I’ve had my rescue Terrier for a few months now, and while he seems to be warming up, I can’t always tell how he feels about me. He’s not super affectionate, but he follows me from room to room and waits by the door when I leave. I guess I just want to know if he’s bonded with me. Are there signs that a dog really loves their owner?
Do dogs feel love? Well, research suggests they can!
Some science backs up that dogs do feel love! There was once a study which involved monitoring a dog’s brain response to the scent of their owner while inside an MRI scanner. The part of their brain we associate with a ‘loving feeling’ lit right up when they scented their owner!
Dogs also experience the same flush of a hormone called Oxytocin when they’re shown affection from their human. This hormone is what allows us to form caring bonds with other beings, and it’s arguably the same for doggies!
If your dog shows they trust you and feel safe around you, this is also a big sign they love you! They may gaze into your eyes with soft, relaxed eye contact, maybe blinking slowly. Or they may sit very close to you, facing away – a sign of trust.
Following you around your home like a shadow is typical too! And, of course, chilling out on the couch with you in front of the TV. Some dogs like resting their heads or whole bodies on their humans for a good snuggle.
Your dog may also appear to be more relaxed around you and show their true personality. Some might be extra cheeky! And if they’re regularly bringing their toys to you for a fun game, it’s clear they enjoy your company!
On the flipside, dogs can become over-attached to a particular person, which is unhealthy. This can show up in their behaviour, such as struggling to cope when the person leaves. They may also react badly to anyone else approaching their human.
If you’re struggling with behaviours like this, please get in touch with us for a chat with one of our behaviour specialists.
I was struggling with my dog's anxiety, especially when we had to leave the house. Thanks to Woodgreen's advice, I've made some changes that have worked wonders. By sticking to a consistent routine, my dog knows what to expect each day, which has significantly reduced her anxiety.
This advice really helped me and my new pup! I tried teaching recall without your guidance and struggled. Woodgreen's step-by-step dog training videos break each action down for you and I'm happy to say we finally made progress!
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