Speak Your Dog's Language With These Simple Gestures

Apr 20, 2018 by apost team

Most people love to smother their dogs with love and affection, from buying them the best quality food and softest beds to playing with them and giving them cuddles. Your dog definitely knows how much you care about them, but sometimes the message can get lost in translation.

People and dogs don't speak the same language, and it's important to communicate your love for man's best friend in a way that they can appreciate and understand. 
 

Cuddling in bed or on the sofa fosters an intimate bond between you and your dog because your pup's ancestors used to sleep together as a pack. It's relaxing and cozy, plus it makes you both feel safe. 
 

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Everybody knows that dogs love tummy rubs, but you might not know that human-dog contact releases oxytocin, the pleasure chemical, in both you and your pet.

Giving them a massage or brushing them will have the same effect. In particular, rubbing their ears has been shown to release endorphins like crazy.
 

Sure, all dogs love a good snack, but giving them a cookie or other dog-safe treat directly from your hand helps to strengthen your relationship, especially if your dog is young. It also helps to develop positive, relaxed behavior around food. 
 

Lots of people love to hug their dogs, but hugs actually make dogs feel trapped and anxious. Instead, lean against your dog the same way they lean against you to show affection.

Be careful to be gentle so you don't accidentally hurt them!
 

Routine and positive reinforcement for good behavior can make all the difference for your dog's happiness. By teaching them what you expect and what makes you happy, you give them the framework they need to feel safe and thrive. 
 

Dogs interpret intense, direct eye contact as a dominant and aggressive behavior. By raising your eyebrows, softening your face, or looking at your dog indirectly, you can make eye contact less stressful and even enjoyable, as science has proven that human-dog eye contact increases oxytocin in both species. 
 

Your dog loves the sound of your voice, especially if your tone is warm or upbeat. It's been discovered that dogs are better at interpreting our human language better than we previously thought, so go ahead and tell your pooch exactly how much you love them. 

Any pup with a forever home is one lucky dog, but now that you have these tips your dog is about to become even luckier. From their early stages as a puppy to the golden years, dogs deserve to be loved in a way that is meaningful to them at every step of their life's journey.

Be sure to show your dog how much you care and tell the dog lovers in your life what you've learned about dog body language!