Recently we have reviewed 3 of Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages: acts of service, gifts, and words of affirmation and how they apply to dogs. There are only 2 left: Physical Touch and Quality Time. Today, let’s look at Physical
Touch and dogs.
If your love language is physical touch, then you feel loved when touched. This can be a high-five from your buddies or a spontaneous wrestling match that breaks out for fun. You may like to be hugged or hold hands. My 6 year old’s love language is physical touch. He frequently crawls into my lap, or his foot must touch me as we sit at the dinner table. He’s clingy in a physical way, holding hands or touching my hair. Perhaps your dog is like this. Does your dog always want to sit in your lap or lay on your feet? Does she push her head under your hand to get your attention? Does she cling to you, stand between your legs or lean against you frequently? If so, her love language may be physical
touch! As with any of the love languages, withholding this expression of love can be devastating to a dog whose
love language is physical touch. So don’t be stingy with those pats on the head and a good belly rub! But beware those pats on the head or belly rubs if you are mistaken and the dog you reached for doesn’t have physical touch as his primary love language!
In my physical rehabilitation work, I have had dogs in my office who climbed into my lap as soon as I sat on the floor next to them, and I have had ones who only tolerated my touch (through dirty looks and occasional snarls) because Mom or Dad said they had to! As for my old girl, Belle, the senior Golden Retriever in my life, while she really enjoys touch, it is probably her second love language. Next week, the final love language: Quality Time.
Touch and dogs.
If your love language is physical touch, then you feel loved when touched. This can be a high-five from your buddies or a spontaneous wrestling match that breaks out for fun. You may like to be hugged or hold hands. My 6 year old’s love language is physical touch. He frequently crawls into my lap, or his foot must touch me as we sit at the dinner table. He’s clingy in a physical way, holding hands or touching my hair. Perhaps your dog is like this. Does your dog always want to sit in your lap or lay on your feet? Does she push her head under your hand to get your attention? Does she cling to you, stand between your legs or lean against you frequently? If so, her love language may be physical
touch! As with any of the love languages, withholding this expression of love can be devastating to a dog whose
love language is physical touch. So don’t be stingy with those pats on the head and a good belly rub! But beware those pats on the head or belly rubs if you are mistaken and the dog you reached for doesn’t have physical touch as his primary love language!
In my physical rehabilitation work, I have had dogs in my office who climbed into my lap as soon as I sat on the floor next to them, and I have had ones who only tolerated my touch (through dirty looks and occasional snarls) because Mom or Dad said they had to! As for my old girl, Belle, the senior Golden Retriever in my life, while she really enjoys touch, it is probably her second love language. Next week, the final love language: Quality Time.
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