Actions speak louder than words. I am sure your dog agrees with me on this one. When it comes to dogs, their dog language is different from human language. Dogs are primarily nonverbal communicators, while people are mostly verbal communicators. In other words, humans talk, and dogs observe. To show your dog that you love her and strengthen your relationship with Fido, it is critical that you learn how to “listen” to your dog with your eyes.
For instance, we (humans) have a strong tendency to show love to a dog and other creatures through hugging. Humans, chimps, and gorillas (especially gorilla moms) are great huggers, but dogs do not naturally hug. Have you seen two dogs greeting each other at the dog park with a hug?
Some dogs can hug another dog on command, but this behavior has been taught, and the dog that is being hugged belongs to the same pack. Dog’s often interpret hugs as aggressive actions. Although your dog may tolerate your hugs, pay careful attention to your dog’s body language.
Now that you know that hugs are not the best way to express love to your dog, how can you show your dog you love her?
🐾 Touch. A soothing way to show your dog some affection is by rubbing her ears. By gently and softly stroking the inner ear, you can relax, calm, and influence your dog’s physical, mental and emotional health. This is because the ears have a direct connection to a part of the brain called the limbic system, which is related to emotions. Rubbing the ears results in the release of hormones that relieve pain and trigger feelings of pleasure. I suggest, you try rubbing your ears every day and then proceed to show some love to Fluffy by rubbing her ears as well. I use this trick on our dogs every time we have to wait at the veterinarian’s office. I am a fan of the Telling Touch Technique. If you want to learn how to promote good health, influence behavior and performance by massaging your dog take a look at this book.
🐾 Playtime together. Dog’s love to learn and play. Our dogs spend all day waiting for us to come from work. Once we get home, they know it is play time! We use this great opportunity to burn extra energy by playing fetch, frisbee, swimming, teach a new trick or go for a walk with your dog. Not only your dog will enjoy this time, but it will physically and mentally stimulate him. Stanley and Lolo love going on walks, Albert adores playing fetch and frisbee, and Emma is obsessed with water. Find out what your dog’s favorite activity.
🐾 Cuddling time. Cuddling not only provides warmth but it is a way to show affection. Cuddling is a fundamental instinct in dogs. It takes place right after puppies are born. The mom comforts the pups and protects them by cuddling with them. It also goes back to earlier times when dogs needed body heat to keep warm. Cuddling also releases hormones in both the human and the dog that make them feel good. Similar to humans, not all dogs are cuddlers. Stanley, our chocolate lab, is a professional cuddler. Albert (black lab), on the other hand, follows me everywhere I go but wants nothing to do with cuddling. He likes to preserve his personal space.
If you are looking to show your love and deepen your bond with your pup, it is essential that you invest time to strengthen that relationship. It is also important that you learn how to listen with your eyes by observing your dog’s behavior. That way you can discover which things he/she enjoys and which ones he avoids.
If you want to strengthen your relationship with your pup and you love to read, you must read these books.
🐾 The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs by Patricia B McConnell
🐾 On Talking Terms with Dogs Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas
🐾 Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
🐾 Getting in Touch with Your Dog: A Gentle Approach to Influencing Behavior, Health, and Performance by Linda Tellington Jones
I love reading books related to dogs. Please tell me what’s your favorite dog book and why. I am always looking for good books to read.
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