Feed a healthy diet

Fuel your dog’s big life with nutritious food. Your adventures will only last longer if they’re fueled by wholesome meals! Look for healthy ingredients and a good balance of protein, carbs, fats, and vitamins and minerals.

Talk it out

Studies using MRI technology show dogs understand human language better than previously thought— up to 165 words. So talking out loud to your dog isn’t as crazy as you might think. Add in some sustained eye contact to express your bond, and you will have your dog’s undivided attention and love.

Lean in

Dogs lean into you to express love and trust, and we can deliver the same message to them using the body language they understand. Even if your attention is elsewhere, leaning gently into your dog, keeping a hand on your dog’s fur, or just nudging your dog with your foot will put him at ease.

Be adventure buddies

Shared experiences and training sessions build trust, communication, partnership, and confidence. Walks and adventures give plenty of opportunities to work on skills like loose leash walking and recall. Dogs thrive on routine and schedule, so a daily walk with training mixed to help them understand how much you love and care.

4 Ways Dogs Show They Love Their Humans

If you’re wondering how your dog says “I love you, too,” we’ve got your answers. Look for these cues as proof of your dog’s deep and abiding bond with you.

Eye contact

Eye contact is often the first thing learned in basic obedience classes because it helps dogs focus. Dogs who are bonded to their people tend to look at them a lot. Even the most adventurous, independent dogs typically show their connection by “checking in” from time to time. If your dog makes regular, visual contact with you in new environments, it means your bond is strong.

Joyful greetings

Does your dog do a little dance or get a case of the zooies when you come home? This one doesn’t take a veterinary degree to understand: they’re excited to see you! A happy, noisy, tail-waggy greeting is one of the surest signs you and your dog are connected.

Yawning with you

We’ve all heard that yawning is contagious. (Did you just yawn?). According to researcher Dr. Brian Hare, this is true for dogs, too. In Live Science, he describes a recent study showing that yawning in dogs symbolizes a bond to their human. Dogs were more likely to yawn when their owners yawned, as opposed to a stranger. Hard to believe? You can test it out. Just don’t be discouraged if your dog doesn’t yawn back immediately—he may not recognize the yawn, and instead, wonder why you’re showing him your grin.

Responding to your voice

Recall, or coming when called, is one of the most important cues for your dog to respond to because it can keep her safe. If your dog listens to you when you speak and obeys the commands you give, it shows that they’re attached to you. In other words, if your voice wins out over all the action at the dog park, that’s love!