Bond With Your Dog

Nothing is better than when your doggie looks lovingly at you, keeps tabs on you, and wants to be near you. Then you know that you are your dog’s whole world and he is yours. And nothing will break this incredible bond two of you share.

“The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be.” Konrad Lorenz

Bit of History 

The relationship between humans and dogs can be traced back at least 15.000 years to the Bonn-Oberkassel dog. He was found buried with two humans. Genetic evidence shows that this dog was not a local wolf.

Signs of a strong bond between you and your dog:

*Being happy to see you, vocalize his joy and by animated

*Smiling at you, wag their tails, rub into you and make eye contact

*He will often be checking to see where you are and frequently looking at you

*Keeping tabs on your location when they are off-leash

*Being obedient happily without hesitation

*A love for physical interaction, wanting to be near you

*An eagerness to protect and help you 

Signs of a weak bond:

*Lack of focus and eye contact

*Won’t respond to commands and especially the recall command

*Regular attempts to run off

*Being aggressive towards you

*Being lethargic, depressed, lack of desire to play

*Doesn’t like being handled

*Treats you like any others in the family

Are there ways how to strengthen your bond with your doggie? 

Yes, there are. If you think the bond with your dog is not as strong as it could be, there are ways to improve it. As I like to say, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day,’ and we have to work on everything. There are a few ways how you can achieve it. 

Ways to bond with your dog:

*Create a routine

*Engage in playtime

*Teach some tricks. Training is a great way to build a stronger bond and better relationship with your dog

*Hand-feed your dog with treats from time to time

*Bond through brushing

*Be consistent with the way you communicate with your dog

*Pet with a purpose, create some cuddle time, praise them

*Get some exercise together

*Give your dog a space

*Learn your dog’s body language

*Stay calm

If you need professional help in the whole process of bonding with your dog, you might consider finding a good Dog behaviourist. I would highly recommend Adam Dunn. Adam is qualified to degree level (Adv.Dip.Canineprac) and experienced Canine behaviourist and Psychologist.

Bea xx