How do you know a dog loves you?

[AppleBlossomTimeNow]

I've had my rescue dog for nearly a year & he is the light of my life. He is very affectionate & eager to please (but has a cheeky side), and seems happy & settled. But how do you know if a dog loves you? He's my first dog so I'm learning a lot as I go - insights from more experienced dog owners would be really helpful

Here he is!

• They show you their tummy (means they're happy to feel vulnerable around you)

• They want to sleep near you (this means they see you as one of their pack)

• They lick you (sometimes this is for attention but often it's for affection)

What a gorgeous pup!

In my experience each dog is a little different. I think some dogs are very bright and do experience and understand a range of emotions, whilst others seem to just really be a part of the pack, fiercely loyal out of familiarity, a sense of "mine" versus "not mine". The latter are not necessarily less loving but more "dog" about the way they relate.

@wheresmymojo

- They show you their tummy (means they're happy to feel vulnerable around you)

• They want to sleep near you (this means they see you as one of their pack)

• They lick you (sometimes this is for attention but often it's for affection)

Yes my boys do all of this!

Who is he looking at in that photo? If it's you, he loves you. Or the treat you're holding ...

Honestly - I didn't fully realise how much my dog loves me until someone else told me. He was looking at me - just like your dog is - and they had to tell me that he adored me. I didn't realise it.

To be fair he's my first dog so I might have been a bit obtuse!

@AppleBlossomTimeNow

Here he is!

And he is gorgeous!

Vet told us this is a sign of a happy, contented and secure ddog..

our dog does that but he's just had his castration so maybe he's airing whats left of his bits!

@Easterbunnyiswindowshopping

Vet told us this is a sign of a happy, contented and secure ddog..

What a gorgeous dog!

Chin tapping in the mattress at silly clock at night to get a chin rub.

@wheresmymojo

- They show you their tummy (means they're happy to feel vulnerable around you)

• They want to sleep near you (this means they see you as one of their pack)

• They lick you (sometimes this is for attention but often it's for affection)

Yes! Lots of tummy tickling & ardent licking. He also makes lovely whistly sighing noises which sound very contented. I hope he loves me, as I really love him.

His happy wag when I walk through the door.
His guilty look when he's investigated a bin while I've been out.
The thump of his chin on my leg when he's realised I'm getting into bed - he likes his good night strokes.
His willingness to give me his paw or touch his nose to my hand on command.
The way he insists on coming up on the sofa with the family if we watch a film, despite weighing 46kg.
The way he climbs up on the bed and falls fast asleep between us in the evening.

@Easterbunnyiswindowshopping It makes me sad because my doggo only does that in the very middle of the night, and if you come in (she sleeps in the kitchen) to get a drink or whatever she quickly rolls over onto her side instead! I don't know what she thinks I'm going to do to her. She also leaps to her feet if I'm walking through a doorway she's sleeping in as if I'm going to kick her!

Thank you for such sweet comments about him. He's a proper mutt but very handsome.

It's a good feeling when a dog puts a paw on you. Like they want to touch you. Plus leaning. Oh, and my favourite, when he just plonks down on me without any warning like I'm a cushion.

@lougle - gorgeous!

@SuperSocks - maybe she was part of a rowdy litter and exposing her tummy felt too vulnerable around others?

Aww he is cute. When we’re out for a walk my dog turns to look at me and smiles

@Bytrgrewd that would melt my heart! When my dog is off lead he likes to check where I am. And if out with the family, he gets cross if we don't stick together & someone wanders off.

Mine rolls over for tummy rubs.
He looks at me when he is lying a bit away.

He jumps up to sit on my lap all the time.
He licks me.
He nudges my hand to get a behind the ear tickle.
He sleeps right beside me in his bed on the floor but I often wake up to him cuddled up alongside my pillow or lying pressed against my back (he is little).
He gets really excited to see me when we have been apart for awhile.
If he is scared of something he comes to me for comfort. He doesn't like big black dogs and he will hide behind me.

He flops down against me, leans into me, muzzles me, stares into my eyes, wags his whole body at eye contact..,when I get home he wanders around wagging his tail, walking between my legs and making a grunty groaning noise, tries to lick my ear. Gawd I love dogs

When I look up to find he's gazing adoringly at me with round 'soft' relaxed eyes as if I m the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. We'd had him about 6 weeks the first time he did this, such a privilege from a nervous rescue dog.

They give you a loving / adoring gaze

It's the look of love

My sons dog
He’d been passed from pillar to post-someone would take him in,get bored and pass him on
He and my son found each other and they adore each other
He also shows his love by farting next to you,following you around and just being close to you
He is my sons shadow-he’s adored by us all

He follows me everywhere
He is so happy to see me if he's been out without me
He sits in my feet when I'm cooking
He likes to sleep in me and grumbles at me to sit down so he can sit in my lap
He likes to try and sit on my head

He also lies like this

I'd been away for work for a week, my aloof, disinterested rescue on seeing me launched himself at me, into my arms and the only way I can describe it is hugged me. After 10 mins he'd gone back to aloof and disinterested, but I knew.