It's a question that has plagued pet owners for countless generations: "Does my pet really
love me?"
Well, unless animals suddenly figure out a way to communicate with humans, then there's
a good chance nobody will ever know the truth.
Luckily, however, some experts in the field of animal behavior have been trying to answer
this question themselves.
Here's what they've come up with:
There are a handful of clear signs that your dog is into you.
First off, there's eye contact: does your pup stare deeply into eyes, as if gazing upon
their first sunrise?
Well, that's a decent starting point.
In the wild, eye contact can be seen as threatening, but a loving gaze from a dog indicates trust
and affection.
What's known as "checking in" is also a positive sign: when you're out on a walk or checking
out a new place, does your dog keep looking back at you, as if they're looking for direction
or affirmation?
That's good news for your kinship.
Additionally, a classic canine freak out when you return home is a great sign, as is an
ability to chill out when you're spending time together.
In comparison to dogs, cats are decidedly more difficult to gauge when it comes to affection.
Still, there are a few ways to tell whether you're in your furball's good graces or not,
with one in particular standing out above the rest.
Being the little sociopaths that they are, cats tend to display their love by killing
things and leaving them in your house or at your feet.
Why?
Well, because your cat sees you as helpless incapable of slaughtering rodents and birds
on your own.
It's trying to help — so you're welcome.
For what it's worth, a cat exposing its belly is also an expression of the creature's love
language, but experienced cat owners will know better than to walk into that particular
trap.
It can be difficult to know whether or not your hamster likes you or not, especially
since they will probably go their entire life thinking of you as some kind of blurry sky
god that brings them treats.
Still, there are some ways to measure the affection of a hamster.
The dead giveaway comes when they come to your voice when called instead of hiding.
On the flip side of the coin, a hamster's distaste for someone can be seen when they
grimace as a human approaches, or raise their paws in the air — an indicator that they're
about to throw down.
Hard.
Whether you're a nautical scallywag or not, a parrot can seem like a great choice for
an animal companion.
But feeling the love with parrots can be tricky, what with their cold reptilian eyes, predilection
towards endless screaming, and habit of enthusiastically tearing at your tender human flesh.
Bonding with a parrot is a complicated process, but it's easy to recognize when it finally
happens.
One sign can be when they start to display a distinctive call whenever you leave the
room.
Responding to it completes a cycle of behavior that they would normally exhibit in the wild
when checking in with other members of their flock.
A bonded bird won't be shy about seeking out physical affection either, and will try to
groom the hair and clothing of the person it digs the most.
Horses have been making friends with humans for thousands of years, and, to this day,
are still beloved by spoiled rich kids around the world.
But how can the next generation of one percenters tell that they've got a prancing, heartstruck
stallion — rather than a misanthropic thoroughbred of indifference?
Well, your standard pony will display its fondness in just the way you'd probably hope:
through signs of physical affection.
These can include nuzzling, as well as attempting to lean against you.
Even something as simple as turning their head to face you when you're in the area can
be a sign that your equine companion thinks you're the bee's knees.
Yeah, sorry.
Your bearded dragon doesn't love you.
Go adopt a labrador or something.
Check out one of our newest videos right here!
Plus, even more Grunge videos about your favorite stuff are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.