A dog that loves you will likely recognize your name — and be visibly excited when they hear it.
Its not a surprise that pets can learn their own names, but many dogs will also respond to the names of their owners.
Jamie Richardson, veterinarian and medical chief of staff at Small Door Veterinary, told Insider that dogs often get excited when the names of their favorite people are mentioned.
“Over time, dogs learn to recognize human names. If they hear a loved ones name mentioned who isnt present, theyll get excited at the thought that they might appear,” said Richardson.
Some dogs can express affection through their faces.
Greenstein explained that dogs actually evolved special facial anatomy to make them better at communicating with their human companions.
“[Pet] dogs can raise their inner eyebrows much more dramatically than wild dogs, and this sympathetic, adorable expression is thought to induce feelings of care and nurturing in their human owners,” said Greenstein.
What Science Says About Puppy Love
Researchers on a quest to answer this age-old question conducted magnetic resonance tests (MRI) on several trained dogs to look at their brain activity. When presented with a selection of different smells, the dogs were more excited by their humanâs scent than by any other smell, including, notably, food. Research also tells us some dogs prefer praise over food, or want both equally. Â
Another study showed that dogsâ brain activity went through the roof when they listened to happy sounds, like praise. The same study also showed many similarities between the way both humans and dogs process sounds.Â
In a nutshell, dogs are naturally wired to pick up on changes in our voice and mood. Thatâs why, of all the animals in the world, dogs are our best friends.Â
14 Signs Your Dog REALLY Loves You, Confirmed by Science
A dog’s love for their family is so much more than an old cliche. If you know what to look for, you’ll see your dog saying “I love you” every day. Don’t believe us? Look for these signs of affection that your dog uses to show you love.
Dogs show their love for their families in many ways, some of which are automatically familiar—like cuddling—and some of which you might not understand right away. Learning to recognize these signs of doggy love in your pet will help you better communicate with them and build an even stronger bond. Look for these behaviors from your dog that show you love: