Making a routine of going hiking with your dog at least once a week can help strengthen your bond. As you hike together, pay attention to what your dog likes or dislikes. See if he prefers climbing up mountains, playing in wooded areas, or exploring the ground near water. Don’t make him do something he doesn’t want to do.
This can also be a great time to play Frisbee or catch with your dog, or just to let your dog run free. Any time you’re letting your dog be happy and free, you will be strengthening your bond because he’ll associate you with good feelings.
Look at your walking time with your dog as a time to be together, not as a time for you to multi-task. You can also go running with your dog, if he likes doing this with you. Running and breathing in sync can really make you feel connected.
If you have just three spare minutes a day, that’s all you need to play this game. You can make this ritual a part of you and your dog’s bonding routine.
You can make a ritual of it by taking your dog to a park every weekend, letting him know that this will be your “Frisbee time. ”
Playing catch lets your dog see that your time together isn’t all about business, and that sometimes, you just need to have some good clean fun together.
You can even call him toward you to begin the petting session. Using his name as you pet him reinforces your bond with your dog.
You don’t need to get him a new toy very often, either. This won’t necessarily help you bond, but taking the time to pick out the perfect toy every once in a while will strengthen your connection.
It can be hard to make time to be with your dog, especially if you have a demanding work or school schedule. Though giving your dog your full attention when you’re together is the best thing you can do, being around the home when he’s there while doing something else is better than nothing. If you can find a way to do some of the work or studying that you would normally do away from the house at home, your dog will appreciate it and will feel closer to you.
Dogs love having a routine that they can follow so they can better understand the world as well as your relationship. Try to be as consistent as possible in everything you do, from giving him praise to trying to teach him a lesson.
You can be affectionate in your words as well as your actions. Tell your dog that he’s a good boy whenever he deserves it, and shower him with praise as well as snuggles. You may not think so, but your dog really will be able to tell the difference between your voice when you’re feeling upset and when you’re happy with him. Be encouraging. When your dog is trying something new and fails, let him know that he’s a good boy and show him that he should try, try again.
Dogs are very intuitive. They’ll be able to see that they’ve upset you and will feel bad about it even if you don’t yell or lose your temper. Make sure to communicate clearly with your dog. Instead of getting emotional, tell him what he did and make your rules clear to him. [13] X Expert Source Sheri WilliamsCertified Dog Trainer Expert Interview. 5 June 2020.
Get down on eye level with your dog when you talk or play with him as much as you can. Maintain upright posture when you’re training your dog, so he knows you mean business. Don’t hit your dog or point at him in a negative manner, or he’ll be scared of your hands. If your dog is small, don’t tower over him or crowd him, or he’ll feel suffocated. Don’t stare right into your dog’s eyes for more than a second or two. He may take this as a threat or a challenge.
If your dog is more outgoing, then you should spend time hanging out with other dogs and people. If he’s more shy and needs a while to warm up to people, then he won’t appreciate it if you try to introduce him to fifty of your friends at once. Get to know your dog’s energy peaks and valleys too. If he’s more hyper in the mornings, make sure you get in a lot of activity then instead of forcing it in the evenings, when he will be more mellow and may just want to lie down.
Every dog is different. Some like to be massaged, while some may wrangle out of your grasp. Get a feel for what your dog likes as you try this new bonding activity. If he just prefers to be petted, then don’t force it and stick to that.
Making the effort to take your dog out with you will help you bond because he’ll be happy that you don’t want him to be cooped up all day. Plus, your dog may meet other dogs at these bars or restaurants that he may like to play with, so he’ll love the extra social time.
Entering your dog in competitions will mean that you have to spend a lot of quality time with your dog. What could be better than that?
Setting aside some time to watch a movie with your dog will let you slow down and just hang out with your dog without creating a bunch of elaborate plans for your bonding time. Though activities are nice, so is just hanging out, the same as it is when you’re hanging out with people.
It’s a win-win situation. Not only will you be helping out your community, but you’ll be bonding with your dog in a new way.
Take the trip to a fun, dog-friendly destination like a park or a beach. Make the experience all about letting your dog roam free while having fun with you.
