Owning a dog can enrich your life in so many ways, and your four-legged friend can become an integral part of your home and your family. However, there are some cases where your dog may not love you as much as you think they do, and in these instances there are signs that suggest this. Here is a list of some of the key indicators to look out for that might suggest your pooch isn’t as enamored with you as you first thought.
Tucked tail
When a dog is pleased or happy to see you, it will wag its tail; this is one of the biggest signs of excitement from your animal. However, a tucked tail can be a sign that a dog is nervous or afraid! It illustrates that your four-legged friend may not be your biggest fan after all.
They don’t want to cuddle after meals
Dogs wanting to cuddle after mealtime is a strong indicator that they love you, and view you as something more than just a feeding machine. Displaying love and affection toward you is a big indicator of love, but if your dog doesn’t want this companionship and closeness, especially post-grub, it could mean that the animal doesn’t love you.
Avoiding eye contact
One of the biggest signs that your dog may not love you as much as you think (or hope!) they do is a lack of eye-contact. Much the same as with humans, eye-contact denotes respect and shows you have someone’s attention and focus. If your pet is ignoring you, this is typically not a hugely positive sign.
They snarl at you
If your dog is growling and snarling at you, then this is not a good sign as it shows that they are definitely unhappy. This is something that you need to try to address if it is happening to you. Do your research and try to come up with some strategies to stop your dog barking, and to get them back on your side.
You rarely see them
Dogs are smarter than we think, and if they don’t like you or they aren’t keen on you, they will make sure to avoid spending time with you as much as possible. If you find that you rarely see your dog, hiding away in your shared home, this could well be an indicator that they are not your biggest fan.
They ignore your commands
The dynamic between dog owner and dog should be very clear – you are in charge, and your animal needs to know and understand this. If you find that your dog is ignoring your commands on a frequent basis, it could mean more than a lack of understanding. It’s pretty good indicator that they don’t respect you and, in turn, dislike your presence.
They won’t relax around you
Dogs tend to feel relaxed when they feel safe, loved, and part of the family. If your pooch cannot seem to relax when you are around, this could be an indicator that all is not well between the two of you. A dog that’s on edge all the time, never quite sitting still or snuggling up to you, may be a dog that isn’t as attached to you as you thought.
They don’t trust you with their things
One of the biggest ways dogs will indicate affection and trust with owners is by bringing them items that they value, such as a chew toy, ball, or something else. Weirdly, a dogs love language is gifts! If your dog is not bringing you little presents, it could be a sign that they don’t trust you.
They don’t want to be touched
Another sign that your animal is not your number one fan is that they don’t want to be touched by you. This goes beyond the occasional, natural reluctance to be touched. Instead, it will be a regular and deliberate pattern of avoidance. If this is something that is happening a lot then it is a problem you need to try to address.
They flatten their ears
Flattening the ears is a huge indicator that your canine is nervous or afraid to be around you, as you can tell a lot about a dog’s demeanor by looking at his or her ears. It also shows that they don’t want to pay attention to you, and would rather ignore what you have to say.
They don’t want to sleep near you
Sleeping in the same room brings a closeness and trust bond between dog and owner – it shows they trust you to protect them if needed and vice versa! If your dog is not showing an eagerness to sleep in the same room as you, this could be an indicator that they don’t fully trust you.
They use your house as a toilet
Dogs that are kept as pets are typically house trained eventually, so when your pooch starts using your house as its toilet, this is a definite sign that all is not well. According to experts, this could be a sign that your dog actually doesn’t love you, and is acting out as a result.
They lose their appetite
We all know how much dogs love to eat, whether it’s enjoying a quick treat, or eating their main meal out of their doggy bowls. So, when your four-legged friend stops eating and appears to lose their appetite, it could be cause for concern. It might be that they don’t like you, but there could also be underlying health concerns.
They don’t sleep
Sleep is important for both man and dog, and we’ve already detailed that your dog not wanting to sleep near you is a sign they dislike you, but not wanting to sleep at all is another one. If your dog won’t sleep it might be that they feel nervous, apprehensive, and distrusting of you.
They don’t want to play
Dogs love to play; it’s a big part of their personalities, and one of the things that makes them such beloved pets. So, if your animal doesn’t want to play, this could be a sign that they dislike you in some way, or that they are nervous and anxious about relaxing around you.
They stiffen up in your presence
A dog’s demeanor and body language can tell you a lot about their state of mind and how they feel about their owner. A happy and contented dog is relaxed and at ease, which means that if your pooch is stiffening up in your presence, this could be a sign that they dislike you, or they are not comfortable around you.
They swat at you
Dogs have several ways of being able to communicate, and one of the main ones is through the way they use their paws. If you find that your animal is swatting at you and/or hitting you a lot with its paws, this could well be a sign that they don’t yet love you, and are not your biggest fan!
They seem scared
When a pet is at ease around its owner it’s easy to tell; they are relaxed, chilled out, and have a happy and pleasant demeanor to them. However, if your dog does not love you and has not yet acclimated to you, they might be scared of you, and they may show this in their behavior.
Yawning when you pet them
Whilst a dog yawning can have positive connotations – relaxation, calmness, and even excitement – this can also be negative. Yawning can sometimes be a sign of confusion, and if your dog is yawning when you pet them, this might indicate that they have conflicting emotions about what you’re doing.
