14 Signs Your Dog Doesn’t Love You (Even if You Think They Do)
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Published 2021-12-08
They don’t wag their tail when they see you
You can learn a lot about your pet’s feelings if you observe their tail closely.If you approach your dog and they start wagging their tail with a positive demeanor, it means that your pet is content and happy to see you
A tucked tail on the other hand, is an unmistakable indicator that the dog is feeling nervous or frightened.
They don’t want to cuddle after they eat
Dogs are pack animals that crave companionship. If your dog loves to play or cuddle with you, that’s a good thing. They think of you as part of their pack, and they find your company and attention pleasant.
What’s more, if your dog wants to cuddle with you after they eat, it means they love you. Dog cuddles after meals equate a strong love between owners and canines because this shows that your dog does not view you as just a feeding machine.
Not making eye contact with you
Animal behaviorists believe that a dog’s ability to look into a human’s eyes in a non-aggressive way was one of the first steps toward canine domestication. They somehow learned that humans like eye contact, and by looking into a person’s eyes, they establish a meaningful relationship.
When your dog is willing to gaze lovingly into your eyes, it’s a sign they trust you. On the contrary, if a dog isn't your biggest fan, they will not meet your gaze and will back away. This is because dogs most often choose flight as opposed to fight. By looking away from you, your dog is trying to keep the peace and avoid an attack.
They don’t seem to want to sleep in your room
Wolves and wild dogs purposefully sleep in small, confined areas with pack members they trust to protect against predators.
Our dogs think that we are in their pack, and feel like they can count on us to protect them in the face of a danger.
So, if your dog doesn’t want to sleep in the same room as you, there may be a trust issue.
They Ignore Your Commands
Some people think training a dog is all about the dog, but it’s actually about the bond shared on both ends of the leash. If a dog doesn’t trust their owner, they are less likely to respond well to training.
Plus, research published in Developmental Science has shown that dogs actually ignore information they deem unnecessary. So, if your pet seems to be giving you the cold shoulder and ignoring your commands all of a sudden, it's a good sign they're not happy with you.
They wag their tail to the left when you are around
It may be hard to catch, but a dog will wag their tail to the left if they are suspicious of another dog or a person they don’t trust.
Recent studies suggest that a tail wagging to the left indicates negative feelings, fear or stress. Dogs may show this tail wagging behavior in the presence of an unfamiliar, dominant dog or person. On the contrary, tail wagging to the right indicates positive feelings.
They disappear whenever you are around
If your furry friend insists on maintaining a distance from you, then there's a good chance they’re trying to avoid you on purpose.
They don’t relax when you're around
Sleeping puts a dog in a very vulnerable position. A happy dog will snooze, relax, and expose their belly. Dogs are usually concerned about their safety and won’t expose their vulnerable parts when they aren’t sure about their surroundings.
So if your dog doesn’t let its guard down when you’re around, it could mean they feel uncomfortable around you. On that note, remember that if your dog adopts a side-sleeping or belly-up position, it is an indication that they have no worries. They are relaxed and comfortable with their surroundings and have no uncertainty about it.
They don’t bring you a present
One of the cutest things that dogs do when they trust you is give you toys, bones, or any random thing as a gift.
You may have no interest in your pup's tattered tennis ball, but their willingness to share it with you is a sign of true affection.
So if your dog isn’t willing to share their toys with you, it may be a sign that they don’t trust you enough.
They prefer spending time with someone else
You come home to find your beloved dog snuggling with a member of your family on the couch.
But when you try to join the fun, the dog takes off.
You might also start to notice that your furry friend is following other members of your household, but won’t even spare you a glance.
If your dog turns to others for pets and interactions but consistently ignores you, this is a clear sign that the problem is not them, it's you.
They don’t like being touched
Petting a dog reassures them that you love them, releases stress, and improves the bond between the dog and owner. While there may be times that your dog is just uninterested and don't want to be petted, if they regularly recoil at your touch, it is a sign of a problem.
They growl at you
If your dog is growling at you, then they're definitely unhappy.
All Comments (21)
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I love how this guy cheerily tells people 'your dog hates you' in various ways, over and over.
