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TrainingDog Owners, Puppy Health, Training Your Puppy
8 Effective Ways To Bond With Your Puppy
Mar
A strong bond built on trust and mutual respect is the key foundation of your entire relationship with your dog.
Just like any relationship, building a strong bond with your puppy takes time and work. But building a relationship with your new furry sidekick is not as difficult as you might think! By learning your dog’s “love language,” and putting in the effort to keep them healthy and happy, you’ll forge a lifelong bond.
To enrich the relationship between the two of you, here are 7 pointers to help you build an unbreakable bond with your puppy.
1. Spend Time Cuddling
We’ll start with the easiest one. Who can resist cuddling and petting that adorable furry ball of cuteness?! Physical contact is one of the best ways you can bond with your puppy. It creates a sense of safety and comfort that lets your dog know that he’s part of the family.
Pet with purpose, really pay attention to what your dog enjoys most. Is it a scratch under the chin? A belly rub? While some dogs love snuggles, not every dog enjoys them! If your dog resists hugs, you shouldn’t force them – it’s not their love language!
Make the extra effort, discover his favorite, and spend some time one-on-one. Letting him know he’s a good boy with intentional petting will grow your bond.
2. Create A Routine
Consistency and schedule is an important part of bonding. Dogs are creatures of habit, and they thrive on routine. Build trust by creating and maintaining a regular routines such as potty breaks and feeding times. Dogs like to know exactly what is expected of them.
Creating a routine also means being consistent in your communications. Stick to simple verbal and non-verbal cues, whether in training or daily routine. Dogs need and want to know where the boundaries are.
Make sure all individuals in the household are on the same page when it comes to training. Dog’s don’t understand exceptions – having different rules depending on who’s giving the orders is the surefire way to confuse and stress your pup.
3. Give Them Space
This is a big one. As much as one-on-one cuddle time is important, giving your puppy some space is equally important. Being in a brand new place can be overwhelming to puppies, especially at first. New puppies need some alone-time to process and adjust.
If you have children, encourage them to respect your puppy’s personal space. Especially if your puppy has clearly grown tired of being cuddled, don’t try to pick him up or force him to engage.
Give him his own comfy bed, crate, or safe spot where he can retreat to when he’s tired, or simply just wants to chill. If your dog does retreat to his special place, don’t take it personally. By allowing him to socialize when he’s ready, you’ll build your bond by helping him feel safe.
Sometimes the way to build a stronger bond with your dog is to give him a place where he can be alone. Yes, socializing your puppy is important, but take things one step at a time. Consider your puppy’s needs and let him go at his own pace.
4. Play Together
Here’s a fun way to bond with your puppy! Puppies have a vast amount of energy – not only is playing with your buddy great for bonding, it also gives your pup a safe outlet for all that energy!
There are many great options when it comes to playtime. Does he love a good game of tug-of-war? Does he love to show off his tricks? Show your pup how to fetch various objects such as balls, frisbees, or food-dispensing toys. Hide some treats around the house and teach your pup to “Find It!”
Figure out what your dog’s favorite activity is and build your bond through playtime together.
5. Exercise With Your Pup
What better way to bond with your puppy pal than exercising together! Getting more exercise is always a plus for both our dogs and us!
The simple act of walking together is a fantastic way to train your pup and build trust. There are other great options of exercising too, such as swimming, or running. Not only is the fresh air and exercise important to your puppy’s wellbeing, it is also a great stress reliever.
Spending time together in shared activities is definitely one of the best ways to bond with your puppy.
6. Practice Training
Training is a great way to have fun and bond with your puppy at the same time. If Puppy doesn’t already know basic commands, now is the time to learn! If your dog is a bit more advanced, teach him a new trick or try activities like agility or nose work to engage his mind!
“Training your dog not only helps them learn better behavior, but it is a mentally enriching activity that deepens your connection.” -Houston SPCA
Training requires your dog to stay focused on you and following your cues. When you spend time training with positive rewards, you also are building up their trust in you as a leader. Mastering new commands and being rewarded with praise sets up conditions for a happy, confident dog!
7. Embrace The Journey
Learn to embrace the journey of being a pet owner, and all the joys and difficulties that come with it.
You and your puppy have a lot to learn about living with one another. The sooner you accept the fact that your puppy won’t be perfect ALL the time, the better off you both will be.
Focus on the good. For every step in the right direction, be sure to praise. If he sits patiently, tell him what a good dog he is! If he goes potty outside rather than on the rug, give a reward!
It is important that you remain calm and positive – Kindness and patience goes a long way in avoiding undue stress, and your dog will love you better for it.
The sparkle in the eyes, the ecstatic tail wags, the goofy grin when you come around – there’s no mistaking a dog who feels a real connection with you!
Taking the time to be mindful of all the things that make your dog happy shows him how important he is to you – and creates an unmatched bond neither of you will ever forget!
