Does Your Dog Have a Love Language? Here’s What You Need to Know

Marriage counselor and author Gary Chapman, has taken the world by storm with his book “The 5 Love Languages”. The book introduces the concept of identifying how your significant other understands, gives, and receives love. However, this same concept can be applied to our canine companions. In this article, you’ll discover what love language your dog speaks, and how you can reciprocate it in a way they will comprehend.

How Does One Determine a Dog’s Love Language?

How do you discover the love language that aligns with your dog? Science may be able to help you find the factors that determine the love language that your dog uses to send and receive adoration.

Below are a couple of factors that may help you determine your dog’s love language.

1. Genes

Genes can help you identify your dog’s love language. For example, larger breeds such as huskies, chow-chows, and Alaskan malamutes may communicate love by guarding the home, and showering you with unwavering devotion. On the other hand, smaller dog breeds such as Chihuahuas and Pomeranians are more likely to express their tenderness towards their owners through cuddling and gift-giving.

2. Training

If you have trained your dog using positive reinforcement techniques, chances are your dog will have a love language that connects to using words in a kind, positive tone. Verbal affection will help your dog understand just how much you love them. On the contrary, if you train your canine for search and rescue, quality time spent on an obstacle course may be how they conceive their love language.

Will Your Dog Receive and Give the Same Love Language?

You may be surprised to know that your canine companion may not like to receive the same love language they give. For instance, your dog may prefer to give you quality time. However, their love language may be words of affirmation. You’ll learn more about each love language in the following paragraphs.

The 5 Love Languages of Dogs

Ready to discover which love languages your dog likes to give and receive? Read on to learn about the 5 love languages of canines.

Words of Affirmation

Does it seem like a fire ignites behind your pup’s eyes when you positively speak to them? Do they wag their tails a million miles an hour if you enthusiastically tell them they are a good dog? If so, chances are your dog’s love language could be words of affirmation.

What are words of affirmation? Words of affirmation are a love language in which you give your dog compliments, affectionate praise, or cheer them on.

If your dog gives you words of affirmation, they will make vocal sounds such as barking, chattering, and making noises that dogs would use in the wild among a pack to express their commitment to you.

Three ways that you can embrace words of affirmation with your dog are:

• Use unique commands when teaching them tricks. For example “you’ve got mail” can be used alongside teaching your dog to fetch the newspaper or delivery packages. 
• Use a positive, light-hearted tone when you are speaking to your pooch.
• Speak in a warm, and happy tone when speaking to your pup about your day.

Physical Touch

A majority of canines love to be pampered with touch. Whether it’s cuddling during a snowstorm, petting them when you first wake up or setting aside time during your workweek to groom them, physical touch may be their love language.

If your dog uses physical touch as a love language, they may brush their head against you, give you kisses, or curl up in your lap on the bed. 

Below are 3 simple ways you can embrace physical touch as your dog’s love language:

• Have a snuggle-in-bed day with your canine.
• Visit a doggie day spa.
• Give them a gentle massage.

Gift-Receiving

Does your pooch nearly pass out from excitement when receiving a new toy? Gift-receiving may be how they understand love. Gift-receiving does not mean buying them the most expensive toy on the market. Rather, gifting them toys of their favorite food, shape, or animals can be a way to express your love for them. 

However, if your dog chooses to give you love through gift-receiving, chances are they will bring you toys, treats, and their favorite blanket.

3 Ways to express gift-receiving as your dog’s love language are:

• Providing mental stimulation through toys that require critical thinking from your pup.
• Gifting them a high-quality dog bed.
• Buying them a cupcake from a pup bakery.

Quality Time

Some canines nearly break dance over the word “car ride”. If your pup goes crazy with excitement over going for a ride or walk, they most likely are using the quality time love language. But, when your canine is using quality time to show you love, they may drop the leash in your lap, or look at you with adoration when you chill in the yard with them.

Examples of giving your dog quality time include:

• Exploring a new hiking trail together.
• Visiting a new pup hotel for a weekend.
• Navigating a new city together.

Acts of Service

Another love language that your dog may enjoy is an act of service. Acts of service is a love language in which you do things for each other. 

3 Instances of acts of service may include:

• Hiring a puppy chef to treat your dog to a gourmet meal.
• Experiencing a new climate.
• Letting them do something they may not be allowed to such as sitting on the couch, spending breakfast in the kitchen with you, or laying on the bed together.

How Can You Tell That Your Dog Loves You?

There is no specific way to distinguish one dog’s expression of love compared to another. But, if your dog runs to the door every time you come home, licks you every morning, or lays in front of your bedroom while you sleep, chances are they are showing you their commitment to you.

Another example of how your dog shows you that they love you is by cuddling you. In packs of wild dogs, cuddling is one way they express love for each other.

How to Show Your Dog Love

Now that you have an idea of what love language your dog uses to give and receive love, you can check out these 10 additional ways to express your love for them.

1. Speak to them in a sing-song voice when praising your dog for good behavior.
2. Notice their body language.
3. Give them a loving stare.
4. Give them pets for reassurance.
5. Huddle up during a thunderstorm to comfort them.
6. Sit on the floor with them and talk about your day.
7. Hold them and comfort them through the grief of losing a furry family member.
8. Surprise them with a new toy they have been eyeing.
9. Bring them home a healthy treat from a pup cakery.
10. Keep your active lifestyle by taking them with you.

Can Dogs Have More Than One Love Language?

Yep! In fact, if your dog is a mixed breed such as a Chiweenie, they may have two or more love languages. This is partly because they are two different breeds which means that each breed may have a designated love language.

What Body Languages Show Your Dog Loves You?

Having a basic understanding of your dog’s body can help you create a bond with them. What’s more, knowing what body language your dog uses to show you that they love you can increase your connection to each other. Here are a few ways to tell:

1. Their bodies appear to be in a calm state of being.
2. No hackles or fur are raised. 
3. If they are signaling playtime, they will raise their rumps and wag their tail.
4. They will have a tail that is pointed upwards and wag side to side.
5. Their weight is balanced throughout all four paws.

In conclusion, knowing the love language of your dog can help to increase the bond with your canine and discover ways to express your love in ways that they will understand.