Reuniting with our loved ones after long absences feels so good there are songs written about it, paintings portraying it, and videos showing it. Whether we've been away for a few days, a few months, or a few years, seeing those we love warms our hearts. The same is true of our pets.
In a beautiful video, we see the reunion of a man and his dog. After being away for months, the man has returned and his German Shepherd demonstrates his excitement in the purest way. The love and bond between the two is undeniable with only this moment in time.
We open the video on a man approaching a house. It appears that his dog has been staying at this home while the man was away. We know from the video description that the man was gone for months. To give his dog a special surprise, the man hides from view.
The woman opens the door and the dog greets her casually. Even when we leave for a short time, our dogs are excited to see us when we return. Because dogs have less capability of interpreting the passing of time, even short trips can seem like long ones and it's clear this German Shepherd is glad to see the woman of the house return.
The dog finally notices the man. He immediately rushes over and his excitement builds.
This is a reaction that is beautiful and actually expected. Experts have shown that dogs have the ability to form attachment relationships that are built on bonding and love.
The man and the dog appear to hug. The dog is visibly elated to see its owner. The man affectionately pets the dog and the dog reciprocates the affection with face licks and attempts to stay as close as possible.
A common way for dogs to show affection to their owners is by rubbing their face on you. This is an effort from the dog to mark you as theirs by leaving their scent on you and making you smell like them.
There is more and more affection and at one point the dog even does a play bow. The excitement is clear and the man appears to be excited, as well.
The play bow is another common form of dog body language. This particular motion typically indicates a desire to play. It's an invitation to engage in a fun physical activity with another dog or human. It's a friendly, joyful expression of his excitement.
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Finally, whether from exhaustion, relief, or joy, the German Shepherd collapses in the arms of its owner. The man rubs the dog's belly and the two have a little cuddle session.
There are many reasons a dog may expose its belly but it's fundamentally a submissive position, one that indicates trust. However, experts in dog behavior also believe it's a way to get your attention and affection. The dog is telling the man that he appreciates the loving embraces and affectionate touch.
The two continue their reunion with many belly scratches and some more affectionate licks on the part of the dog. The two have clearly missed each other and this reunion shows their bond.
A dog that has a secure attachment with their owner will feel that an owner is a safe place. They will come to their owner when they feel in distress and will seek the owner's attention and affection when they need it.
After long absences, this kind of reunion is something to be expected, but it is surely a special moment that all dog owners can relate to. Check out the video below for the entire moment.