Finding out how to bond with your dog is a top priority for many owners. Building a strong bond with your dog is crucial to making sure they live healthy and happy lives, and that's not just true for dogs.
Having a strong bond with our pets also help us thrive and feel happy in our lives. From serving up the best dog food to your daily walks, you're probably already well on your way to building the foundations of a strong bond.
But if you were looking for more ideas to strengthen the relationship, then be sure to check these simple tips and advice from our in-house vet, Dr. Rebecca MacMillan.
How to bond with your dog
1. Make time for play
You are probably already spending tons of time playing with your dog – and this is essential for building a strong bond. Play is how dogs communicate, exercise and even get in some mental stimulation.
Dr. MacMillan says, "The more you play with your dog the more they will see you in a positive light and begin seeking you out for even more fun."
Dogs love to be around you anyway and spending quality time with them will allow them to become more and more comfortable with you. Play doesn't have to be anything complicated. It can be a game of tug-of-war with some of the best dog toys, or a quick game of fetch.
2. Be the one to provide their food
If you can, try to make sure you are the one that feeds your dog the majority of the time. If someone else in your home is the one who primarily feeds the dog, they may naturally start to prefer them.
"It’s nothing personal, they just know where their bread is buttered – so to speak! So have a conversation and see if you can dish up at mealtimes," Dr MacMillan suggests.
3. Have a consistent routine
Having a consistent routine can help your dog know what to expect day to day. Try feeding, and going on walks or play sessions around the same time each day wherever you can.
This will help them to feel more settled while they’re with you. Plus, a predictable routine can also help reduce anxiety in dogs.
4. Show them affection
Don't be afraid to love on your dog. Showing affection is a great way to build and strengthen your bond. It doesn't have to be anything huge or dramatic, a simple ruffle on the head is often all it takes.
"It can be hard to fit in quiet time in our hectic lives but sitting with your dog, stroking them, or snuggling with them are big mood boosters," adds Dr. MacMillan.
5. Use positive reinforcement
We strongly support the use of positive reinforcement when it comes to training your dog. Positive reinforcement will encourage your pup to keep repeating the behaviors that you want as they will connect it to a positive outcome.
A gentle and supportive training method will make your dog feel safe in your presence and therefore more comfortable.
6. Provide enough mental stimulation
Mental stimulation for dogs is just as important as physical exercise. This can prevent boredom and the development of destructive behaviors. Keep a few of the best dog puzzle toys on hand for your dog to play with alone and incorporate short training sessions as another activity for you to do together.
If you're looking for help on training your dog, check out our practical tips for training your dog on your own.
7. Allow personal space
While dogs love nothing more than spending all their time with their favorite human, they may at times need a breather. It's important to set up a space in your home that your dog can go to, that's just their own. Be sure to respect your dog's wishes to spend some time alone.
Knowing how to read dog body language is important, too, so that you can spot the signs that your dog wants some space.
8. Invest time in training
This one goes hand in hand with positive reinforcement. There are endless benefits of training your dog, but one of the top ones is that it creates a bond between you both.
You can start with a few quick and easy tricks to teach your dog and build on that. Keep training sessions short at first so as not to overwhelm your dog.
9. Keep it calm
This should be your go-to mantra. Keep a calm voice when speaking to your dog, especially when trying to teach new tricks or behavior training. Keeping a calm environment around the house is also important.
Dr. MacMillan says, "Dogs are less likely to trust people that have mood swings or engage in negative discipline methods."
10. Exercise together
There are endless ways to workout with your pet. You can go for a hike or a run, or if you have one of the dog breeds that love swimming, why not hit the water together?
Spending this quality time together will give you both the health benefits of exercise, while also strengthening your bond.
For even more tips, check out how to the best dog owner you can possibly be.
Rebecca is a vet surgeon who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2009. She has a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, having done a mixture of day-to-day routine work, on-call emergency duties and managerial roles over the years. She enjoys medicine in particular and she is proud to have recently achieved a BSAVA postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine (with commendation). She writes on various feline and canine topics, including behavior, nutrition, and health. Outside of work and writing she enjoys walking her own dog, spending time with her young family and baking!
Edited by Georgia Guerin and Megan Milstead.
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This page was last updated on March 14 by Alexis de Leaver.
