You might expect tail wags and wet kisses, but love from your dog can come in much weirder forms. From staring at you while you eat to rolling in the worst-smelling thing they can find, dogs have some truly bizarre ways of showing affection. If you’ve ever wondered why your pup sits on your feet or brings you random “gifts,” you’re not alone, and no, they’re not just being weird (well, maybe a little). Here are 10 strange but sweet ways your dog might say, “I love you.”
10. Putting Their Body Weight Against You
Admittedly, some dog owners have big dogs, so it’s actually heavy when they lean their bodies on them. But have you ever wondered why? Well, some dogs don’t have a concept of personal space, and they do this to seek comfort and ask for reassurance. It also says that your dog trusts you and that you have a strong bond.
9. Love Bites
For first-time dog owners, you may mistake your dog trying to bite you for aggression. Well, it’s not really the case. Your dog might bite you to show their affection, and when they do, they nip using their front teeth, which sometimes hurts. Meanwhile, some dogs will stick their entire mouth when they play with you.
8. Following You Around
Obviously, your family dog follows their favorite person around, but have you ever wondered why? Well, the reason behind it is that they are pack animals. It’s in their genetics to follow their owners or favorite person, as they believe they or you are part of the pack. They also do it because they enjoy your company and might suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) if they lose sight of you.
7. Stealing Your Shoes and Socks
If you ever catch your dog rummaging through your clothes or the shoe rack, it’s a sign of love from them. It translates that they missed their owner while they’re away. Your clothing and shoes carry your unique smell that your dog will always know of you. You can discourage them from this behavior, as it might ruin your clothing, but remember, they do it out of love.
6. Sighing
There is a running joke about a dog sighing as if they worked all day and pays the bills. But that’s not the case, as their sigh shows their contentment. It usually accompanies a relaxed body language, indicating they are at peace with you. However, this could also indicate stress or discomfort, so always understand what your dog tries to say through their body language.
5. Giving You “Gifts”
You might wonder why your dog keeps giving you their toy or random objects they found. It translates to them giving you gifts, expressing their affection. This also translates to them showing a sign of respect, as naturally, wolves and wild dogs present their prey to their pack leaders.
4. Sleeping in Your Bed
If you’re a first-time dog owner, you may observe your dog trying to get a space in your bed. You’re included in his pack; they don’t want to be separated. If you see them, then scoot over your pack mate, as Gregory Burns wrote in his book, “How Dogs Love Us.”
3. Dogs Shoving Others
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You might notice your dog shoving others when you talk to others. They do this just to be the first in line for your attention. It also shows that you’ve got a jealous dog who needs your attention, 100% of the time.
2. Staring at Your Soul
You may catch your dog staring at you for no reason at all. This could come off as scary, especially when they do this at night. However, they’re trying to catch your attention since they are waiting for your approval. Your sign of approval for them means that you are the center of their world.
1. Yawning When You Yawn
True enough, yawns are contagious, so you may notice that your dog yawns too when you do. This is because the dog is too bonded to a person. A study from Duke University suggests that when humans echo a yawn, they are empathetic. The same study reveals that dogs are likely to yawn when their owners do, compared to a stranger.