Bonding with your dog is important because it will diminish miscommunication. When you have a strong bond in place, it is easier for you to understand your dog’s needs.
Establishing a meaningful bond with your dog is how your dog will learn to trust you. Trust is extremely important to form with your dog because it will make them easier to train, which will be mutually beneficial. Also, building trust will make your dog feel safer.
7 Ways to Build A Stronger Bond with Your Dog
Bonding with your dog can be accomplished in many different ways. Below are seven bond builder ideas you can easily implement to help you build a stronger bond with your dog. Keep in mind to adjust each of these ideas to better suit your unique relationship with your dog.
1. Play Together
2. Teach Commands and Tricks
3. Pay Attention to Body Language
4. Praise for Good Behaviors
5. Set-up Rules and Routines
6. Provide Physical Touch
7. Compete Together
1. Play Together
Spending time together and playing fun games strengthen your bond with your dog. “Play is powerful stuff. It influences so many things, including development, motivation, emotions, physiology, communication and behavior.” (from Play Together, Sit Together: Karen London and Patricia McConnell)
2. Teach Commands and Tricks
Training is one of the best ways to build a stronger bond with your dog. Teach your dog basic behavior commands and fun tricks. Be patient with your dog and stay consistent. Engaging your dog in a training session helps boost your dog’s confidence and provides a mental challenge.
3. Pay Attention to Body Language
Understand your dog’s cues for when it might be tired or upset so that you are not putting unnecessary stress or pressure on your dog during training sessions.
4. Praise for Good Behaviors
It is important to acknowledge your dog’s good behavior even if he/she knows all the commands and tricks. Praising your dog simply with verbal praise is a great way for him/her to continue the “good dog” behavior.
5. Set-up Rules and Routines
One way to build trust with your dog is by having consistent rules and routines. However, changing up your dog’s walking route can be fun and stimulating; give it a try.
6. Provide Physical Touch
Various studies have shown that touching your dog, either by petting or grooming, can decrease their stress levels (for both of you). It is important for you to take some time and focus all your attention on your dog when petting him/her.
7. Compete Together
Bring out your dog’s full abilities by adding fun activities. Joining competitive dog sports can strengthen your relationship with your dog.
The Pack Amazon Prime Video
Bonding with your dog is crucial to building trust and maintaining a healthy happy human-animal relationship. Practice often these seven bond builder ideas to build a stronger bond with your dog.
to pay attention to body language is a very impawtant part!!!
Sounds like a cool show!
I agree with everything mentioned for bonding with your dog. That bond is so important and brings both dog and owner so much closer. Your dog will trust you, which in turn helps to prevent any potential future problems. Thank you for a great article.
Bonding with my dog is very important to me and to every dog lover and it’s also what I love to do. This article is very helpful!
Bonding with their dog is what most dog owners set their goals on. Once bonded, very little can break that bond between the dog and his ‘pack leader’ dog owner. Everything starts to fall into place once that bond is fixed and your dog trusts you unconditionally.