Love Languages Meets Your Animal Companions

If you have ever read Gary Chapman’s book The 5 Love Languages, it breaks down five individual ways that people can  communicate their love to a partner and how if one is not aware that the other’s way is different that complications can enter.

The Love Languages described in the book are:

• Acts of Service

• Giving/Receiving Gifts

• Touch

• Quality Time Together

• Words of Affirmation

Likewise, these can be utilized in connection with your animal family members as well. There tend to be one or two main ways in which you communicate love to your partner, friends, or others. Just as know two of us interact with each other the same exact way, neither do the animal beings.

I have met several animal friends who prefer the absence of touch yet love to just be in a space together. There are those who like touch a certain way such as only their sides not their back. Or those who prefer playing with a toy solo versus together. One when he got himself a toy out to play, he proceeded to choose one for me too!

You may have a pup or feline that loves it when you speak aloud to them and tell them what a good job they are doing as word of affirmation. Maybe he or she likes to bring the newspaper to you or slippers – as an act of service.

There are those that prefer playing to walking and vice versa. Those where time spent together tops the chart along with other peeps that being present together in one way or another is their ultimate joy.

 It could be eye gazing with each other which can show a level of trust, watching birds or rabbits in the yard, or sitting side by side watching over the street. It can be receiving treats or giving gifts.

A side note to any of these, when your friend starts doing something new there may be a message behind the action, so it’s good to rule out any new behavior. I had one group of three friends that for the first time in five years of visits began bringing outside gifts in which was a message. Discernment is key.

Take a gander with your animal friend(s) to see what his or hers is and have fun identifying the language of love that rings true for your crew!