Canine Behaviourist reveals how "gentle whining" could mean your pooch is lonely

Are you in tune with your dog's emotions? Expert reveals how to tell your dog loves you

• #5signsyourdoglovesyou has over 4.7 million views on TikTok
• Canine Cottages have teamed up with Accredited Dog Trainer and Canine Behaviourist Joe Nutkins to offer insight on how to stay in tune with your dog's emotions

Every dog owner wants to be in tune with their dogs' emotions, with TikTok views for #5signsyourdoglovesyou1 generating over 4.7 million views on TikTok, and #4signsyourdogishappy2 over 820,000 views. But what are some key signs to spot major emotions in dogs?

Following the high interest in dog emotions on TikTok, dog-friendly holiday lettings specialist, Canine Cottages, has teamed up with Accredited Dog Trainer and Canine Behaviourist, Joe Nutkins, to provide insight into your dog's behaviour, from signs they love you to how to spot loneliness.

Puppy eyes are signs that your dog loves you

While every dog is unique and can show their love differently to other dogs, there are some tell-tale signs of your dog being head-over-heels for you.

Joe explains: "There are so many ways our dogs may show us how important we are to them! Bringing us their favourite toy can show they want us involved with them and trust we are not going to take it away! Those 'puppy dog eyes' where they rest their chin on our knees and look up at us with big eyes is a heart-string puller! But giving us that big eye contact is one way our dogs have learnt to gain our attention and be told how much we love them back!

"Sharing their joy when we return home is contagious and may be accompanied by jumping up and leaning on us, presenting us with a toy again or even jumping in front of us and turning in circles with so much happy energy. Of course, most of what dogs do that we interpret as love is more likely to be affection or friendliness from our dogs, but this is still one of the greatest experiences we can have; our dogs showing us they want to spend time with us!"

Physical contact can be a sign of loneliness

Some owners might experience signs of a lonely dog in their household. This can be that your dog feels anxious whenever you're not in the room. However, it doesn't necessarily mean you need to get a second dog. Spending time training and teaching your dog to trust that you'll return home is a vital step to boosting their confidence.

Joe comments further on the signs of a lonely dog: "They may come to us and sit or lay so they are touching such as back-to-back, leaning on our leg, laying with their head resting on our foot etc. They may adjust their bedding to move it closer to where people are in the house or to help surround themselves with blankets, cushions etc for comfort. You might also notice some vocalisation like a deep sigh or gentle whining."

Withdrawal and lethargy can mean low moods for your pooch 

While sadness and depression in dogs might come across as similar, there are different symptoms to look out for when it comes to sadness. #dogissad3 has 87,000 views on TikTok, and people are curious to know about their dog's behaviours.

Joe explains: "Big signs can include their ears held lower or further back than usual, holding their head lower, tail hanging down (rather than tightly tucked under through fear) or laying down with their head on the floor just moving the eyes. They may also not feel like eating meals or playing, not be excited about walks they usually love and not be interested in people or dogs they usually love to see.

"If a dog is sad due to having been 'told off' or due to something happening they may also show us 'calming signals' where they try to help calm us down too. These can include yawning, itching (e.g. collar area, ear, nibbling the haunches), and turning their head away while still holding it low as before."

Obedience is a sign of trust

Signs of a dog trusting you can vary from dog to dog. Some might show their trust by meeting your eyes when you look at them and paying attention to you when you're speaking to them. If you've got what the dog considers authority, it will trust you and follow you anywhere.

They might also show their trust by being relaxed around you, this can be relaxed ears and a soft expression around the eyes. They might also lie down and rest close by, which is a sign they are comfortable around you and trust you not to do anything rash around them.

Commenting on the expert insight, Sarah Pring, Digital PR Manager at Canine Cottages, said: "It's important to remember that dogs feel emotions just like humans, and understanding their body language can really help owners keep in-tune with their dog's needs. Whether travelling with their dog this summer or relaxing at home, Joe's insight can help owners keep their pooch happy and their bond strengthened."