6 Proven Ways to Strengthen Your Bond With Your Dog

A dog is the best friend you can have. They'll love you unconditionally, protect you, and be the best companion you could ask for. There is no better way to show your love and affection than by properly caring for them and making them part of the family.

This includes making sure they are healthy and happy, which requires attention and effort, but it's worth it. Here are some tips on how to create a stronger human-canine bond with your canine family member.

1. Set Aside Time Each Day for Your Dog

Make time to spend with your dog, whether it's just a few minutes, an hour, or more. No matter the amount of time, commit to it and follow through on it. Spend time with your dog before going to work in the morning, after returning home from work in the evening—or both! These are great opportunities to relax together while enjoying each other's company.

If you have time during the day, walks can be great exercise for both of you and help reduce stress and anxiety for dogs and humans. Keep a few toys handy to interact with your dog when you take breaks during the day. Many dogs love playing ball, or they may prefer you toss a stuffed toy.

2. Give Your Dog a Job

As you probably know, dogs are pack animals. They need a job to do and will look to their owners for direction. Some breeds, like German shepherds and border collies, will get into mischief if they don't have a job to keep them occupied. Dogs can be trained to perform many tasks, from retrieving lost items and helping people with disabilities to sniffing out drugs and bombs in airports.

If your dog has a special skill set that makes them useful, it's worth teaching them to do the job well. However, if your dog doesn't have talents or skills they could contribute to helping mankind (or even just your own household), there are still things you can teach them.

Here are some examples:

• Fetching things: This is one of the most popular dog tricks, and you can use it for various purposes. For example, you can use it as a command when you need your dog to grab something off the floor or from another room.
• Opening doors: Teaching your dog this trick takes some time, but once your dog learns it, they'll never forget! Start by training them to push against an open door with their nose until it closes or opens completely. Reward them each time they do this. They'll soon figure out that pushing with their nose makes doors open faster! If your dog is large enough and the doors have the right type of handle, they may even operate the handle and open a completely closed door for you!
• Opening windows: If your dog already knows how to open doors, then training them to open windows should be easy. Start by placing a treat outside a partially open window (with no screen) and let them stick their nose through the opening so you can give it to them easily.

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3. Exercise With Them

Exercising with your dog will help both of you stay healthy and fit. Here are some ways to stay active with your dog:

• Take a walk: Walks are an excellent way to exercise with your dog. They can be done in almost any weather and don't require special equipment or training. Walks provide mental stimulation and physical activity for dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds.
• Hiking trails are ideal for nature lovers who want to get out into the woods with their dogs but have trouble keeping up with them on walks through their neighborhood. Hiking allows you to explore new places with your canine companion while giving them plenty of room to roam around and explore their surroundings at their own pace.
• Swimming pools are great places for exercising with dogs, because they allow them to play freely in the water without worrying about getting too hot or tiring out too quickly. Swimming pools also provide an opportunity for human-canine bonding time where you can interact. Visit a dog park and get involved with the action there yourself by throwing a frisbee or ball with your dog and the other dogs at the park.

4. Look at the World From a Dog's Perspective

You can strengthen the bond you have with your dog by looking at the world from their perspective. For example, dogs are more likely to be curious about their environment than humans. They're also often afraid of things around them, which is why it's important to help them feel comfortable in new situations and places. The comfort you give them will deepen the bond between you.

5. Learn their Language

Your dog has their own way of communicating, so it's important to learn their language. Dogs use body language and facial expressions to communicate. They also make sounds that people can hear, such as barking or whining.

Dogs don't understand human language, but they can learn how to understand some human words over time. The more hours you spend with your pet, the more you can communicate with them using both human and dog languages!

6. Get to Know Your Dog's Background

To strengthen your bond with your dog, spend time getting to know your dog's background. Where did they come from? What is their breed? How old are they, and do they need a special diet?

It's important to know these things, so you can take care of your pooch better! You can build a stronger bond with your dog by treating them like you would a family member or friend. Get to know their likes and dislikes and what they need to feel secure.

Dogs Are Family

Your dog is an integral part of your family, and when you treat them as such, they will feel loved and appreciated in a way that strengthens the bond between the two of you.

References

• "How To Strengthen The Bond With Your Dog - K9 Magazine." 21 Apr. 2012, https://www.k9magazine.com/strengthen-bond-dog/.
• "Strengthening bond with dog - Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA." https://phs-spca.org/strengthening-bond-with-dog/.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.