If you’ve been thinking about getting a new dog then you’re not alone – Kennel Club figures show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged to record levels in recent years.
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There are 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or crossbreed.
No matter what type of dog you choose to welcome into your home though, you'll be hoping to form a loving and strong bond with your pup.
And, while pooches can’t say ‘I love you’ out loud, they have numerous types of behaviour to let you know.
Here are 12 things your dog does that means they love you as much as you love them.
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There are 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or crossbreed.
![Licking is a pretty straighforward way that dogs show affection and they learn the behaviour from their mothers who lick their heads shortly after they are born. The areas they tend to target are the cheeks and the hands.](https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQxMGVlNDljLWUwMmMtNDY3Yy1iYmNlLTIwNzI3NWI3OGE5Yjo3ODE0NjgyZC1kNjE3LTQ4ZjEtOTk2ZS0xYWViYWI0OWFjYzA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Licking
Licking is a pretty straighforward way that dogs show affection and they learn the behaviour from their mothers who lick their heads shortly after they are born. The areas they tend to target are the cheeks and the hands.Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![Like humans, you can tell alot about a dog by the way they make eye contact. If your dog regularly looks directly into your eyes it means that they feel you have a particularly close and loving bond.](https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQyZDA0NzBmLTI1OTYtNDNjNS04NTgwLWNjY2Y4NmMyMmRlZjozYTA5NjY3OS03MzNjLTRiZDYtOWY2MS00OGMxZjQ4NGIxNWU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. Direct eye contact
Like humans, you can tell alot about a dog by the way they make eye contact. If your dog regularly looks directly into your eyes it means that they feel you have a particularly close and loving bond.Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![One of the more surprising recent canine scientific discoveries concerns dog's eyebrows. Apparently the more they wiggle them, the happier they are to be with you - similar to tails, but slightly more difficult to spot.](https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjJiZTQyNzA1LTIxZGEtNGFkNC1hYjlkLTU4Mzc2NzhjMTBiOTowYTI4OTY3Yy04MDFmLTQzY2YtOWY4Ni1mNjY2MzM1NWJjYTg=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Raising their eyebrows
One of the more surprising recent canine scientific discoveries concerns dog's eyebrows. Apparently the more they wiggle them, the happier they are to be with you - similar to tails, but slightly more difficult to spot.Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![If your dog seems oddly calm when you leave (particularly when they are so keen to welcome you back) it's not because they don't care - it's because they trust you completely to come back. Why wouldn't you, when you have such a good boy or girl waiting for you at home?](https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjJjODUwYjBjLTU2MTAtNGMyMS04OTdlLTFkMmRlYmJkNWY3Njo4YWIwZjlhZC0xOTkxLTQwNGUtOTMzOS05YjI3MmM0YWU4ODk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. Staying calm when you leave
If your dog seems oddly calm when you leave (particularly when they are so keen to welcome you back) it's not because they don't care - it's because they trust you completely to come back. Why wouldn't you, when you have such a good boy or girl waiting for you at home?Photo: Canva/Getty Images