For most dog owners, there is nothing more important than loving and celebrating your pet. Have you ever wondered about your dog’s love language?
The concept of love languages has been around for more than two decades and subscribes to the belief that there are five definitive ways to express and experience love. They include words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. According to this theory, each individual has one primary and one secondary love language. It might be easy to identify which category you or your significant other fall into, but what about your pup?
Just like humans, dogs show affection in a variety of ways — although their gestures tend to involve a face lick or ceremonious drop of a favorite toy at your feet. Our canine companions are also big fans of receiving affection. (We’ve never witnessed a dog say no to a brand new chew toy or a tummy rub!)
Why Know Your Dog’s Love Language?
Knowing your dog’s love language can help you in many ways. Not only will it make you feel closer to your pup, but it will teach you more about the way your dog behaves. For example, a dog who prefers acts of service may like competing in Obedience, while a dog who enjoys giving/receiving gifts may find Scent Work rewarding.
This also applies to training. If your dog does a job well done, it is good to know whether he prefers to be rewarded with treats, praise, or belly rubs.
Curious to find out your pup’s love language? Take the quiz below!