You know your dog loves you. That tail wagging when you walk in the door, those puppy dog eyes begging for treats, the way they curl up next to you on the couch. These are pretty obvious signs of affection, right? We all recognize the classics.
Here’s the thing, though. Some of the most profound expressions of your dog’s devotion are actually easy to miss. They’re subtle, quirky, or even a bit strange. These are the signs that don’t make it onto greeting cards or cute Instagram posts, but they reveal something deeper about the bond you share with your pup. Honestly, once you start noticing them, you’ll see your dog’s love language in a whole new light. So let’s dive in and explore the unexpected ways your furry friend is saying, “You’re my person.”
They Check In on You During Walks
Ever notice your dog glancing back at you during a walk or adventure at the park? That quick look over the shoulder might seem insignificant, but it’s a beautiful sign of trust and connection. This behavior means they find comfort in you or feel safe enough with you to look away from their surroundings.
Think about it. Dogs are naturally alert creatures, constantly processing what’s happening around them. When your pup voluntarily takes their eyes off a fascinating squirrel or interesting smell just to see where you are, that’s genuine attachment. They’re making sure you’re still there, still part of their adventure.
These mid-walk check-ins are proof that your pup values you as part of their pack and feels secure enough to explore while still keeping you in sight. It’s different from a dog who constantly pulls ahead without a thought for their human. Your dog isn’t just tolerating you tagging along. They actually want you there with them.
They Bring You Their Most Treasured Possessions
If your dog comes to you with one of their favorite things as a gift, like a toy, it goes deeper than a simple request to play – it’s one of a few ways dogs express love and let you know that you hold the top spot in their heart. That slobbery tennis ball dropped at your feet? It’s not just about wanting to play fetch.
This can be a social gesture that shows they want to share with you, and offering valued items can show trust and a desire to include you. Dogs don’t share their prized possessions with just anyone. They’re selective about who gets access to their favorite squeaky toy or well-loved bone.
Bringing you toys or bones is how dogs like to give you a gift, showing that they love and trust you with their most prized possessions, and by giving you a toy or bone, your dog is saying, “I want to play with you and share this toy with you.” That extremely loved stuffed teddy bear means more than you might realize. It’s their way of including you in something precious to them.
They Choose to Be Near You While Holding High-Value Items
Here’s something many people don’t realize. One big sign that a dog can openly trust and love their people is their choice to be close while in possession of something that they consider ‘high value.’ This is the opposite of resource guarding, which stems from insecurity and fear.
When your dog grabs their favorite chew or special treat and then plops down right next to you to enjoy it, that’s trust. They’re not worried you’ll take it away. They’re not feeling the need to hide in a corner or under the bed to protect their treasure.
Some dogs will even pause mid-chew to glance at you with contentment. They want to share the moment with you, even if they’re not literally sharing the item itself. It’s like when you enjoy your favorite meal more when you’re with someone you love. The experience is better because you’re there.
They Seek Out Your Scent When You’re Away
When a dog chooses to rest, chew or sleep on items that heavily carry your scent, such as an old T-shirt, a dirty laundry pile or the side of the bed where you sleep, it means they love you. Let’s be real, finding your dog curled up on your just-worn hoodie is equal parts adorable and slightly weird.
Scent is a primary information channel for dogs, which is why your clothing items are literally like their comfort blanket. While it’s frustrating to lose a sock or find teeth marks on your favorite sweatshirt, this behavior reveals something touching. Your smell brings them comfort and security.
In one study using MRI scans, researchers found that the part of the brain linked to positive emotions lit up most when dogs smelled their owner’s scent, more than any other smell they were exposed to, strongly suggesting that dogs feel comfort, trust, and joy in our presence. Their brain literally lights up with happiness when they catch your scent. Science proves what dog lovers have always known.
They Display a Right-Sided Tail Wag Just for You
Most people think all tail wags are the same, just a happy dog being happy. One of the most subtle but telling signs that you hold the top spot in your dog’s heart is a right-biased tail wag. This isn’t about the speed or height of the wag, but the actual direction.
