Feeling loved. I got to thinking the other day about the loved ones in my life. I’ve read that there are 5 main love languages. They all can make someone feel loved, but usually a person feels loved in 1 or 2 of these languages best. So I thought to myself, well which one of these love languages applies to my dogs? Do dogs seem to have a preference for how they want us to demonstrate our love for them? Is it different for my 2 dogs? The 5 love languages per Gary Chapman, are Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Gifts, and Quality Time.
Today, let’s look at Acts of Service and dogs. If your love language is Acts of Service, then you tend to feel loved when people do things for you. You may feel loved when your spouse brings you a cup of coffee in the morning or fills the gas tank so you don’t have to. What Act of Service could we do for our dogs though? What task could we do for them that would make them feel loved? Most certainly don’t seem to feel loved by their semi-annual trip to the vet’s office for a check-up! Some dogs appreciate a helping hand onto the bed or couch. My dogs always appreciate when I remove a thorn or sticker from their feet. I know one little dog who dances with joy when you retrieve the ball from behind the couch for him. Many dogs love a home-cooked meal, although I’m not convinced they understand the time and effort involved, especially for those of us who don’t even cook for ourselves!
Perhaps, Acts of Service, is not how dogs feel loved by us because they don’t truly understand what we do for them. But it is indeed a way that we show our love for dogs. From preparing special meals to seeking out the best medical
care, we do show our love for our four-legged family members this way. The dogs I see daily in my rehab practice are usually deeply loved by their pet parents and considered an important part of the family. I know this because they choose to bring their pet to me. But do the dogs feel loved by it? I hope so. But perhaps there is a more common love language for dogs. Next time...
Today, let’s look at Acts of Service and dogs. If your love language is Acts of Service, then you tend to feel loved when people do things for you. You may feel loved when your spouse brings you a cup of coffee in the morning or fills the gas tank so you don’t have to. What Act of Service could we do for our dogs though? What task could we do for them that would make them feel loved? Most certainly don’t seem to feel loved by their semi-annual trip to the vet’s office for a check-up! Some dogs appreciate a helping hand onto the bed or couch. My dogs always appreciate when I remove a thorn or sticker from their feet. I know one little dog who dances with joy when you retrieve the ball from behind the couch for him. Many dogs love a home-cooked meal, although I’m not convinced they understand the time and effort involved, especially for those of us who don’t even cook for ourselves!
Perhaps, Acts of Service, is not how dogs feel loved by us because they don’t truly understand what we do for them. But it is indeed a way that we show our love for dogs. From preparing special meals to seeking out the best medical
care, we do show our love for our four-legged family members this way. The dogs I see daily in my rehab practice are usually deeply loved by their pet parents and considered an important part of the family. I know this because they choose to bring their pet to me. But do the dogs feel loved by it? I hope so. But perhaps there is a more common love language for dogs. Next time...
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