Every dog owner has wondered about it at some point: Does my dog know I love her? Or does he just see me as a cohabitant?
You can especially wonder about it during moments that make you feel guilty. Your dog waits by the door when you leave. Follows you from room to room. Sleeps next to your bed. Gets excited when you come home, even if you've only been gone for twenty minutes.
Scientists have spent decades studying the bond between dogs and humans. And let's spoil it a bit: yes, dogs can feel and, therefore, can feel affection.
In this article, we'll explore whether dogs love their owners, step by step. We'll take a look at dogs' feelings → empathy to human feelings → how dogs show/understand affection.
Do Dogs Feel Love?
Their affection differs from what humans consider love.
In order to understand what love is for dogs. Let's take a look at what feelings dogs experience:
- Joy
- Fear
- Anger
- Disgust
- Distress
- Love
The named feelings are not too complex or self-aware. So, unlike what most dog owners believe, your canine pet isn't capable of feelings of "guilt" or "shame." Dogs' emotions are mostly about survival.
Love is also one of the necessary skills for survival among social animals such as dogs. The attachment, which you can learn about here, looks different, but it's caused by the same mechanism that starts bond formation in humans.
When dogs look their "favorite" humans in the eye, their oxytocin level rises by 130%1. This hormone is responsible for forming attachment.
Scientists agree that dogs most likely do not differentiate between platonic or romantic love. So, the way they show love may not look exactly like human love. But affection, trust, attachment, and emotional connection appear to be very real parts of the canine experience.
Do Dogs Understand Affection From Humans?
Yes, but not in a way you think they do.
Ok, we know now that dogs can experience love. But how? How do our little canine friends show affection? Can they understand that we, as owners, love them, from the way we show affection?
The good news is that dogs are experts at reading behavior. They pay close attention to your nonverbal signals, like tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, etc., which translates intention better than words.
A dog does not consciously think, "My owner loves me." But they can learn that cuddles, petting, playtime, and praise consistently predict good things, like that they will be fed and walked. This is what dogs perceive as affection.
Do Dogs Understand When You Say “I Love You”?
Dogs do not understand the literal meaning of the phrase “I love you” simply because they don't rely on language as their primary way of understanding the world.
A study that examined human-dog communication found that dogs heavily rely on nonverbal communication2. Tail-wigging, eye contact, and position of ears are the main "speaking" instruments for a dog.
Therefore, canine pets also rely on your body language and eye contact to understand your intention.
If you can't help but say your dog "I love you" in a warm, calm, affectionate voice, don't worry. After some time and repetition, dogs can learn to associate these words with positive experiences and feelings of safety.
That's why when some dog owners start to speak to dogs in a baby voice, they may wiggle their tail and lie in front of their owners for pets.
Does My Dog Know I Take Care of Him?
Yes, your dog knows that you take care of him. Austrian researchers found that dogs have a need for a "secure base," so they need to be fed, played with, and walked3. This "secure base" is also found in children who always turn to their parents for all their needs because kids see caregivers as "all-knowing" creatures who can solve every one of their problems.
That said, your dog doesn't sit around reflecting on the fact that you pay for food, buy toys, schedule vet appointments, and clean up after them. But they can learn you are the one who fills the food bowl, so they will come to you when they're hungry.
In attachment research, trust develops through predictable care over time. Dogs appear to form similar expectations. They may not consciously think, “This person takes care of me,” but they absolutely recognize who helps them feel happy.
THE Final Question: Does My Dog Love Me?
Yes, your dog undeniably loves you! Given that you make them feel safe. We explored earlier that the dog's love will feel different for them. But what your favorite pet experiences can be absolutely translated to what humans call "love."
If you want to know for sure if your dog loves you as much as you love them, seek these signs of canine love:
- They are clingy and want to be close to you.
- They wiggle their tails fast when you talk or approach them.
- They lower their chest while raising their behinds for play.
- They lay on their backs in front of you.
- They yawn/sleep near you.
And even if your dog doesn't always display these signs of affection, keep in mind that your dog might have a dozen reasons not to do it despite loving you. Your dog can be stressed, show affection differently, be an introvert, or be neurodivergent/anxious (yes, it's possible!)
FAQs
Do Dogs Naturally Like Humans?
Generally, yes. Dogs are one of the few species that evolved alongside humans and became highly adapted to living with us. But it also heavily depends on a dog. A pet that has been neglected or abused may be fearful or even aggressive toward people despite its natural tendency toward human connection because its brain learns to associate humans with threat.
Why Do Dogs and Humans Bond So Well?
Dogs and humans bond well because we evolved alongside each other for more than 30 thousand years! Both of our species are highly social. Humans and dogs learned to survive together by essentially "exchanging services". Protection, food, and shelter from humans, while dogs assisted with hunting and guarding.
The human-dog bond is our evolutionary skill.
Are Dogs Like Humans?
In some ways, yes, aside from the obvious fact that we are different species. Dogs and humans are both social and depend on attachments to survive.
A common misconception is that dogs are self-aware like people are. They do understand they are separate beings from humans, but they don't have the neurological capacity to think or reason the same way humans do.
Does My Dog Love Me as Much as I Love Him?
There is no scientific way to compare human and canine love because we experience emotions differently. Don't worry, though, both humans and dogs feel a rush of oxytocin when together. This means that owner-pet relationships are always reciprocal.
Sources:
- Melson, G. (2003). Child Development and the Human–Companion Animal Bond. American Behavioral Scientist, 47(1), 31–39.
- Walsh, E. A., Meers, L. L., Samuels, W. E., Boonen, D., Claus, A., Duarte-Gan, C., Stevens, V., Contalbrigo, L., & Normando, S. (2024). Human-dog communication: How body language and non-verbal cues are key to clarity in dog directed play, petting and hugging behaviour by humans. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 272, 106206.
- Horn, L., Huber, L., & Range, F. (2013). The Importance of the Secure Base Effect for Domestic Dogs – Evidence from a Manipulative Problem-Solving Task. PLoS ONE, 8(5), e65296.