Imagup General Magazine 2024
If you are thinking about getting a dog, our advice is to go for it. If you have enough time on your hand, and none of your family members has allergies, there really isn’t a reason why you shouldn’t get a pet. There are so many benefits that you will gain, and most importantly, you will get a new friend forever.
Dogs can be extremely sensitive animals, and they will try to comfort you or cheer you up if they feel that your mood is down. However, a lot of future owners are concerned about building a relationship with their new pet. This is completely understandable, which is why, in the following text, we are going to give you some advice on how to build a strong, loving bond with your new furry friend.
Spend quality time together
We have already mentioned that you should get a dog only if you have more than enough time to dedicate it to them. We are not only talking about taking care of them but actually about getting to know each other.
Dogs want your attention, and if you want to create a strong relationship with them, well, then you have to give them that attention and love. This is especially true if you get a puppy. Keep in mind that, after all, they are just babies. You probably won’t be able to teach them some complicated tricks, but you can always cuddle and spend time with them. Find an activity that your new baby loves and go for it. Whatever that is, you have to shower them with love, because if the dog is happy, it will get easily attached to you, which is something that you want to achieve.
Set up the boundaries
This might seem a bit odd, but the reality is that dogs need boundaries to feel safe. For example, if you don’t want them to climb to your bed and sleep with you, but instead, use their own, you should be firm about it. This means that you shouldn’t take them to your bed just because you want to cuddle for a bit. Why? Well, this way, you will be sending them mixed signals, and they won’t be able to understand if they are allowed to climb up on their own.
The same thing goes for the food they eat, toys they can play with it, and even the area where they can spend time if you have a large backyard. When it comes to the last one, you have to teach them not to leave the garden and go under the fence, because this can pose a danger for them and their safety.
Learn what they like
Just like with people, if you want to create a bond with the pet, you have to learn their likes and dislikes. Some of these will be quite obvious, while it might take some time to understand the others. For example, not all dogs love hugs. Yes, we know, this is how most people express their affection to their pets, but animals find it to be quite stressful since their movements are restricted when you hold them tight.
Furthermore, don’t forget about the food. Your dog will love some treats that you give to them, but they won’t even smell the others. When it comes to finding the right food, you should start with some typical dog food, and work your way from there. Include new treats occasionally and observe your pet’s behavior.
Use training as one of the methods
This method is similar to the one with setting boundaries, but engaging in training activities can greatly improve your relationship. Whatever activity you choose, both of you will be equally invested, which is just another great way to spend quality time together.
If you use treats as rewards, your dog will warm up to you even faster. After all, they will know that you will reward them with something tasty and something they love so they will look at you in a whole other way. Plus, using treats during the training process makes it even more fun for the dogs. The information provided by this website will help you tremendously in how to get started and defining what method will work best for you and your dog.
Go for a walk
When you bring a new pet to your home, you have to provide them with the opportunity to get familiar with their new surroundings and neighborhood. In order to ensure that this happens, you should go for a walk as often as possible. This stroll around the area should be restricted if your dog is still too young to cross greater distances. As they grow old, you can expand your perimeter, and even go hiking together. As you can assume, this is a perfect opportunity to spend one-on-one time with your new pet, and get to know each other better.
However, when you are going out with your dog, you will need a certain equipment
To build up the relationship with your dog when walking, choosing the right leash is very important. However, not every leash is suitable for every dog or owner. If your dog is untrained or if you are not paying attention, both you and your dog could get seriously injured. Our advice is to go with a retractable Autobrake Leash, which was designed to reduce the force of the sudden runs out and more information about it can be found at FIDA Pet.
Play with together
So, we have mentioned training sessions and taking a walk, but you cannot forget about the playtime. There isn’t a single dog that will reject this special time with the owner. Not only is it another great way to build your relationship, but it is also extremely fun. One of the most popular games is a tug-of-war, and this one will actually allow you to establish yourself and the leader of your small pack.
Give it some time
Just like any other kind of relationship, this one cannot be established overnight. It is going to take some time, which is why you have to be persistent, but what’s more important, patient. Don’t try to rush things, but instead, give your new friend enough time to approach you and warm up to you.