Leaning away from you
It turns out that leaning away is a pretty universal sign of disgust, whether it be in dogs or in humans, and this is one of the biggest things to look out for as a dog owner. If fido is leaning away in your presence, particularly when you are close to them, this could indicate that they don’t like you.
Sporadic whining or whimpering
Sporadic whining or whimpering is never a good sign, and this is one of the ways your dog is trying to articulate that they are unhappy. It is important to keep this in mind, and recognise this as one of the signs that might show your animal doesn’t love you as much as you think they do.
Biting you
Dogs sometimes bite or nip when they play and get a little exuberant. However, biting can also be a little bit more serious at times, because your dog might also be prone to biting you if they don’t like you, or they feel threatened by your presence or something you might be doing.
Refusing to walk on a leash
If your dog doesn’t love you, it’s also a pretty sure sign that they don’t respect you either, and as we covered earlier, this means they’re unlikely to follow your commands. This can also translate to a refusal to walk on a leash, or to stop so you can fit their leash properly.
They chew up your stuff
We all know that dogs like to chew things, hence why bones and chew toys are in such high demand! However, the problems can occur when dogs begin to chew up your stuff, especially furniture. If this happens, it can be a sign that they do not yet love you.
They scratch
It’s not just cats that scratch when they are unhappy or nervous. This is something that you might observe from your dog if it is unhappy and nervous in your presence, and scratching at things like the carpet or surfaces can be a big tell that your animal is distressed.
Their hair stands on end
When hair stands on end, this is typically a sign that an animal is scared, angry, or distressed in some sort of way. As such, if you find that your dog’s hairs are standing on end, this could indicate that your presence makes them uncomfortable and overly defensive.
They display nervousness or anxiety around you
You think humans are the only animals that display anxiety or nervousness? Think again. If your dog is not completely at ease in their new home, and they don’t feel completely comfortable with you as their owner, they will often show signs of being nervous or anxious.
Carefully track your movements
If a dog is not overly enamored with you, they will likely be quite distrusting and this will typically mean that they want to keep an eye on you and what you do. If you notice that your pet is tracking your movements carefully, this could be an indicator that the all-important bond between owner and dog still isn’t there.
They attempt to assert dominance
The dynamic between a dog and its owner is typically one of leader and follower, and you need to assert your dominance. If your dog respects you, they will yield and recognize you as the boss but if they dislike you or lack respect for you, they might attempt to assert their own dominance.
They refuse to accept treats from you
Dogs love their treats, and will come up with any excuse to have a treat where they can. As such, if your doggy is refusing to take treats from you, this is a pretty big indicator that you are not their number one favorite person, and that you have work to do.
They lick their lips a lot
Licking lips frequently is another sign that you need to look out for with your dog. Sometimes it can simply be that they have just eaten and are enjoying the flavors still on their lips, but it can also be a sign that they are feeling nervous and insecure around you.
Violent shaking
If a dog doesn’t like you, they will generally have very few issues with letting you know that, and some reactions can be stronger than others. One of the biggest factors you need to look out for is violent shaking, as this is something that indicates fear and unease.
Going silent
If you have a dog that is quite vocal and not afraid to make noise, but when you are around he or she goes quiet, this could be a sign that your dog is not your biggest fan. Sometimes there will be other reasons too, but if this is a consistent thing, it could be that your animal doesn’t love you.
They prefer the company of others
If you find that your dog doesn’t seem to want to spend a lot of time with you, but they are actively enjoying the company of other people, this could be a sign that they do not love you. They are making it clear that they favor other people’s company over yours.
Aggression towards you
Your dog is supposed to be your pet, which means they would be expected to be docile and pleasant around you. So, if you find your animal showing a level of aggression and hostility toward you, this could be a big warning sign that they do not like you.
They groom themselves constantly
Dogs often groom themselves when they are bored, or when they think they need a clean. However, there are some occasions where they might groom themselves because they are uncomfortable or nervous, and if they are constantly grooming around you, this could be why.
Giving you the side-eye
Something else to look out for when it comes to understanding your animal and whether or not it likes you is to note whether it is giving you the side-eye. If a dog is looking you up and down like this, it could be that they are sizing you up because they don’t trust you.
Their back is arched
An arched back among animals is typically never a good sign, and if you are getting this sign from your dog, it could mean they don’t love you. An arched back shows apprehension and suspicion, and that your animal is nervous and on-edge around you.
They refuse to eat when you feed them
Something else to keep in mind if you are trying to decide whether your dog likes you or not is whether they will eat when you feed them. A loss of appetite is a negative sign, as we touched on earlier, but another one is refusing to eat when you feed them, but eating when someone else feeds them.
They refuse to do tricks for guests
When a dog learns some new tricks and does them for you it’s great, and you can’t wait to show your friends. However, you might find that when it comes to them performing the trick for others, they refuse to do so, and this is a sign of contempt and disrespect for you.
Not greeting you when you come home from work
When you come home from work your dog should be thrilled and excited to see you, and should be greeting you with affection and love. If this is not happening, there might be a few reasons why, and one of them could be that your dog simply is not your biggest fan.