Gaze Lovingly Into Their Eyes - A lot of your dog’s love “talking” is done with their eyes. When you dog is starting you, they are “hugging” you with their eyes, and you can return this gesture! We’re not telling you to go staring into the eyes of every dog you meet.

Staring into eyes/making eye contact with dog is still seen as aggressive and challenging behaviour. With your own, trusting, and trusted dog, gazing deeply into their eyes can be a real sign of affection. Â One way to show your pup you love him is through eye contact.

Take a quiet moment, speak softly to him and pet him gently, and just stare into his eyes. Try raising your eyebrows. The more facial activity you display when greeting your dog, the more they know they are loved. If you are able to raise one eyebrow then make it the left one. Your dog will view this as a display of affection.

Try this when you’re both calm and chilled out. Speak softly to them, gently stroke them, and maintain eye contact. These quiet moments can stimulate the release of Oxytocin in the canine brain - the same hormone that bonds mother and child.

Lean On Them - Has your dog ever pressed up against your legs or leaned into you while you were sitting together? This is one way that dogs seek affection, kind of like a doggie hug. You can him back by doing the same thing.

Not just figuratively, actually press your weight against your dog physically. Not to the point where he feels cornered (or crushed!) just a little to show that you trust him. This is something our pups do to display their affection for us that is often overlooked.

Though you have to be careful when going in for a doggy” hug. Ever notice that pets sometimes recoil when you go in for a hug? Many animals feel cornered or even attacked when receiving a human hug. Oftentimes, when a dog leans into you, that’s the equivalent of a hug in canine body language.

Displays of affection like this are often overlooked and confused with other behaviours, so don’t ignore their hugs. Lean back on them for a moment and let them know you love them too.

Next time your pet presses up against you when you’re watching TV or working in the kitchen, try giving it back by pressing your weight back into them a bit.

Don’t push them away or crush them. Just the right amount of lean will demonstrate that you trust them.

Let Them Sleep With You - Dogs may not enjoy being hugged, but they love cuddling. Dogs are pack animals, and close contact makes them feel safe and secure.

Allowing your pooch to sleep with you is the ultimate display of trust and affection since this is when you are the most vulnerable.

Sleeping with you demonstrates that you are part of their pack, and this allows them to connect with you.

If that’s not something you want to encourage though, consider a quick snuggle on the couch or on the floor for a few minutes each day to show them your love.

Have Fun Together - A great and fun way to tell your dog you love them is to spend time together doing something fun! You can try teaching them a new trick or practise an old one. How about playing with a brand-new toy or new game?

Take him out in the back yard or down to the dog park for a game of frisbee or fetch with his favourite toy. Not only will your dog feel loved, but the exercise will help to keep him (and you) healthy.

The positive reinforcement (and treats!) will not only help you bond with your dog, but they’ll have a wonderful time too. Teaching your dog tricks is a sure-fire way to help your dog stay active, physically, and mentally.

But if you don’t want to teach them a new trick, or you have a dog who’s not interested, there are other things you can do together too!

Even something as simple as going for a long walk, playing with the, in the park or even sitting somewhere quiet together.

Mostly, dogs just love being around their humans, so even a low-key activity such as a cuddle is rewarding for the both of you. Also, show you dog you love them by bonding with them!

Please do bear in mind that everything in this post is strictly advisory and has been gathered from various reputable sources from the internet. We’re not vets, and you should always seek professional advice if you ever have concerns.