Whether you have a new puppy or you want to improve the relationship with an existing dog, there’s plenty of fun ways to bond with your dog.

Aside from the fact your dog will love the added attention, studies have shown that the human-canine bond is mutually beneficial. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the human-animal bond has been around for thousands of years. It states that the relationship is dynamic and is ‘essential to the health and wellbeing’ of both the human and the animal. This wonderful relationship brings emotional, psychological and physical benefits.

Keen to learn how you can bond with your dog? Alongside plenty of cuddles and kisses, there are myriad ways to enhance the relationship you have with your fur pal. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

5 ways to bond with your dog

The more time you spend with your barking buddy, the more comfortable you will be in each other’s presence. However, you don’t want your dog to be completely reliant on you; you certainly don’t want him suffering from separation anxiety when you leave the room!

With some thought and careful attention, plus a few little tricks up your sleeve, you can create a wonderful and healthy bond with your dog. Here are just a few ways in which you can easily bond with your dog.

1. Make time for one-on-one interaction

It might be a grooming session (providing your furry friend doesn’t loathe being bathed or brushed) or a long walk at the beach; it might be an outing to the local dog park or a fun play session — but it needs to be done mindfully.

Think about ways in which you can engage your fur pal in some fun one-on-one time with you. Ideally, you should try to do this every day. You can mix things up and spend time together in different locations and involve different games or activities. Not only is this mentally stimulating for your dog but it’s a great way to create a lasting bond with your dog. Aim to ensure that each session is at least 30 minutes. This way you can get the most out of your time together.

2. Create positive communication

Communication is key in any relationship – be it animal or human! However, where animals are involved it means training is necessary. By engaging in some form of training and positive reinforcement daily you will be gaining your dog’s respect. This will help keep your dog mentally stimulated and happy. It will also help form a really positive bond between you and your furry friend.

It can be a simple training activity, such as throwing a stick and asking your pooch to fetch. Eventually, you can build up to more difficult tasks — just be sure to give encouragement and lots of positive praise.

3. Read your dog

Recognising when your dog is scared or feeling playful will help you provide the emotional support and care he needs. Thankfully, there are many ways in which a dog’s body shows feelings.

Indeed, the direction in which his tail wags, as well as the height and speed, reveals lots of information. For example, when the tail is held in a middle position (in line with the dog’s back) it suggests the dog is feeling relaxed. What’s more, the quicker the wag, the higher the dog’s level of excitement!

Similarly, the position of a dog’s ears can speak volumes. When his ears are in a neutral position, this indicates your barking buddy is feeling relaxed.

Just like with humans, a dog’s body language says a lot. Make sure you can read his or her cues, as this will help strengthen your understanding and relationship.

4. Get to know what your fur pal likes and loathes

Every dog has a different personality and diverse traits. As a responsible pet owner, it’s important to recognise what your four-legged friend likes and doesn’t like. I’m not talking about food here; consider what types of games your dog likes to play. Does he prefer to walk in the park or run at the beach? Does he like meeting other dogs, or would he prefer to exercise somewhere quiet?

Knowing these things will make every day a great day for your dog. Furthermore, it’ll also ensure you have a strong relationship that’s built on trust.

5. Show him patience

We all have bad days but it’s important to be patient with pets, particularly in the early days when you’re getting to know each other.

Stay calm so you build a loving and trusting bond with your dog. Of course, this doesn’t mean letting your dog run amok or allowing him to be naughty; it’s about being firm and fair.

Remember that everything takes time. If your dog doesn’t instantly walk well on the lead, you might need to spend some time playing in the garden.

Training your dog and teaching him tricks is important and will indeed help you bond with your dog, but not if you’re constantly yelling at him. Be sure to give things time and eventually, with a bit of effort, everything will fall into place.

 

 

Information sources:

  • AMVA. Human-animal bond. Accessed online Nov 2020 via: https://www.avma.org/one-health/human-animal-bond