Love between humans and their pets shows itself in many different ways. Check some of the behaviors below to see if what you originally thought was strange or uncomfortable is actually a demonstration of affection!

He brought you his filthy & unpleasantly moist stuffed fox. You probably assume that when your pooch plunks his favorite, well loved toy into your lap that he’s looking for a play session, right? Well, sometimes he probably is, but on other occasions he may be offering you a gift. To your dog, that smelly, ratty fox is like a brand new iPhone 6 and he’s offering to share it with you. If that doesn’t say love, I don’t know what does.

He mimicked your overly dramatic yawn. Nope, your dog wasn’t mocking you. The phenomenon of contagious yawning is a sign of empathy among humans, and one study showed that our dogs do it, too. The mimicked yawn is just another symbol of how our canine companions are in tune to our moods and feelings.

He convulsed with glee when you came home. Contrary to the chilly, aloof behavior during your departure, your pup is so crazy about you that reuniting is just about the best thing he can think of. Galloping around, vocalizing and showering you with kisses means exactly what it seems- your pup ruvs you!

He did a trust fall into the backs of your knees. Leaning against a beloved human could mean your pup is nervous, anxious, or just wants something from you. Regardless of the ulterior motive, it still shows that he trusts you and believes that you will take care of whatever he needs. Sometimes, though, it simply means “I like being close to you, Mom or Dad.”

He slept diagonally across your twin size bed. This may seem like an act of pure terrorism. How are you supposed to sleep with a gassy Pitbull sprawled across your mattress? What your dog is saying through his actions (or lack thereof) is that of all the places in the house to sleep, he wants to doze as close to you as possible. According to Gregory Berns this is a huge symbol of loyalty because your dog is staying close to his pack- you!

This all gives you something to think about, eh? Never under-estimate the love your pooch has for you. They show their devotion in so many ways, using conduct that may be curious to us but obvious to them!

To read more about doggy love and his behavior visit Bark Post. Maybe next time Rover brings you his stinky old sock toy you might smile, pat him on the head, and accept it without a second thought!