Learning tips for building a stronger relationship with your dog can help you forge a close bond with your pet. Your dog is a member of the family, and it’s natural that you’d want a close bond.
However, transcending the barrier between your two species can be a challenge. After all, you both speak different languages, and what you view as a positive interaction won’t always be the case for your beloved companion.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways to connect with them and improve their perception of you. Here are some effective tips for building a stronger relationship with your dog.
Tips for Building a Stronger Relationship With Your Dog
Like all dog lovers, if you want to build a stronger bond with your pet, you should read the tips given below.
Spend More Time Together
It’s vital that you spend adequate time with your dog frequently. This is something most people wouldn’t think about, but it can truly be a game changer. One of the primary joys in the lives of your pets is to be by your side and experience things with you. Whether it be a walk in the park, playtime in the backyard, or an afternoon nap, these things are incredibly valuable to them. So, showing that you’re willing to give your dog these rewards is a great step in getting them to trust you.
The more time you spend with your dog, the happier and more satisfied they’ll be with your relationship which will benefit you just as much as it will benefit them. Research has shown that people who spend time with their dogs are less likely to suffer from hypertension and also have lower levels of cortisol (stress-related hormone). Dogs boost your mood and are excellent companions thus eliminating the feeling of loneliness. In short, spending time with your dog has benefits for physical as well as mental health.
Groom Your Dog
Grooming your dog helps build a strong bond between you and your pet in several ways. Firstly, it provides you with an opportunity to spend one-on-one quality time with your dog, promoting trust and affection.
Secondly, grooming activities such as brushing and massaging can release endorphins in your dog, creating a sense of relaxation and comfort. Furthermore, grooming can help you detect any health issues early on, such as lumps, skin irritations, or injuries, enabling you to address them promptly.
Additionally, grooming can also improve your dog’s overall appearance and hygiene, making them feel good and confident. Thus, regular grooming sessions can go a long way in enhancing the relationship you have with your furry friend.
Note Their Likes and Dislikes
One of the tips for building a stronger relationship with your dog is to learn more about their likes and dislikes. Just like humans, dogs have a short list of things they love and things they can go without. In finding out what they are, you can maximize the positives and minimize the negatives in your home. This is great for making your dog feel more secure around you and assuring them that you won’t do anything they don’t like.
Take particular note of which foods they favor, as finding their favorites can be a great incentive during training which is always a massive help. Even noting things like favorite toys or spots in the house can be useful in the overall relationship.
Be Affectionate
Be affectionate with your canine. Dogs want to feel loved by their people and giving them regular pets and cuddles can convey how much you care about them. In fact, affection is a dog’s number one currency, and they’ll go the extra mile to get this form of approval from you.
While not every person uses affection to show someone they care, much less their pet, animals are very sensitive to body language. We see this almost on a regular when you raise or lower your levels of physical energy with them. For instance, high energy around them results in high energy from them. Low energy around them, low energy from them. Affection for them results in affection from them. Overall, good use of physical praise is the clearest way to communicate that you care.
Understand Their Point of View
Canines see the world through a very different lens, and how they perceive you is especially important. Understanding a bit more about how your dog views you can help you better comprehend what a positive relationship looks like to them. They already know that you aren’t a dog like them, but they live by a pack structure form of socialization that makes them want to connect with you as their caregiver. So establishing a pack order and learning to meet them on their level can do wonders for a relationship.
Every dog deserves to feel like they belong in a home. By putting the work in to connect with your pet, they’ll begin seeing you as a place to turn to for comfort, fun, and affection. You might even learn something new about them and how they behave in the process.
You now know some tips for building a stronger relationship with your dog, but that’s not all. Below are some articles that can help you take better care of your dog and consequently develop a stronger bond.
Things to Know Before Adopting Your First Dog
How to Prepare Home for a New Puppy
Best Ways to Exercise Your Dog
Tips for Extending Your Dog’s Life Expectancy
Final Words
So spending quality time with your dog, grooming it yourself, respecting its likes and dislikes, understanding its point of view, and being affectionate towards it all the time helps you develop a strong bond with your dog.
We are sure these tips for building a stronger relationship with your dog will help you take better care of your dog and also strengthen the mutual bond of love and companionship. If you have some tips that have helped you get closer to your dog, let us know in the comments.
Thank you for reading!