If you want your relationship with your dog to grow, try looking for new ways you can connect with your dog on a deeper level. This could include trying new activities together, changing your daily routine, or learning to better understand their nonverbal communication. To get you started, we’ve put together a list of five ways to strengthen your bond with your dog.
Make every meal special
For many dogs, the fastest way to their heart is through the stomach. If this sounds familiar, a great way to strengthen your bond with your puppy is to feed them fresh, nutritious food that makes each meal a special treat. If you switch to Freshpet, you can even experiment with different types of recipes so it’s unlikely your dog will get bored with their meals. Currently, our recipes are available in three distinct formats:
- Handbag: Some of our recipes come in the form of ready meals available in a convenient, resealable bag.
- Rolls: Our classic sliceable rolls let you choose the size and shape for your puppy’s meal.
- Home style creation: Our original Homestyle Creations recipe consists of two parts – Patties and Mixers. The patties are designed to be chopped, split or chopped to enjoy as a complete and balanced meal or topped with additional Mixers.
Each formula was developed under the supervision of four veterinary nutritionists and formulated in a way that keeps the ingredients as close to their natural state as possible, while still meeting FDA and USDA standards. .
Learn to read your dog’s body language and actions
Your dog may not be able to speak, but that doesn’t mean they’re not trying to communicate with you. Dogs use a combination of body language and facial expressions to express their emotions and show that they love us. Taking the time to learn more about dogs’ body language and how they express their emotions will help you better understand what your dog is trying to tell you. For example, you may recognize some of these behaviors, but do you know what they mean?
- Your dog’s head is up, eyes are open and focused, and their ears are facing forward or moving slightly. If you see your dog doing this, it means something has caught their attention and they are assessing the situation.
- Your dog’s eyes widen and stares, their mouths are closed except when they’re licking their lips, and their ears are slightly back and moving like they’re trying to figure out where a sound is coming from. If your dog is doing this, then they are experiencing anxiety.
Being able to decipher these and other behaviors – and respond accordingly – is an important part of strengthening the bond you have with your dog. You can read more about this in our blog on How to understand your dog’s emotions.
Let’s experience new things together
Another great way to build an even stronger bond with your dog is to experience new things together. This can include capturing memories from a road trip or vacation, but it can also be smaller, everyday experiences like taking a new route for a walk or finding fun ways. to keep your dog’s mind active. Some fun ways to do this include:
- Play games that expand their ‘vocabulary’: Dogs can learn up to 165 different words, which makes the “name game” fun. Start by specifically naming your dog’s favorite toys and use them often during playtime. Over time, and with lots of positive reinforcement, your dog will be able to associate the name with the toy. You can experiment with this by placing the toy among other people and asking them to bring the toy for you.
- Go on a pet-friendly vacation: If you want to grow up and take your dog on vacation with you, make sure you review our tips for travel with pets.
Don’t treat training like a chore
When it comes to training, most pet parents assume that once their dog has mastered basic commands, such as sit, stay, and come, they’re all set. But in fact, ongoing training can be a great way to strengthen the bond you have with your dog. Dogs are happiest when their minds are challenged and doing small training exercises throughout the day is an easy way to not only keep their brains busy but also teach them some pretty cool tricks. taste! If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to training, check out our blog on positive reinforcement training – a science-backed way to train your dog.
Take time each day to give them your undivided attention
The relationship you have with your dog is like any other – if you want to strengthen it, you need to make time for it. One way to do this is to spend part of your day chatting with your puppy one-on-one. How you spend this time will vary depending on the dog, but you should spend that time doing something they enjoy. Some ideas include:
- Walking in the woods
- Check out a new dog park
- Driving in a car
- Try a new activity, like brisk walking or pier diving
Regardless of the activity you choose, try spending at least 30 minutes a day focusing on that activity with your dog. Rotating through different activities will keep things interesting and strengthen your relationship in different ways. For example, learning a new trick or trying a new activity will strengthen your relationship through teamwork, while cuddling on the couch will strengthen your relationship through physical contact.
Do you have other ideas on how to strengthen your bond with your dog? Share it in the comments for other pet parents to try!
