Five ways to nurture a close bond with your dog

Creating a close bond with your dog based on trust and respect on both sides is the foundation of all successful dog-owner relationships.

Scientific research shows that positive attitudes and friendly social interactions are important in enhancing the well-being of both dog and owner. Furthermore, dogs with a close bond with their owner are less likely to develop inappropriate behaviours.

So, developing and maintaining that special bond with your own dog is critically important and will have far reaching benefits to everyone..

Top five tips

Here are my top five tips that you can do to develop and nurture that close bond with your dog:

1. Be kind, calm and friendly

It sounds so blindingly obvious, but sometimes the most obvious things can get missed. Bonding doesn’t have to involve planned activities and grand gestures. Simple things like making eye contact with your dog and giving them lots of praise in a calm and friendly manner can all make such a big difference.

And remember to smile! Just think about the interactions you have with other people during the day. A simple smile from a friendly face is sometimes all it takes to lift your mood. Dogs pick up on this too, so a calm, happy and smily owner will often mean a calm and happy dog.

2. The power of touch

Research shows that when you stroke your dog, serotonin is released in both yours and your dog’s brain. Serotonin is a chemical that regulates mood and can reduce stress and anxiety. So, cuddling your dog makes you both feel good and enhances mental health. Such a simple win-win situation!

3. Teach a new trick

If your dog has already mastered the basic obedience commands, you can further their training by teaching a trick such as roll-over, high five or to play dead. Your dog will love the attention and praise they receive from you, and this will act to strengthen the bond of trust between you both.

4. Make walks fun

It is very easy to fall into the trap of plodding along on a walk, lost in your own thoughts. But walks are a perfect time to give your dog your undivided attention.

Walks can be made more engaging and interactive for your dog by incorporating a spot of ball throwing or by playing hide and seek with treats. Be spontaneous and surprise your dog with a new game or toy. Your dog will soon love spending time with you and will be watching you closely to see what fun activity you will spring on him next.

5. Social Activities

Dog agility classes and fly-ball are perfect ways to develop that social bond with your dog further and meet other dog owners at the same time. Spending time together doing activites that you both enjoy will help build and maintain the strongest of bonds.

But don’t worry if organised classes and activities aren’t your thing. Going for a walk with a friend and their dog, or playing games with your dog at home will all help build the social bond.

Free stuff

These top five tips are available on my free information sheet, available by clicking here.