How do you know your hounds love you?

[Legendaryfrank]

For those that have had your dogs for along time or have owned many in the past, what are some signs to you that you are special to your dog?

[MerseyGrey]

He stares at me. He has always done this from the day we got him. Recently my husband has been at home more and he started staring at him too, so I think he is staring to love my husband more and more, which is nice to see. The other thing he does is that he just wants to be close to me. He often greets us at the bottom of the stairs in the morning. If my husband goes downstairs first, Buddy will park himself in front of Dan for cuddles. When I join them, I sit behind Dan, and Buddy will push himself into Dan as if trying to get through him to be closer to me. Poor Dan ends up wedged between the two of us but it makes for a nice morning family huddle!

[HeyRunDog]

Grace watches me. She's not one for cuddles or following me around but she lies on her bed/sofa and watches me with a contented look on her face. If she wasn't such a gentle soul it could be interpreted as scary 

[smurfette]

There are different things. They choose to stay close to me, not only at home but on our walks, too. They are happy when I come home from work. 

And Colin even stopped going after a hare when I called him back. That was super special.

[EllenEveBaz]

The two things that Jeter perks up his ears for are squirrels, and me coming home.  He also barks when I leave, but I think that's more anxiety and indignation.  

Quote

And Colin even stopped going after a hare when I called him back.

 

[LaFlaca]

Jenny chooses to lie next to me even though she has several other options.  She always has a part of her body in contact with mine even when we’re in the car.  
 

Also, too, I have the ‘keys’ to the cookies! 

😉

[rsieg]

Logan rushes to the door when I get home. He sleeps in my bedroom at night. (Well, he does usually spend some of the night on his comfy couch or chair, but is in the bedroom by morning :-)  He gets upset if I don't spend time with him in the evening after our walk and his dinner. He will usually come and lie down in whatever room I am in. 

[Legendaryfrank]

Love reading these replies

[macoduck]

All 14 of my greyhounds have shown affection within days of arriving and what I interpret as love.

One, however, took months to really show it. That was my super-spook boy, Thane, and he was a 9 year old return. He only wanted to hide in a back bedroom and would only come out when he heard my others eating, or when we wanted to go out and potty. Taking him for walks was not an option with him.

I was sitting in the living room one evening and out of the corner of my eye I saw Thane peek around the corner. My heart melted in that he NEVER came out of that bedroom when called or lured with a treat and we had never forced him to. In that moment there was a glimpse of him beginning to trust me and, I really believe, also his first sign of showing affection. Each day that peek around the corner lasted alittle longer.

Ironically, his race name was Pog Mo Thoine, Celtic for Kiss My Ass. That's kinda what he told us of his desire to be left alone until he was really really ready to interact with us.

[HeyRunDog]

4 hours ago, macoduck said:

I was sitting in the living room one evening and out of the corner of my eye I saw Thane peek around the corner. My heart melted in that he NEVER came out of that bedroom when called or lured with a treat and we had never forced him to. In that moment there was a glimpse of him beginning to trust me and, I really believe, also his first sign of showing affection. Each day that peek around the corner lasted a little longer.

I think that shows a special kind of love and trust.

[zimsmom]

When I was sick many years ago & needed to sit in the tub Pathces would lay down outside the bathroom door every single time and wait for me.  Zim & Maya not so much

[SIGreyLady]

Burdette will lay his head on my leg when I'm sitting and close his eyes.  He also jumps up and down and whines when I come home.  Sophie will come to me when she wants her head and neck scratched and always sleeps next to me in bed.