arctic breeds do best when they have been given a lot of exercise," Hughes adds.

Companion Breeds

Maltese, Pomeranian, and Pekingese (to name a few) have a history of being lap dogs.

"Because we tend to hold them close, they often also share their love by "kissing" your face," Hughes adds. "They make good watch dogs as they will happily alert you to strangers passing by."

Guard Breeds

English Bulldog

Similar to companion breeds, guard dogs are devoted to their owners. Some examples are Bulldogs, Mastiffs, and Rottweilers.

"They are often big softies with the humans in their pack," Hughes says. "They tend to enjoy belly rubs and just hanging out. They will happily join you on the couch or sleep with you in bedthat's how they reveal they care."

Herding Breeds

Border Collie

Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, and German Shepherds express their affection through hard work.

"You will make them happiest by giving them a job to do," Hughes adds. She refers to this group as "velcro dogs" because they will stick by you wherever you go.

Sporting Breeds

Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, and Poodles fall under this umbrella.

"They show their love by helping their humans," Hughes says. "Their ability to read our moods shows their empathy and why they can make great therapy and guide dogs."

It's important that you, in turn, show them how you feel, by keeping them active, cuddling, and rubbing their bellies.

Terrier Breeds

My Yorkie falls under this just like Chihuahuas and Schnauzers. They are very active but once they slow down, they just want to be with their people.

"They love to play with you, toys, and squirrels, and they generally want to be in your space, if not on top of you," Hughes says.

Regardless of your breed, Hughes reiterates that these are the general signs your dog uses to show affection:

1. Playing. Most dogs love to engage in play as a means of revealing their love and forming a bond. Whether it's retrieving or chasing games, they want it all. Plus, playing is a great way of getting out a little of their energy.
2. Following you everywhere. Since dogs were bred from wolves, their loyalty to the pack and sociability is the same. They want to be in our spaces all the time.
3. Leaning on you/being in contact. Dogs will show their affection by leaning against you, curling up in your lap, or resting a nose or paw on you. They also often like to sleep with you.
4. Tail-wagging. A happy, relaxed dog will show you how they feel by wagging their tail in a friendly way and often with a smile on their face.
5. Licking you. Another thing passed on from their wolf ancestors, dogs use this instinct to let humans know they care. They will also do it as an act to groom you, which is another way to show intimacy.

Learning your dogs love language can help you understand them better and in return, make the bond you have with them that much stronger.

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As the Lifestyle Writer at OprahMag.com, I cover beauty, style, relationships & love, work & money, health, and food. When I'm not working, you'll find me watching Bravo, on the hunt for the perfect jeans and white tee, or taking my yorkie, Chloe, out for walks in Riverdale, New York.