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Dogs are amazing, aren't they? Not only are they adorable but they're extremely loyal as well. If you have a dog, you know how much it loves you even though dogs don't express love in the way that humans do. For example, humans love to hug but to a dog, a hug might make it feel insecure. So it's a good idea to understand how dogs express affection so you can show them how much you love them in their own language. Here are some ways to do that.
1. Look deeply into your dog's eyes.
According to the Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Duke University, if your dog is staring at you it's his way of hugging you with his eyes. Of course, that doesn't mean you should stare deeply into the eyes of any dog. Direct eye contact can still be a challenge or a threat to a dog in many situations. But when you're with your own dog, try looking deeply into its eyes while you're both very relaxed. Maintain eye contact with your dog while speaking softly. You can also pet it gently. This helps release the chemical oxytocin, which is also known as the "bonding hormone".

2. Try raising your eyebrows.
According to some Japanese researchers, dogs raise their eyebrows. They especially like to raise their left eyebrow when they're greeted by their masters. But when dogs meet strange people that they aren't familiar with they show much less facial activity. And the facial activity that did occur was mostly on the right side of the face. This is because the right brain controls the left side of the face and is associated with emotions. The left side of the brain is associated with analytical behaviors. But this means that if you show more facial activity when you see your dog, the more they'll know you love them. If you can raise your left eyebrow, even better. This will make your dog pal feel really great.

3. Let your dog sleep with you.
This won't work for everyone because some people need a lot of space in bed and some people have allergies. But if you can, you should let your dog sleep in the same bed with you. It's a great way to show your dog that it's a trusted member of the pack. If you absolutely can't share your bed you can try snuggling up on a couch or even on the floor for a few minutes every day.

4. Try leaning on your dog.
I already mentioned that dogs don't like being hugged, but you can lean on them a little. Make sure you don't lean on them so much that they feel trapped or uncomfortable. Leaning just a little shows your dog that you trust it. Our dogs lean on us all the time but unfortunately, we often overlook this wonderful display of affection.

5. Learn as much as you can about dog body language.
Unfortunately, our dogs can't communicate with us through verbal language, but they often show us how they're feeling through body language. If your dog is licking someone or something excessively that can be a sign of anxiety or nervousness. Try to observe your environment and see what is making your dog so uncomfortable so you can deal with it and put your pal at ease again.

6. Just be yourself and relax.
Sometimes it can be hard to know what our dogs are thinking and feeling, but they don't share the same difficulty when it comes to us. Dogs are extremely intuitive and it doesn't take them long to learn how to read our voices, body language, and more. So just relax and be yourself and your dog will show you they love you in their own unique ways.

7. Try to spend a lot of quality time with your dog.
Dogs are extremely social animals and they become attached to people very easily. Remember, you get to leave your home every day and go to work, go out to eat, or even just see friends. But your dog only has you. You are its whole world. It's important to make time to play with your dog and take it out for walks so it'll stay happy and healthy.

References:

PsychologyToday.com. The Data Says "Don't Hug the Dog!". Accessed at https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201604/the-data-says-dont-hug-the-dog on March 15, 2018.

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