Are you new to owning a dog? Or maybe you’ve had a furry friend for a while and are looking for different ways to show your pup a bit of affection. In either case, we got you covered with this list of how to show love to a dog.
Here’s a sneak peek: It doesn’t take much effort! With just 10 minutes of your time a day, your dog will reap the rewards. Let’s dive in!
Top 10 Ways to Show Love to Your Dog
1. Daily Play Sessions
Playing is one of the best ways to show affection to your dog. Psychologically, canines need to play to build relationships with other animals and humans and to develop essential motor skills.1 However, the biggest reason dogs play is that it’s pure fun.
When you play with your dog, you do more than ease boredom for a few minutes. You strengthen your relationship and prevent unwanted behavior.
2. Outings
Dogs love car rides, no matter how short or long. Taking your dog to the park or running a quick errand will help ease boredom. It also allows you to interact with your dog in public. You can practice socialization and tricks or enjoy the scenic views.
3. Teaching a New Trick or Command
Commands are an important part of dog training. Without commands, your dog will misbehave, leaving you and your dog upset. Basic training will keep everyone stress-free.
But don’t think that training stops at “sit” and “stay.” Give your pup a challenge and up the stakes. Your dog will love it (mainly because of the treats).
4. Ear Rubs and Back Scratches
For most dogs, touch is an integral part of showing affection. Gentle gestures are more intimate compared to roughhousing. Plus, the ear has several nerves that release endorphins when touched,2 so it’s like offering your dog a massage and a treat simultaneously.
5. Cuddles and Snuggles
Cuddling allows you and your dog to be close to one another, like with ear rubs and back scratches. Dogs consider you part of the pack and feel safe around you, so it makes sense why they’d want to snuggle. With those big doe eyes, snuggling shouldn’t be a problem!
Keep in mind, not all dogs like to cuddle. Dogs with trauma related to abuse may not be keen on physical touch, and that’s okay. Simply offering will show your dog you care.
6. Dog Time
We love our dogs, but we can’t play with them as other dogs can. Canines need to be around each other to practice commands and etiquette and to have fun. Dogs respond differently to other dogs using other forms of communication, which means dog interactions are more stimulating.
Show your pet you care by providing proper dog one-on-one time by going to a dog park or visiting a friend with a pup.
7. Loving Gazes
Dogs don’t focus on facial expressions to show emotion as much as humans do,3 but they can read our facial expressions, nonetheless. Staring softly into your dog’s eyes and slowly blinking is a noninvasive loving gesture, perfect for dogs that aren’t keen to touch. It may invite your dog into a cuddle session.
8. Treats
Is there a dog in the world that doesn’t like treats? Surprise your pup with a tasty treat you usually don’t offer. It will be a nice change of pace, and it’s delicious. Your dog will love it!
9. Family Events
Part of having a dog is adopting a furry friend into the family. Go a step further, and introduce your dog to the rest of the family. Bring your pup to family events, like birthday parties, Thanksgiving dinners, or random get-togethers. Your dog will love the attention.
10. Understanding Dog Behavior
Having a solid relationship with your dog is more than learning commands, tossing a ball, and offering treats. You must know about dog behavior to show your dog affection in the best way possible.
- You’ll have answers faster in an otherwise questionable situation.
- You establish a more profound respect for your dog.
- You’ll make better decisions for your dog’s well-being, leading to a happier pet journey overall.
Take the time to study dog behavior. It can only strengthen your relationship with your pet. A vet can give you some good pointers on how to understand your dog and to identify cues.
If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
In Summary
Owning a dog is a huge responsibility, but showing love doesn’t take much effort. Canines don’t need a shiny new bracelet to feel loved. All they want are the dog necessities: food, dog time, prey stimulation, and cuddles.
Hopefully, this post inspired you to show some love to your pup. If you think you’ve fallen short lately, that’s okay. Tomorrow is a new day. Now, go snuggle with your dog!
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
Top 10 Ways to Show Love to Your Dog
