We talk a lot about love when it comes to dogs. Tail wags. Wet kisses. Zoomies.
But love is loud. Trust is quieter.
Trust shows up in the in-between moments. That pause before the leap, the silence after the bark.
At The Good Paws, we believe emotional well-being matters as much as paw hygiene. Because building trust is just as important as keeping their teeth squeaky clean every day.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your dog truly trusts you—not just likes you, tolerates you, or sees you as the snack dispenser—there are subtle, beautiful signs hiding in plain sight.
Let’s decipher them.
1. They Stick Around When Nothing’s Going On
It’s one thing for your dog to come running when you open a treat jar.
It’s another for them to lie next to your feet while you work or follow you from kitchen to bathroom with no clear agenda.
This is a sign of proximity without purpose.
Dogs are wired to stay close to those they consider part of their pack. When they choose to simply be near you, even during the boring parts of your day, they’re saying (in dog-speak): “I feel safe here. You are home.”
Behavior tip: You’ll notice their body language is relaxed: loose limbs, soft ears, gentle breathing. They signify that your dog is at ease.
How to build on it: Don’t ignore these “nothing” moments. Speak gently. Make soft eye contact. Give a little scratch behind the ear. These deposits further build emotional security.
2. They Show You Their Belly, Not Just for Scratches
A dog’s belly, in case you didn’t know, is protected territory.
In the wild, rolling over exposes the most vulnerable part of their body. So when your dog flops over with their legs splayed like a starfish, this shows trust.
Sure, some dogs quickly learn that showing the belly = rubs, but you’ll know the difference by context.
If they do it mid-play, it may be an invitation. But if they do it while resting near you, it translates into: “I trust you not to hurt me when I’m this exposed.”
Behavior tip: Look for other trust signals alongside it: soft tail wags, slow blinks, quiet sighs. It reflects vulnerability.
How to build on it: Respect the belly. Don’t always go in for a tickle. Let them stay in that posture without interruption. That moment of exposure is worth more than any rub.
3. They Give You “Soft Eyes”
You know that warm look your dog gives you when they’re sleepy? That blink-sigh, melty-eyed gaze?
It’s called a soft eye gaze, and it’s a deeply rooted trust signal in canine body language.
Not to be confused with a hard stare (which is usually a sign of stress or confrontation), soft eyes are wide, relaxed, and often paired with a gentle tail thump or a slight lean towards you.
This is their version of “I see you. I feel safe.”
Even science backs this up: mutual gaze between dogs and humans has been shown to increase oxytocin levels in both species. This Science.org study will offer you further details!
That’s the “bonding hormone,” the same one that spikes between mothers and babies.
Behavior tip: These moments often happen in quiet times: on the couch, after a walk, during winding-down hours. Learn to recognize them.
How to build on it: Mirror the softness. Speak gently. Use their name like a whisper. Trust is eye-level, heart-open, and slow.
Trust Is Grown in the Quiet, Repeated Moments
We often look for grand gestures, don’t we?
Tail-wagging reunions, dramatic licks, flying leaps.
But genuine trust rests in the quiet. It’s in the way your dog leans into your leg instead of flinching, how they fall asleep beside you without checking the room for danger, how they sigh when you sigh as if saying: I’m with you.
So, if you see these signs, you’re already on the right path.
You’ve created a space of safety. A rhythm they can count on. A presence they don’t need to second-guess.
If you don’t see these signs yet, that’s completely okay, too.
Trust takes time. It’s a muscle, not magic. Every kind word, consistent action, and calm reaction is building it, layer by invisible layer, whether you see it or not.
Here at The Good Paws, we believe trust is the foundation of every good wag, bark, and cuddle.
And lucky for all of us, it’s never too late to start building it.
Have you seen these signs in your dog? We’d love to know what trust looks like in your home! Share it with our community—comment below or DM us @thegoodpawsclub on Instagram!
About the author: Amritesh Mukherjee is a writer, journalist, editor and companion to the handsomest doggo of the universe, Dusky.
