5 signs your dog really does love you, according to science
The subtle ways they show how much they care...
It's safe to say that we all share a special bond with our pets – they're a constant companion, a willing listener and the furry BFF we couldn't imagine life without.
But have you ever stopped to wonder whether your dog loves you as much as you adore them? While we all know the more obvious signs of affection, from jumping up and down when you get home to running zealously towards you in the park, it turns out there are a few more subtle signs that reveal where your pooch's heart truly lies.
See how many of these signs of puppy love you recognise.
1. Lifts and wiggles his eyebrows
While you might look straight at your dog's tail for signs of love, you might actually find out a lot more by checking their eyebrows. (Yes, really...)
A 2013 study from Japan revealed that dogs lift and wiggle their left-hand brow when they first see someone they love.
The researchers monitored pooches as they were presented with strangers and then their owners. When their parents came into the room, the dogs' brows moved up and down significantly, while their faces stayed relatively impassive after seeing someone unfamiliar, suggesting that brow movement is an instinctive sign of affection.
2. Stares into your eyes
They don't call it the look of love for nothing... While animals generally view staring directly into their eyes as a threat, it turns out that a dog who loves and trusts you may actually hug you with their peepers, rather than their paws. (Research has shown they really hate our version of hugging, FYI)
If your dog loves staring deeply into your eyes, then this is a big sign of real attachment, as a 2015 study published in the journal Science demonstrated that it raises levels of the cuddle hormone oxytocin in both owner and pet.
So, basically, your beloved BFF is looking deeply into your eyes and really feeling the love. Aww.
3. Yawns when you yawn
We all know that yawning is contagious, and it turns out that our pets are far from immune from this bizarre phenomenon.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo found that dogs, like humans, yawn reactively, and that they're most likely to do this with someone they feel emotionally bonded to.
Or just as exhausted as you are after that epic walkies...
4. Affectionate even when food's not in the equation
We all know that dogs are predominantly motivated by food but, according to neuroscientist Gregory Berns, the first thing they do immediately after eating can reveal a lot about their priorities.
In his book How Dogs Love, Berns claims that a dog who comes to cuddle with you AFTER he has eaten genuinely loves you – he's not looking for treats; he just wants to be close to you.
5. Wags his tail (but only to the right )
Wagging doesn't always equal happiness, unless your pet is thumping his tail to the right, that is...
A 2013 study showed that a pup's tail movement is linked to his mood: if he wags more to the left, he might actually feel nervous, while a thump to the right signifies genuine happiness.
So, if your pet can't stop wagging to the right when you walk in, we'd say that's a sure-fire sign she absolutely adores you...
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