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Heartfelt Ways To Show Your Pet You Love Them
Did you know there are more ways to show your pet you love them than lovingly scratching the chin on your furry feline or giving your canine companion a satisfying belly rub? Affection is pleasurable and reassuring to your pet, but there is more than one way to let them know you care.
Napping with your dog or cat is a special way to demonstrate your devotion to them. Laying with them reinforces the bond between the two of you. Talking to, chatting with, and singing to your pet are good examples of communicating with them, especially when your tone is positive and upbeat.
Making sure your pet has everything they need to have a safe, happy life makes them feel loved and appreciated. In this article, you will learn more heartfelt ways to show your pet you love them.
Ways To Convey Love Toward Your Furry Friend
Dogs show their enthusiasm for you when you come home from a long workday, and they leap up and lick your face. They are not exactly known for their subtlety, which is the best part of having them around. Some cats are lap cats, while others show appreciation by simply sharing their personal space with you. Paying attention to how your pet responds to you will teach you to speak their love language.
Napping With Fido And Fluffy
When your pet falls asleep in your presence, it is a sign that they feel safe with you. You being with them while they drift off to dreamland is something they actually cherish. They value that closeness with you. Some ways napping with your pet can benefit you as well:
- Napping creates lasting memories with your pet
- Positive effects on the body, including a healthier heart
- The company of your furry friend improves sleep quality
- Reduces feelings of loneliness and increases companionship
Cuddling up next to your pet can also produce the “feel-good hormone oxytocin” in you and your furry friend. Four Paws.org explains that “the oxytocin hormone relates to feelings of trust and empathy and can contribute to a strong human-animal bond.”
Sing To Your Pets
Talking to your pet in a soft, sweet voice and a positive, upbeat tone will make them feel loved. Singing to your pet can help them feel closer to you and maintain your connection with them. According to The Human-Animal Connection.org, “Dogs recognize your voice above all others, as has been shown in fMRI brain scans. Parts of their brain light up when they hear their person’s voice.”
Our cats also enjoy being serenaded. It is the same principle that a baby or a young child will relax and feel soothed when they hear their parent sing them a lullaby. Singing to your pet can also make them come to you. Personal testimonies from pet parents have shown this to be true. Take the story of Muffin, for example. When Muffin the dog became lost, their owner sang to them and facilitated her safe return.
Keeping In Touch
One of the most effective ways of showing your pet how much you value them is to use touch as a form of contact. It is important to stroke and pet our animals. Touch can be therapeutic for pets and their people, as it is a mutually beneficial way to, once again, release oxytocin. Some ways to incorporate the sense of touch into your relationship with your pets:
- Gentle massages
- Kiss on the head
- Scratch behind the ears
- Brushing, combing, or grooming
Your dog is more likely to kiss and slobber you, while cats are more distinctive. Cats make biscuits and sweetly head bump you when they want to express tenderness. Physical contact is a way to enhance social bonding with your dog or cat. Touch helps to let your furry friend know they are the best boy or girl in the world, and it makes them feel deserving of love and affection.
Make Species Appropriate Eye Contact
Studies show that gazing into your dog’s eyes elevates oxytocin levels in both the dog and their human. Dogs experienced a 130 percent increase, while their pet parents experienced a 300 percent boost in the love hormone. When it comes to your cat, direct eye contact can be threatening to them. They see a gaze held for an extended period as evidence of aggression.
However, when your feline companion gives you a “slow blink,” it indicates that they feel comfortable and secure with you. A 2020 study illustrated cats were more apt to slow blink if their human “slow blinked” at them first. A slow blink is a cat’s equivalent to a friendly smile and the “warm and fuzzy” feeling of being greeted by a loved one.
Special Rituals
Having little daily rituals with your pets helps create a sense of routine and builds a strong connection with your pets. Have treat time every day at the same time, where you reward them with their favorite treats just for being their adorable selves. Read them a short story before going to bed at night. It can be anything you want, as long as you set aside time to spend with your furry friend.
Conclusion
There are several heartfelt ways to show your dog or cat that you love them. Napping with your pet and snuggling with them is an effective way to maintain a close relationship. Singing is known to relax and soothe pets. Physical touch is also vital for them to thrive.
Every day with our pets is a gift; we can celebrate and nourish our bond with them by making them feel loved, appreciated, and treasured all throughout their lives.
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