Who Does Your Dog Love Most?
It doesn’t have to be a bone of contention
My husband returned home from work, walked into my office, and gave me a quick kiss. He then leaned down to pet our collie, Vince.
“How ya doing, buddy?” he asked, scratching Vince behind the ears.
Vince opened his eyes, wagged his tail once, and promptly resumed his nap.
“Well, I guess you’re his favorite,” my husband said with a laugh.
“Of course, I am,” I retorted. “He knows who his food and treats come from.”
As silly as it seems, this is a common conversation for pet lovers. And while feeding your dog and showering him with attention helps win his love, there are other factors at work in building your bond.
What your dog is drawn to
Like all of us, dogs are born with a temperament and vibe with a human of a similar disposition.
Collies like Vince, for example, are shy and like a calm environment. I’m an introvert who craves quiet, so we’re a good match. I recently bought him a new doggie bed to put beside my desk, and he spends most days there snoozing happily.
Collies can also be timid, so rough-housing with my 6-foot-3 husband makes Vince a little skittish. At 5-foot-1, I’m a lot closer to the ground and less intimidating.
Your tone makes a difference, too.
“Dog-directed speech,” a higher pitch coupled with words like, “Ready for a walk?” is a cue for dogs.
They instinctively associate it with a reward, helping them determine who’s ready for some fun. That explains why, when ordered in from the backyard, Vince stands and stares without moving an inch. Adopting a coaxing voice and offering him a dog treat gets him moving fast.
How dogs say “I love you”
Dogs are our oldest animal companions, according to the BBC, and they long to spend time with us.
They’re amazingly socially aware, able to distinguish between happy and sad faces and determine if someone is untrustworthy.
They recognize our voices, have a basic understanding of our words, and tilt their heads to make sure they catch everything we say.
It’s not surprising they’ve developed unique ways to show their love.
They share their toys to show affection and rub up against our faces to mark us as their own. They gaze into our eyes to deepen our bond. They’ll snag our socks and stash them away in their beds. However stinky those socks are, they smell like comfort to your dog.
Dogs that are bonded with their people check in on them. If you’re home, they’ll follow you from room to room to see what you’re doing. On a walk, they’ll look back frequently to make sure you’re still here.
They also talk with their tails: Straight out indicates curiosity, and vigorous wagging means excitement. A wag to the right signals a positive emotion; a wag to the left is a negative response.
They’ll even show jealousy if their human gives too much attention to a stuffed dog by pushing the plush toy away or snapping at it.
Life as a pack
Vince was four when we adopted him 18 months ago, so we didn’t have the advantage of bonding with him when he was a puppy. It took a little time for him to adapt to his new family and for us to understand his personality.
I know now not to hurry him on a walk and amble along while he savors the sunshine and the occasional squirrel sighting. My husband sits on the floor to pat and brush Vince and uses a more playful, sing-song cadence when inviting him outside for a game of fetch.
These days, when Vince hears the car pull into the driveway, he rushes to meet my husband at the door, tail wagging with excitement. When I join him, Vince snuggles in between us for a group hug, happy to be part of the pack.