6 Signs That Your Dog Feels Safe With You

We wish that our dogs could tell us with words when they’re feeling uncomfortable or upset. But instead, we must learn to read their signals to get a better sense of what’s going on behind those adorable puppy dog eyes. 

One of the best ways to tap into how your dog is feeling is to look for signs of trust. In this article, we’ll cover some of those common signs as well as some adjustments you can make to make them feel even more comfortable around you!

Here are 6 ways that your dog is telling you that you’re a part of their inner circle!

They initiation physical contact with you
Dogs use physical contact as a strategic form of communication. A hip bump, for example, can be an invitation to play while a lick on the face can be a sign of submission. 

If your dog frequently approaches you to nudge your hand, lean against you, or give you slobbery kisses, you can be pretty sure that they trust you. And if they have a habit of wanting to weave through your legs, it could mean that they feel safe and protected in your presence (or, they may be trying to position themselves for some back scratches!)

They maintain relaxed eye contact with you
In much of the animal kingdom, eye contact is uncomfortable. Even us humans are likely to avoid sustained eye contact with a stranger or someone we don’t have a strong bond with. 

This is even truer for our dogs, who are more sensitive to eye contact than we are. In fact, if your pup looks at you lovingly for longer than a few seconds, it’s likely that they are experiencing a release of oxytocin in the brain that is responsible for relationship-building and feelings of safety and trust. 

So, even though you may not like feeling watched constantly in your own home, just know that your dog wouldn’t do it if they didn’t love and trust you.

You see a lot of their tummy
A dog who is uncomfortable will do what they can to protect their most vulnerable areas. A tucked tail, crouched position and laid-back ears are all ways for them to hide the parts of themselves that could be vulnerable to attack.

But, if your dog tends to flop over and expose their sweet little belly in your presence? Well, then you know they trust you! 

They can eat near you comfortably
Eating can be a time of high anxiety for dogs, especially if they have a history of competing with other pets over resources or have gone through periods of nutrition-deficiency.

So, if your dog can eat comfortably in your presence, that’s a great sign that they don’t see you as a threat. That being said, if your dog doesn’t seem 100% comfortable eating around you, don’t take it personally! This is a sensitive subject for many puppers, and many would prefer to eat in peace. 

You can’t get away from them
Dogs are naturally social animals, but that doesn’t mean that they will spend time with people who rub them the wrong way! In fact, not only do dogs avoid people who have personally made them feel uncomfortable, but studies show that they also seek distance from people who have behaved negatively around their owner. 

On the flip side, dogs who do feel a strong connection with a human will seek proximity. This might look like your dog following you from room to room (yes, even the bathroom!), leaning on you, or crawling into your lap. 

You can coax them to do things they’d rather not do
Maybe you have that one friend who can talk you into doing crazy things like skydiving or going for a wild new hairstyle. If your dog deeply trusts you, chances are, they see you as that friend! True, the things you’re coaxing them to do are more along the lines of going to the vet, trimming their nails, getting into the bathtub, and taking their flea medication. But you get the point! 

How to help your dog trust you more
Want to have an even more trusting bond with your dog? Here are a few ideas:

• Make their environment more peaceful. Dogs can be sensitive to everything including loud noises, new people or animals in their space, foot traffic outside of the home, and more. If you can, provide them with areas of the home that are quiet and enclosed where they can be alone if they feel overwhelmed. In fact, crate training can be a good method for some dogs for this reason. You can also make them feel more comfortable in the car by installing BreezeGuard Screens on your car windows. This will allow your pup to enjoy the smells, sights, and sounds of the world outside of the car while giving them a reliable barrier to feel safe inside. 
• Allow your dog to initiate physical contact the majority of the time. As dog owners ourselves, we know how difficult it is to resist giving our dogs a squeeze, pat, or smooch whenever they’re looking cute (which is pretty much always.) But, if you want your dog to feel more at ease in their environment, allow them to be the ones to initiate physical contact with you. This might look like you inviting them to come over for a chin scratch and then honoring their choice if they’re not in the mood for cuddles. Many dog behaviorists also recommend that you don’t interrupt your dog when they’re sleeping, no matter how adorable they look.
• Continue positive reinforcement training. Not only do dogs enjoy training sessions that include treats and praise, but training itself can also deepen your bond with your dog by improving the communication between the two of you. So keep it up, regardless of your dog’s age! And, if your dog continues to be nervous, consider calling in a certified animal behaviorist to help.