Q&A - How Do Dogs Show Love?
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About The Episode
Welcome to the first episode of our new Q&A minisode series, where we will feature a curious question about canine/human behavior and relationships. For the launch question, John Bartlett answers how dogs communicate love to their owners, providing both scientific rationale and personal evidence from his beloved dog pack at home – including humorously reminding us how very special those big, sloppy “welcome home” slobber kisses are from our dogs.
Episode Transcript
Does your dog ever gaze into your eyes, or lean on you? Those are two ways that he or she says “I love you.” Welcome to the Dog Save the People, a podcast about how dogs make our lives better. My name is John Bartlett, and I’m your host. This episode kicks off a new series where we answer listener questions. Answers are based on my own personal experience and research as well as advice from our previous podcast guest experts. If you have a question you’d like answered on the show, reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, or drop us a line at dogsavethepeople.com.
In today’s mini-episode, we answer the question: “How do dogs show love?” Ask any dog owner if he or she believes that their dog loves them and the answer will be, “Of course my dog loves me!” But how do they know? Is it because their dog doesn’t run away? Is it because they give their dogs food? Is their dog doing something special that my dogs don’t do? How do they ‘just know’ that their dogs love them? Because dogs tell us that they love us all the time.
Dogs communicate with us through body language. They tell us when they’re hungry, when they’re scared and anxious, when they want to play, when they gotta go, even when they’re done walking … And they also have ways of showing us that they love us. One of the most powerful ways they show their love is through eye contact. Eye contact is so powerful because it’s his or her way of showing trust and affection. It really is a loving gaze from your dog!
One of my dogs, in particular, Hug - my Bernese Mountain Dog - will literally just place his chin on the couch and stand there, waiting for me to pet him (and) to scratch his ears. He’ll stare at me and I’m almost hypnotized by the love in his eyes.
But, this isn’t just humans projecting the feelings of love they want from their dogs – science shows that dogs love us back. In a 2015 study, researchers proved that dogs have feelings of love like we do. According to the study, oxytocin levels in humans and dogs were raised after the dogs and their owners gazed into each other’s eyes. Oxytocin is a hormone often called the ‘love hormone’ or ‘cuddle hormone.’
Did you know that when your dog leans up against you that it’s his or her way of trying to cuddle with you? Dogs are social pack animals, and they want to be close to their humans. Another way our dogs show that they love us in how they greet us. Does your dog wag his or her tail so much when they greet you that it turns into a full-on butt wiggle? Then someone’s super happy to see you! The same thing goes for if they jump up when they see you or give you the ‘it’s time to play bow’ where your dog bows with his front legs on the ground and his butt in the air.
Other ways he or she says “I love you” are giving us wet, sloppy face licks, trying to comfort us when we’re sick or sad, and following us. Some wild species in dog family lick pack members just to welcome them home. And your dog’s big, sloppy welcome home slobber kisses may just be a sign that your dog is happy to see you. So the next time your dog stares into your eyes, leans against you, or licks your face, remember that it’s his or her way of showing you love. And you can return the affection with an ear or belly rub.
How does your dog show love towards you? We’d love to hear how your furry friend shows affection and may feature your answers on future episodes. Reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop us a line at dogsavethepeople@gmail.com. And if you have a question that we should answer, send it our way!
About The Host - John Bartlett
John Bartlett is an NYC-based fashion designer who has a passion for dogs and always has a home of loving animals. Currently, he is the proud owner of two rescues and a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog. John is a graduate of Harvard University and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). He created his own eponymous “John Bartlett” Men’s Fashion collection in 1991, and later created a specialty line of dog-themed apparel and accessories with all profits supporting his “Tiny Tim Rescue Fund” (named after his three-legged rescue dog of the same name). Bartlett has long championed the issues of animal rights and welfare. He has worked alongside the Humane Society of the United States, the North Shore Animal League, and other animal rights organizations helping to raise awareness and spread the message of compassion.
Featured Links
2015 Study via Science Magazine for Oxytocin-gaze Positive Loop And The Coevolution Of Human-dog Bonds - https://science.sciencemag.org/content/348/6232/333.abstract
Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
University of Tokyo Health Sciences, Tama, Tokyo, Japan
Also discussed on Quartz: https://qz.com/386144/science-proved-you-and-your-dog-fall-in-love-when-you-look-in-each-others-eyes/