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Expert Reveals That Dogs Know How Much You Love Them Due To 'Bonding Pathway'

by Alexa Mellardo

I've always wondered if my sweet puppies knew in their adorable heads how much I love them. For real though... #LifeGoals.

Can my puppies feel the love when I hug them and snuggle with them?

When I kiss them endlessly and tuck them into their beds at night?

When I play with them and take them for walks around the neighborhood?

When I give them Milk Bones?

When I buy them new toys and deck them out in the trendiest little sweaters for fall?

Do my fluffy baby munchkins actually know how much I adore them?

Because it's AN ACTUAL INSANE AMOUNT, that's for sure.

Here they are, casually being super swag at life.

Instagram

When I was little, one of my favorite books my mom used to read to me was “Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney.

If I could put it into words, this amazing quote from the book comes very close to describing how much I love my two puppies:

I love you right up to the moon — and back.

But if we're being honest here, I love my babies even MORE than that, if it's humanly possible.

Gearing up for “Adopt a Senior Pet Month” in November, Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND collaborated with top canine cognition expert and founder of Dognition Dr. Brian Hare to answer a variety of the most popular questions dog owners are yearning to know about their beloved pets.

Dr. Brian Hare was asked this highly-anticipated question: do dogs know how much you love them?

He said,

Yes, your dog knows how much you love him! Dogs and humans have a very special relationship, where dogs have actually hijacked the human oxytocin bonding pathway that is normally reserved for our babies.

So basically, this “oxytocin bonding pathway” is what we have to thank for our dogs knowing how much we love them.

Hare continued,

When you stare at your dog, both your oxytocin levels go up, the same as when you pet them and play with them. It makes you both feel good and reinforces your bonding. Does your dog ever stare at you for no reason? They're just 'hugging you' with your eyes.

UGH, can dogs get any more dang adorable than this though? Literally everything about them exudes the utmost amount of cuteness... I really can't handle it.

I know when I go home I'm going to cuddle with my puppies and never let them go.