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Thoughts and prayers for all the folks learning that their dog doesn't like them.
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For those worried: don't worry too much. If you are kind to your dog, don't overreact to things, help, care for, teach, and play with it well, it's going to love you. Love covered in fur is pretty much what dogs are.
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Thank you so much! I'm 35. Never had a dog before. Bought myself a puppy. I had my suspicions, and while listening to this video, I noticed several symptoms. He's not abused or being aggressive or anything, but i realized i was basically treating him like a cat. I went over to him and started giving him attention, didn't pick him up, (Which i would before,) and kept talking to him, gave him a treat, and let him come closer to me when he felt comfortable, and he COMPLETELY opened up. He's not even 4 months old, and i realized, thanks to this video, that although i wasn't treating him "badly, " i wasn't giving him NEARLY as much attention and affection as he needs. He's been through a lot the last few months, and i didn't realize id been neglecting him. Thank you. ❤
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The anxiety I had coming into this video and the relief after was a whole adventure..
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Me: sees this video knowing full well my dog loves me Also me: I should watch this just in case
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I was so worried… But this video made me want to cry, my dog wants to cuddle me all the time before, during or after eating. My dog isn’t afraid to make eye contact. He is a rescue, and from the moment I brought him home, he trusted me. He learned all of his tricks within one day a couple weeks after I got him. And he will do his tricks with a treat or without a treat, he just loves being a good boy .. he is my baby King ♥️
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I was bitten by 4 dogs 4 different times in 2013 while I was in Europe and since have not wanted anything to do with dogs. My mother got a golden retriever puppy who was about 10 months when she got him. He immediately ran towards me when the door was open for the first time for him and I reacted in a sort of PTSD like manner and pushed it away. After that, the dog was sort of depressed and I guess feared me. One night, I was sleeping and it came into my room while I was asleep. For some reason I will not ever know, It got in my bed and sat down next to me and lifted my hand on its head. I remember waking up and seeing my hand slightly lifted upwards and saw him. I didn't react with fear and I was calm. I don't know why he got in my bed that night, but I'm glad he did. Glad he did.
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My Husky ignores everything I say to him. I don't think he hates me. I honestly believe he's just a jerk.
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They really nailed every good dog owners worst fear with this title, didn’t they?
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I got my dog two days ago and I’m watching this 🥹🥹🥹 I pray he will love me and I’ll love him ❤❤❤
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I knew my doggy loved me ❤️
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"What hurts more than a breakup?" -This.
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Just to make people aware. SOME DOGS ARE JUST INDEPENDENT as well, doesn't mean your dog doesn't love you
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We had the honor of a loving bond with our furbaby Rylie for 15.5 years. The love was constantly there. It’s been almost a year and I miss her more then anything in this world. 🐶❤️
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Got a puppy and would "play fight" with my right arm. She's a few years old and actively informs me when she wants to play fight. Being that she is bigger and stronger she can get her jaws around my arm but it's interesting how she handles certain situations. For instance, if I am not wearing anything long sleeved, she will hesitate to actually "bite" or play for that matter until I make it known that it's OK. She also will ignore my left hand and arm and choose to go after the right. She is also extremely alert during the sessions and if I say "ow" at any point she will immediately stop and start licking my face or arm. If she draws blood on any level (practically never) she notices before I do and stops to lick the wound till I realize it. I usually pull my arm away and grab some scruff on her back, slap her butt, or hold one of her paws. I try to match her intensity of play. When she deems something I did or am doing is a bit too much for her physically, she will trot off, grab a toy, and bring that to me for us to play with the toy instead. Also, because I assume someone reading this will assume I am teaching her, it's OK to bite people. That doesn't happen. Even had my sister try to get her interested in play fighting the way I do, and the dog is just confused, lol. She knows the playfighting is just a me and her thing.
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“Not making eye contact with you” My senior Rottweiler staring into my soul: 👁👁 At first I thought it was weird but now I’m relieved lol
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Can't even explain the relief I feel after learning out that my dog in fact does love me
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I’m watching this with my dog leaned up sleeping on me on the couch. I think I’m good 😆
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Can’t tell you how happy I am to realize my dog loves me back. Little dude is my world 😅
