Puppy Love: Ways to bond with your dog (2024)

1st April 2022

Everyone loves spending time with their dogs. Whether you have a new puppy, or you’ve been together for 10 years, there’s nothing more special than the friendship developed between man and his dog.

With Valentine’s Day almost here, now is the perfect time to strengthen the relationship with your four-legged friend, from creating a routine, to simply giving them a well-deserved pet.

Here are ways you can bond with your dog:

1. Be patient with your pet.

The process of bonding with your new dog is a lot like the feel-good story you read as a child. You have to be patient and let things happen over time, but it’s worth every second! New dogs need our support and patience to get used to their new surroundings. For some, it’ll happen overnight; for others it can take (weeks or even months) somewhat longer, before they feel comfortable enough to play and show their true self.

2. Practice basic training

Believe it or not, commands like “sit” and “stay” are ways to bond with your dog! It takes time and effort to get these behaviours down, but it’s well worth it when you build up your dog’s obedience skills. Once they know these basic tricks, he or she will do anything you ask at any time. That means lots of extra opportunities to learn new tricks and offer positive reinforcement to help establish a deeper connection between the two of you.

If you need some help getting started training your canine friend, check out online tutorials and look for books in store. For new puppies, look out for a local puppy training class to help them socialize and form a bond with other puppies.

3. Reward their kindness

Many dogs love doing good by people in ways that aren’t always apparent. For example, they may be comfortable laying with a person in the hospital who is bed bound and alone for hours on end. However, this isn’t something all dogs do automatically from birth or even from one year to the next.

Make sure your pup knows you appreciate them when they’re being kind! Reward their kindness by giving them a treat when they lay down with you when you’re sick, give them a pat on the back when they’re listening to your command and being obedient, or simply show your appreciation through words and nose bumps!

4. Go for an extra-long walk

Everyone knows that the best way to bond with your dog is to take it for a walk. Getting outside has been proven to have physical and mental benefits for humans, so you’ll be giving yourself an extra dose of health while strengthening your bond with your pup!

Plus, dogs just love the fresh outdoors, so it will provide them with a break from their normal routine, a way to explore new environments and help tire them out for a good night’s sleep – win-win! However, beware not to be a ‘weekend warrior’ if you have been on shorter walks during the week and then take them up Snowdon at the weekend! Another point is that large breed puppies should not be over exercised until they are skeletally mature.

5. Give them extra attention

Sometimes showing your appreciation is as simple as paying more attention to them. Why not give them an extra belly rub today? Or two? A kiss on the forehead, or a pat on the back does the trick too! They love these kinds of moments because it makes them feel like the most special dog in the world! If all else fails, try this: hug your pup tight, look into their eyes deeply, and tell them how grateful you are for their unconditional love.

The ways to bond with your dog are limitless, but often it’s easier said than done. You need to make an effort on your end by doing some research, having open communication with your pup through eye contact or physical affection, and an overall appreciation for what they do best: being a furry companion.

6. Be happy and healthy!

Furthermore, by simply being around our pets this reduces stress and anxiety which is great for our health. Research has shown that stroking your dog for only 15 minutes lowers blood pressure by 10%! This is because it encourages the body to release natural “feel good” hormones, including serotonin, oxytocin, prolactin and even lowers the stress hormone cortisol! It’s another simple way for your and your dog to further bond and relax together – again, win-win!

Get in touch

If your dog, cat or small small animal requires extra care, Physio-Vet are specialist second opinion vets offering excellentphysiotherapy and orthopaedic treatmentsfor a wide variety of conditions.

Call 01270 586008 or send an email to [email protected] for more information.

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