Dogs are the most popular pet in the United States with a presence in over 65 million households according to a 2024 report.
Cats are next and are found in 46.5 million households followed by freshwater fish, which are found in 11.1 million households.
If you’ve ever owned a dog before you probably know how excited and happy they are to receive love from their owners.
A study is shining light on a major, immediate physiological change dogs go through while being told ‘I Love You’ by their owners.
A Dog’s Heart Rate Rise, Revealed
The study was conducted by Canine Cottages.
Four dogs were outfitted with special heart rate tracking collars to show what gets them excited when interacting with their owners.
The study found that dogs’ heart rates climbed 46% when their owners said ‘I Love You’ to them, from 67 beats per minute to 98 beats per minute.
The lovey-dovey feelings went both ways, the study also found.
Owners who were away from their pets for a long period of time had a heart rate increase of 10% after seeing their dogs again.
Five Ways Dogs Show Affection to Their Owners
Research has also revealed how dogs show affection to their owners.
These signs might be missed at times because they can be a little bit subtle.
They were revealed by veterinarian Dr. Heather Venkat and accredited dog trainer Joe Nutkins.
1. The dog curls up next to its owner on their lap or at their feet. They only lean on people they feel comfortable with, according to dog experts.
2. They wag their tails back and forth, jump, and wiggle back to those that they love.
3. They bring a toy to someone, showing that they trust them enough to play with them.
4. They show their belly or sleep on their back with their chest up, in other words, they put themselves in a vulnerable position of some kind.
5. When dogs are in pain they visit someone they love and hold their paw up, or lie next to someone with their head in their lap.
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About Nick Meyer
