Mary Allen
You are master or mistress as soon as you buy a dog. But that’s still a long way from being a real team. These tips will make you inseparable!
If you go through the world not only as a human and dog but as a well-rehearsed team, this has enormous advantages for both sides. They can rely on each other, have boundless trust, and have much more joy together than if they just lived next to each other. In this way, you strengthen the bond with your dog and become an unbeatable team.
Strengthen the bond while playing
Whenever possible, use the time with your dog to play games together. Basically, you have the opportunity to do this everywhere: at home as well as when going for a walk. Hide your dog’s favorite toy in the apartment and let him look for it. If he can’t find it on his own, help him. In this way, he learns that it is worthwhile for him to work with you.
Take your dog’s ball or cuddly toy with you on your walks. Whenever he’s not paying attention to you, hide it and let him find it. Since the distraction is greater outside, it can make sense to start easier here and just drop the toy at first. If your dog reliably brings it to you, you can gradually increase the difficulty.
Important: It must always be fun for both of you. If something doesn’t work, don’t get angry about it, just make it a little easier next time. If it works, you and your dog can look forward to all dimensions!
Strengthen the bond with food
This variant can be used in addition to point 1. If your dog is more greedy than playful, you can also go this route entirely.
Take advantage of the fact that your dog is dependent on you. That sounds heartless at first, but it can mean endless fun for the dog every day: Don’t give your four-legged friend his dry food in the bowl at home, but take it with you on your walks. Then proceed as described in point 1: as soon as your dog moves away from you or is inattentive, hide a few chunks of the food. The effort here is extremely low: just drop a chunk of food while walking. Then call your dog and show him where to look. Accompany the gesture with a command (e.g. “Search!”). When your dog finds the treat, give him praise and then let him go (e.g. with the command “Run!”).
Since your dog will soon know that you are worth coming back to, the future recall will be a breeze for both of you.
Important: Make sure that your dog only eats the food you have distributed! If this is difficult, you should rather work with a toy. Also, don’t let your dog train you. Food is only available if YOU want it. If your dog approaches you with wide eyes without you having called him, you may be happy, but you should not allow yourself to be trained to use the treat machine.
Strengthening the bond through caresses
Giving your dog loving touches is not only good for your four-legged friend. At the same time, you lower your stress level and can switch off from everyday life. Use every opportunity to stroke, scratch, or cuddle your dog.
Among wolves, physical contact is used to strengthen the bond: Here the animals snuggle up close to each other, which releases the “cuddling hormone” oxytocin. It ensures that you bond more closely to your cuddle partner. You can also take advantage of this effect: Whenever possible, snuggle up to your fur nose or let yourself be cuddled. If your dog is not allowed on the couch or in bed, sit with him on the floor and enjoy the physical closeness. It will bind you tightly together very soon.
Boredom is the end of every relationship. It is no different for dogs and humans. Keep life exciting for you and your dog by not walking the same paths day in and day out and meeting the same other dogs over and over again.
Pack your dog and head to the mountains or a lake. It doesn’t have to be far. The next piece of forest can also be a welcome change. There are plenty of new things for your tail wag to discover here. If you then use points 1 and 2, the trip will become an exciting shared experience for you and your dog, which will bring you a little closer together again.
Together you will soon be unbeatable
If you use all these possibilities and rely on clarity (e.g. by always using the same commands) and consistency (“Off!” means “Off!”), the relationship between you and your dog will change in no time at all change positive. You will be amazed how quickly your four-legged friend will understand how many positive things you can do. It is therefore only natural that he will particularly enjoy being in your area in the future and that you will grow into an unbeatable team.