3 Surprising Ways Your Dog Expresses Love

From cuddles to treats—we care so much for our dogs. But do our furry friends feel the same about us? It turns out there are some telling behaviors that you can look out for that point to his or her unwavering love for you.

Photo: Richard Brutyo/Unsplash

Specific Facial Expressions

A dog’s love isn’t all about jumping and wagging their tails; it’s also about their facial expressions. In one study done in Japan, dogs were presented to their human parent, and to a stranger. When seeing their human parent, the dogs immediately lifted their eyebrows. When they were introduced to a stranger, there was significantly less facial movement in their eyebrows. This study suggests that dogs are likely to be more reserved when meeting someone unfamiliar.

He Really Looks at You

When your dog maintains eye contact, he is trying to” hug you with his eyes.” Because when our dogs look at us, oxytocin is released, which is the same hormone that helps new mothers bond with their babies. This eye contact indeed indicates your dog’s love for you. Take the time to try to make eye contact during the day to see how your dog responds.

Photo: Stephen Andrews/Unsplash

He Yawns When You Yawn

Yawning is contagious, but did you know that dogs also share this sensation? A study shows that yawning is a good indicator of empathy in us. This means that because humans are empathetic, they can sense the yawn in their fellow peers. So with it being nearly impossible to measure a dog’s empathy, yawning is a good symbol of a human’s bond. In their study, dogs were more likely to yawn when their owners yawned than when a stranger yawned.