Nowadays, our dogs are much more than a four-legged companion who only shines because of their mere presence. They are much more accepted by their owners as a full family member and they are shown as much attention and trust as our own children. It’s not just dog owners who are interested in maintaining a close relationship with their furry friends. Dogs themselves are highly emotional beings and need an equally close bond with their owner as a social partner in order to live a balanced and happy life. The following tips will help you and your family to strengthen the bond with your dog and bring more harmony into your everyday life.
Take adventure walks
Every now and then it is advisable to take an adventure walk. This can mean, for example, that you take a particularly long walk or drive to a beautiful place that you do not know yet. Go on a discovery tour with your dog, experience new situations together, hide his favorite toy in the forest, and encourage him to search for it. Consciously enjoy the moments in which you walk silently and calmly next to each other and just enjoy nature.
During adventurous activities, you are constantly in contact with your dog through the experience of new and special situations. If, after a long and adventurous day, you also engage in some cuddle time together or a massage with extra special doggie products like a paw balm, your dog will thank you for it!
Strengthen trust
Mutual trust is the basis of any good bond between a dog and its owner. If your four-legged friend has the feeling that they cannot trust you, they will try on their own to deal with situations in which they feel uncomfortable. If, on the other hand, you as the owner resolve conflicts for your dog, he can simply relax and no longer needs to find solutions.
For example, when you take your dog for walks, you can provide protection by standing in front of them when they encounter unwanted dogs. If you are expecting visitors at home, ask your dog to stay in the doggie basket and calmly return him to the basket when he leaves. And if it is difficult for your dog to walk over an uneven surface or a bridge, why not turn it into a trust exercise? You can give lots of eye contact and encourage him to cross the bridge with you at his side instead of forcing him or letting him deal with the challenge alone.
Balance doggie play-time and rest-time
Dogs sleep an average of around 12 hours a day – significantly more than humans. In addition, there are additional rest periods of several hours. For dogs, rest is an extremely important part of their everyday routine. This is necessary in order to internalize what has already been learned and to process the experiences of the day. However, since dogs in today’s society sometimes have a fuller schedule than many school children, it can be difficult for them to find sufficient relaxation .
If dogs do not get the necessary rest, this can lead to stress and restlessness and sometimes make it even more difficult for the dog to shut down in everyday life. Because stress blocks learning in the brain, it can then lead to a reduced ability to concentrate during joint owner-dog activities such as agility, recall training and when you take your daily walk. This has a negative effect on the sense of achievement and frustration that occurs in both the dog and his owner. In turn, this has a negative effect on the human-dog bond.
For this reason, it is particularly important to observe your pet carefully and ensure that it’s receiving all the necessary rest it requires.
By putting these tips into action you will undoubtedly establish a lifelong connection and unbreakable bond with your dog.
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