It’s February and love is in the air. Not only do we celebrate cupid’s arrow, but February 20th is also National Love Your Pet Day! We already know how much we love our fur-babies, but how do we know they love us back?
A plethora of research has been done to try to answer this exact question and the results are in – our pets do love us back! While they may not show it in the same ways us humans do, our dogs and cats have their own unique ways of showing affection towards their human companions.
Using brain scans, researchers have been able to link certain behaviors in cats and dogs to the times in which “feel good” and “bonding” hormones (like oxytocin) are released. This shows how these behaviors can be a physical display of the love they are feeling at the time. When these indicators of a positive emotional response are shown when they see or smell us, it is further evidence of the strong attachment bond our pet’s make with their human parents!
4 Ways Dogs Show Love
Dogs show love in extremely varied ways! Some may be over the top, and others, much more subtle. Like humans, it all depends on their attitude, temperament, and preferences. Below are some of the more common ways that dogs show their love and affection for their humans.
1. Your dog seeks out your attention through touch
One of the most obvious ways that dogs show their affection is through physical contact! Licking your face, pawing at your hands, asking for some play time, and even squeezing into your lap (despite their size) are great examples of ways that dogs show affection through physical contact. When begging for some love from their parent, they know just how to beg for some time to cuddle and connect!
2. Your dog gazes at you lovingly
When a dog shows relaxed eye contact with its’ owner, that’s another great example of dogs showing their love for you! Studies have shown that humans have transferred the mutual bonding moments of gazing into each other’s eyes to our pet dogs. And as we gaze lovingly into our dog’s eyes, our brains release oxytocin. Dogs smell this hormone and begin to release oxytocin of their own!
3. Your dog wags their tail when they're near you
We all know a happy tail wag when we see it! Tail wagging in dogs can mean a wide variety of things – joy, excitement, hesitation, and even more. But a loose, relaxed wagging tail means delight for your dog, and presumably yourself! Some dogs will even wag their entire body, bringing every muscle into a shake.
4. Your dog turns to look back at you on walks
It’s hard for dogs to contain all that joy and energy when on a walk with you. But chances are they turn around occasionally to look back and check on you. Your dog wants to make sure you’re safe and keeping up, so you can enjoy the journey together! As a part of your dog’s family, they want to make sure all their loved ones stay together.
Does my cat love me? 4 signs of feline affection
Cats are known for being much more distant than their expressive canine companions, but anyone lucky enough to have a cat in the family knows they have their own ways of showing affection and love. Here are just a few ways that you can see that your cat loves you.
1. Your cat purrs and "talks" to you
Some cats can end up quite talkative, meowing and chatting with you as they go. But it’s not always a demand for more food – sometimes, it’s just a sign of their love and affection. Cats don’t usually meow at people they don’t have a connection with, so take it as a sign that your cat loves you. And be sure to let your cat express its’ contentment by purring away as it sleeps on your lap!
2. Your cat head bunts or rubs their cheeks on you
Is your cat bumping into you? This unique, gentle bump (referred to as “bunting”) is another great way your feline friend shows their love. They may also rub their cheek against you. This is their way to mark you as a familiar, loved figure using feline facial pheromones.
3. Your cat brings you gifts
We’ve all gotten a strange gift from our cat. Dead mice, suspicious treats, toys, and birds, when left on a pillow or doorstep, can certainly alarm us. But this is a great gesture of affection from your cat! Your cat is bringing its’ prey and catch to take care of you – just hope it’s of the stuffed variety!
4. Your cat grooms or kneads you
Some cats will show their grooming routine as a sign of affection. Your cat may also knead on you with their front paws! Kneading behavior in cats likely comes from days as a nursing kitten when similar paw movements would help stimulate milk production from their mother. Affection comes easy when your cat is comfortable with you.
Show your dog or cat some love too!
Now that you’re spotting signs that your dog or cat loves you, you can think of how best to return that love!
Attention and touch are easy ways to build your bond and give them a big boost of oxytocin. Make sure you give them the praise, playtime, toys, and treats that they crave to experience with you. Share your physical touch by petting, scratching, and stroking them lovingly. Most importantly, check in and pay attention to your pet’s needs to keep their brains and bodies happy and healthy!
Dogs and Cats can be incredible gifts to experience love and companionship in our lives. That’s why it’s important to share your love and protection with them, and take a moment out of your day to show your dog or cat just how grateful you are that they’re in your life.
This post was formed from content by Zoetis; the original version can be found at
zoetispetcare.com 
