Dogs can love you selflessly and enjoy the experience of having you around. A dog that loves you will trust you with their life. It is easy to get a dog to trust you. All you should do is love and show them affection, and trust will automatically build between you.
Dogs can trust, and here are signs your dog is bonded to you:
1. They Are Excited to See You
After a long day’s work, your dog will meet you at the door with a dance. They will wiggle their tails and jump to hug you. This shows how much they trust and love you and are genuinely happy to see you return.
2. They Will Follow Your Lead
A dog that trusts you will never hesitate to follow your lead. If they are trained and understand what you say, they will follow without any doubt.
They will walk with you anywhere at any time of day or night and be ready to protect you at any cost.
3. Your Dog Responds Positively When You Call
Responsiveness is vital when dealing with a dog. If a dog trusts you, he will obey your instructions without delay. They enjoy doing it when you tell them to sit, stop, or jump.
A dog that trusts you knows you cannot ask them to do something harmful, so they will not talk or bark at you but respond positively.
4. They Will Lie on Their Back When You Are Around
One of the most sensitive parts of a dog is the tummy. Dogs who are vulnerable to you will feel safe exposing their tummies, yet this is the most protective and delicate part for a dog.
When you notice that your dog is not afraid to expose their tummy, you can tell that your dog highly trusts you.
5. They Are Relaxed and Free When You Are Around
A dog that is relaxed and very comfortable when you are around shows their level of trust in you. You can tell a dog is relaxed when they walk around freely. They stay close to you or play and perform their normal routines when you are present.
When a dog does not trust you, it may develop anxiety and have behaviors such as licking paws or lips. When your dog can freely doze off around you, they trust you.
6. Your Dog Looks You Directly in the Eyes
They say eyes are the gate to your soul. Eye contact is indeed a major form of communication. If your dog looks directly into your eyes, they trust you greatly.
A dog that does not trust you could be afraid of you and thus lack the courage to look you in the eyes. When dogs look into your eyes, they communicate and bond with you. Only a dog that trusts you will look you in the eyes.
Research conducted by Japanese researchers showed that when a dog and its owner look into each other’s eyes, oxytocin levels increase. This is the love hormone that strengthens the love bond.
7. Your Dog Carries Your Shoe Around
Have you noticed your dog carrying your shoes around your home? If yes, that is an indication that they trust you. When you bond with your dog, they identify your scent and associate it with safety and feeling comfortable at home.
Your dog will pick up your shoe and walk around, holding it in their mouth. However, when they start to get destructive and tear them apart, it shows signs of separation anxiety and not bonding with you.
8. Your Dog Sleeps with You
Does my dog trust me if he sleeps with me? Yes, sleeping with you is a major indication that a dog feels safe. When they sleep, dogs are not conscious and if they choose to sleep with you , you must be a source of comfort for them.
Signs That Your Dog Does Not Like You
Sometimes a dog doesn’t like you because you’re a stranger to them. Besides being a threat, here are four signs your dog doesn’t trust you
1. Your Dog Avoids You
If your dog leaves a room when you walk in, they may be scared of you or do not like you. If your dog is not fond of you, they will not want to spend time with you or be in the same room.
2. Your Dog Shows Signs of Anxiety and Tension When You Are Around
If your dog licks his lips and paws when you are around, they are probably nervous. In other cases, your dog will have a stiff body and sit stiffly in one corner. This would show that your dog does not like to interact with you.
4. Your Dog Will Avoid Looking into Your Eyes
A great connection happens when you and your dog look each other directly in the eyes. If you do not like them, they lack the interest to bond with you; therefore, they will shy away from looking into their eyes.
Moreover, the eyes express emotion, and dogs who do not like you will not want you to see their eyes because they do not feel comfortable sharing their emotions.
5. Your Dog Will Growl at You, and in Extreme Cases, They Will Bite You
If your dog does not like you, they could be afraid of you. When they are afraid, they will see you as a threat and may thus want to defend themselves from you.
As a result, they will growl at you and even bite you. It is often not common for a dog to attack its owner; however, it may adopt this behavior and get aggressive when they are aiming for self-preservation. Make sure never to make your dog feel threatened by you.
6. Your Dog Refuses to Take the Treats
A dog that lacks trust in you and does not like you may refuse to take treats from you. We all know how dogs love to enjoy a good treat. If they behave disinterestedly when it is your turn to give them but take them when someone else does, it shows they do not like you.
Dogs have emotions and can express them in different ways. In this case, be patient with them and carefully make them your friends. If you broke their trust, do not give up; a dog can trust you again.
How Long Does It Take a Dog to Trust You?
It can take two weeks to three months before a dog trusts you. You may wonder, How do dogs learn to trust their owners? Giving them food, playing, talking, and petting them are a few ways to help your dog learn to trust you.
How Do You Lose a Dog’s Trust?
You lose a dog’s trust if you yell at them and beat them for small mistakes.
If you keep them hungry and fail to create time or push them away, dogs will distance themselves from you.
Dogs can feel when you despise them; they will stay away to protect themselves.
Related Articles
Why Does My Dog Lay on Me? (8 Possible Reasons)
Why Don’t Dogs Like Their Paws Touched? (7 Reasons Why)
How Do I Sedate My Dog to Cut His Nails? 6 Proven Methods
Why Is My Dog Not Eating His Food? Possible Causes & the Best Solution
Why Does Dogs Shake Their Head? Causes and Solutions
Can Choke Collars Hurt Dogs? What to Know About Choke Collars