The wag is often more vigorous on the right side, showing deep emotional attachment, and this phenomenon is acknowledged in canine behavior studies. Research found that dogs that wagged their tail to the right were shown to have a more relaxed posture and a slower heart rate.
You might need to pay close attention to catch this one, but once you do, it’s unmistakable. The tail doesn’t just wag back and forth evenly. It sweeps more dramatically to the right side of their body when they’re genuinely thrilled to see you. It’s their body betraying just how much they adore you, even if they’re trying to play it cool.
They Lean Their Full Weight Against You
If your dog presses their body against your leg or sits on your foot, this physical closeness is not a sign of dominance, but rather a sign of emotional reassurance, as touch reinforces bonds and trust in canine social behavior. Some dogs are subtle about it. Others practically knock you over with their devotion.
Leaning into you is their way of showing you a sign of complete trust when they lean their full weight against you, because you wouldn’t lean against someone you don’t feel safe and secure with, so neither would your dog, and when they lean against you during quiet times at home, it’s the equivalent of a full-body hug.
You may notice puppies sleeping in heaps or adult dogs resting side-by-side, so when your dog leans on you, consider it as a sign that they are seeking comfort, and leaning is therefore a sign of your dog’s affection, attachment, and sometimes, it can also be a polite request for a little scratch. It’s pure, uncomplicated trust. They’re saying, “You’re my safe place.”
They Give You Soft, Prolonged Eye Contact
Prolonged, gentle eye contact is a sign of trust and how dogs show affection, and when they gaze into their owner’s eyes, oxytocin, the same hormone that bonds mothers and infants, surges within dogs and humans, which has been backed up by studies. It’s hard to describe until you experience it yourself, but there’s a difference between a dog staring and a dog gazing lovingly at you.
Of the duos that had spent the greatest amount of time looking into each other’s eyes, both male and female dogs experienced a 130% rise in oxytocin levels, and both male and female owners a 300% increase. That’s not just feel-good fluff. That’s actual biochemistry creating an emotional bond between you and your dog.
During dog domestication, neural systems implementing gaze communications evolved that activate the humans’ oxytocin attachment system, resulting in an interspecies oxytocin-mediated positive loop to facilitate human-dog bonding. Your dog has literally evolved to connect with you in this incredibly intimate way. When they look at you with those soft, adoring eyes, they’re communicating love in its purest form.
They Follow You Everywhere, Even to the Bathroom
When your dog follows you around the house from room to room, it’s likely because your presence is comforting, not because they’re just clingy, as dogs are social animals who typically prefer the comfort of others, and this is often seen as something that a dog with a ‘big heart’ would do. Yes, even when you’re just going to grab a glass of water or use the restroom.
Some people find this behavior annoying, but honestly, it’s one of the sweetest declarations of love a dog can make. When your dog follows you from room to room, he’s demonstrating the ultimate expression of canine trust, shaped by generations of dogs who survived by sticking close to their humans.
Your dog doesn’t want to miss a single moment with you. They’re not worried about what you’re doing. They just want to be where you are. There’s something deeply touching about a creature who finds your mere presence so comforting that they’ll abandon a cozy nap spot just to be in the same room with you.
Conclusion
While your pup may not love you in the human sense, chances are they’re incredibly fond of you and feel safe, happy, and connected when you’re around. These unusual signs reveal the depth of that connection in ways that go beyond the obvious tail wags and excited greetings.
The beautiful thing about these subtle behaviors is that they show just how much your dog values you in their life. From checking in on you during walks to seeking your scent for comfort, from sharing their treasures to following you everywhere, your dog is constantly communicating their devotion. Once you start recognizing these signs, you’ll see them everywhere.
What unusual signs have you noticed in your own dog? Pay attention this week, and you might be surprised by all the little ways your furry friend is saying “I love you” every single day. Did you catch any signs you hadn’t noticed before?