How to bond with your dog: 12 fail-safe tips

Updated 27/09/2024

A pup bounding towards you, responding to your commands and relaxing in your company - there’s nothing quite like it. And while the human-canine companionship goes back centuries, building that special connection can take a little work. That’s why here, we explore how to bond with your dog and how to build trust with 12 simple, yet effective tips.

12 ways to build a better bond with your dog:

1. Build a routine
2. Training and consistency
3. Exercise together
4. Play 
5. Affection with purpose
6. Dedicated quality time
7. Allow for space
8. Respond to body language
9. Teach tricks
10. Grooming and massage
11. Agility
12. Hand feeding

1. Build a routine 

Love it or hate it, routine is seriously healthy for our furry friends. Dogs are at their happiest when they know what’s expected of them (we’ll get onto consistency below), so building a routine is paramount to a happy pooch.

Repeated actions and tasks in their daily routine help your pup to feel safe, and build trust with those around them. 

So, if you want to know how to bond with your dog, start with building a routine that makes them feel secure.

Think about sticking to a consistent time for walkies, exercise, training, and feeding - keeping it all regular and similar helps your pup to know where they stand, and what’s expected of them.

2. Training and consistency

If you’re wondering how to build trust with your dog, one sure way is to train your pooch up from the moment they’re in your care. 

Picking a training routine with positive reinforcement throughout will help your new doggo grow into a happy, confident adult dog. Plus, if you’re their trainer, the sessions themselves help the two of you to bond, and the consistency will help to build trust.

3. Exercise together

If you’re unsure how to connect with your dog in a way that fits into your routine, one way to strengthen that wonderful human-canine bond is to exercise together. Whether you walk, run, or swim, exercise is one way to spend quality time with one another - those positive endorphins will be flying between you!

4. Play 

One of the most important parts of bonding with a puppy or new adult dog you’ve welcomed home is play. Amongst all the training and new routine, play is integral to not only the bond between dogs and humans, but your pup’s happiness and in turn, their behavior. 

A study by Bristol University found that playtime has a key role in the behavior of dogs. In fact, those who don’t get enough could suffer from anxiety and develop aggressive tendencies.

So, whether it’s playing fetch, ‘find it’, or hide and seek, playtime sure is key to a happy dog (and human).

5. Affection with purpose

If you’re wondering how to make your dog love you, show your doggo you love them first - they’ll appreciate physical affection (in small doses). Along with mindful cuddles (that means more than the odd stroke as you pass by), our furry friends also appreciate eye contact. 

That’s right - gazing into your eyes can make your pooch feel great and strengthen the bond between the two of you. In fact for dogs, holding eye contact with their favorite humans causes dogs to release 130% more oxytocin (i.e. the love hormone) than when looking at something else, research shows.

6. Dedicated quality time

Just like us humans, it’s safe to say that our furry friends need quality time with their humans. So, if you’re wondering how to bond with your dog, spend time with them - it’s priceless, and it only helps the two of you become closer.

7. Allow for space

While it might seem counterintuitive when you’re looking for how to bond with your dog, we can’t stress how important it is to give them the space they need.

Allowing your pooch a safe space to recharge after a busy day or time spent with lots of other dogs builds trust and helps them feel comfortable and safe in your home.

8. Respond to body language

While you might have the best intentions with your pooch, sometimes they might simply need some time out. And as our furry friends can’t speak, it’s really important for the humans around them to read their body language.

To build a stronger bond and trust between the two of you, get to know your dog’s emotions and how they’re displayed. That way, your pup doesn’t feel you’re invading their space, and trusts that you respect their boundaries.

9. Teach tricks

There is nothing quite like helping your pup master a few tricks. Whether it’s dance, roll over or speak, teaching tricks to your pup will build a strong bond as your doggo will be eager to please and get reward no-end when they achieve in front of you.

10. Grooming and massage

One way to show love to your pooch and build that life-long bond is through massage and grooming. Spending time on pamper sessions will be greatly appreciated by your pup - whether it’s a dog massage or a coat tidy up they prefer.

11. Agility

If you’re after bonding activities to do with your dog, why not take up the hobby of agility training? Yup - it’s just as much learning (and reward) for us humans as it is our dogs. 

12. Hand feeding

If you’re wondering how to bond with your puppy and how to gain your dog’s trust, one great way is to hand feed your pooch every now and then. We’re not suggesting you sit there for every meal, but handing treats and part of a meal helps your pup to know the trust is reciprocated.

Meet our veterinary expert, Emma

This article has been checked by veterinarian Emma Chandley, BVetMed MRCVS PGCertSAS. Emma graduated from the Royal Vet College in London in 2011. She has a keen interest in surgery and went on to do a postgraduate certificate in small animal surgery and was then awarded advanced practitioner status in the same discipline.

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