Gestures That Show Your Dog Loves You

We all know a dog is man's best friend, and generally loyal and protective, but what not everyone knows is that there's a series of gestures that show your dog loves you madly.

At SoyUnPerro, we're going to explain the signs from canine language that express a dog's love for its human. If your dog does any of these gestures or movements, it's because it loves you, without a doubt.

It Greets You With Great Joy

When you get home, if your dog is waiting for you at the door, wagging its tail rapidly and walking back and forth seeking your pets, it's without a doubt because it loves you.

There are many different signs showing a dog's love for its owner, but this is the most common and obvious one. Dogs don't perceive time the same way humans do, and a couple of hours can feel like an eternity to them.

That's why when we're away from home, even for a short time, it feels like a long time to them, and when they see us, they explode with joy.

It Sits on Your Feet

This gesture is quite curious, and many people don't quite understand why their dog sits on their feet or lies down next to them. It's a form of canine communication that expresses its emotional bond with you.

You might think it's about possession, as some experts mistakenly believe, suggesting the dog is showing others you belong to it. These are simply urban legends we shouldn't take seriously.

A dog that sits on your feet is a dog that feels emotionally connected to you, and that's why it lies down or sits as close to you as possible — it's its way of expressing that it wants to be with you.

It Brings You Its Favorite Toy

It's true this behavior indicates the dog wants to play, but if it always brings you its favorite toy to play with, it's because it genuinely enjoys playing with you.

It trusts you, which is why it asks you to play with it — this is undoubtedly a sign your dog really enjoys your company and doing things with you, that it loves you.

It Shows Indifference When You Leave

A dog that gets nervous and sad when you leave is a dog suffering from separation anxiety, stress. These dogs really struggle, but not because they love us so much — it's because they haven't been taught how to be alone.

That said, if a dog shows indifference when you leave, it's not because it's apathetic or doesn't value you — quite the opposite. It's because it knows you'll come back, it trusts you, and of course, it loves you.

It Licks Your Hands and Face

This is possibly one of a dog's most affectionate gestures — licking its human as much as it can, nonstop. This is a display of great affection, meaning it loves you very much.

That said, we should be careful with licks on the face, since if they touch our lips (which could be considered a "kiss"), we could catch various bacteria not very beneficial for humans.

It Follows You All Around the House

If your dog follows you wherever you go, it's because it considers you the pack leader and believes it should do everything you say, and of course, follow you wherever you go. This is far from a bad sign — quite the opposite.

Dogs that follow their human everywhere, even if it's a bit much sometimes, do so because they love their human. To them, this is respectful, exemplary behavior, so give it some love.

It Loves Sleeping Next to You

It's no secret dogs love sleeping, but sleeping in their own bed, away from all human contact, is one thing, and sleeping right next to you is a very different one.

When a dog sleeps next to its human, it's because it loves them very much, because it feels very comfortable next to them, and in a way, because it can protect you and you can protect it — these are primal pack instincts.

It Yawns Next to You

Yawns are always contagious, but are they contagious with dogs too? The answer is yes. A dog that yawns in front of you is clearly showing you it's calm and confident, that it knows there's no danger.

When a dog yawns in your presence, or catches your yawn, it's because it loves you and fully trusts you. Don't let it down — you're its family.

It Looks You in the Eyes

Staring fixedly into a dog's eyes isn't a good habit, since in canine language between dogs, it's a sign of a challenge. But if your dog looks you in the eyes, that's actually a good sign, since it's admiring you.

It's common for dogs to stare at their humans when they feel very comfortable with them — it's a way of admiring them and showing their affection for you.

It Stays by Your Side When You're Not Feeling Well

Some say dogs can't have more senses than humans, but we firmly believe dogs have a sixth sense that lets them understand our emotions.

That's why it's very common for your dog to curl up next to you when you're feeling unwell, whether emotionally or health-wise, waiting for you to feel better, or simply keeping you company.

They know when you're not doing well — they can sense it the same way they can notice when you're nervous, and they'll go into protective mode toward other people or animals.