Although some dogs tolerate head pats, most instinctively feel uncomfortable when a hand reaches down from above their head. If you scroll through social media, you'll easily see examples of distressed dogs suffering through pats on the head. To verify how your pet feels, look at your dog's body language.

Research shows that petting or snuggling with your dog causes an increase in oxytocin, which is commonly called the love hormone. Both humans and dogs experience a surge in oxytocin associated with petting. Patting your dog on the back is one of the best ways to show you love them.

"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. When you stare at your dog, both your oxytocin levels go up, the same as when you pet them and play with them.