How to bond with your dog

A strong bond with your dog makes life better for both of you. It's what makes your dog greet you happily when you come home and want to curl up beside you on the sofa. Many owners don't realise how much the bond matters, and it helps for every owner to know how to bond with their dog.

The bond is built on trust and respect. The bond is what stops your dog running away from you when they're off the lead. It's also the reason they listen when you ask them to do something, and it encourages good manners and attentiveness.

Many dogs show their excitement by jumping up when you get home. If you'd rather they didn't, calmly reward them for keeping four paws on the floor instead.

Give them praise

You probably praised your dog a lot when they first came home, but keep it going. Praise lets your dog know you appreciate their good behaviour, which encourages them to keep making good choices.

Look for everyday chances to praise them, such as waiting patiently while you fill their food bowl, or sitting nicely before a walk.

Play games together

Play isn't only about tiring your dog out. It's a chance to strengthen your bond. Join in properly, be creative and surprise your dog with different games, as not knowing what's coming next keeps them mentally engaged.

Tug

Many dogs love tug. Keep it interesting with different toys. Teach a "drop" cue and pause the game if play gets too rough. If your dog guards toys or becomes possessive, tug is not the right game for them.

Fetch

Some dogs love fetch. You can keep throwing different balls so one is always coming. Mix fetch with other games and keep sessions short, so chasing balls doesn't become the only thing your dog wants to do.

Hide and seek

Hide somewhere in the house and let your dog find you.

Find the toy

Hide one of their favourite toys and let them use their nose to hunt for it.

The point of all these games is to enjoy time together. Put your phone down and get playing.

Try something new

Dogs like a predictable routine, so it might seem odd to suggest surprises. But small changes to your dog's day can help strengthen your bond.

Change the time of a walk, or try a new route. Dogs love new places to sniff and explore. If your long walk is usually on a Sunday, try a Saturday as well. Small changes like these keep your dog alert and interested.

Teach your dog tricks

Every dog should know the basics, such as sit, come and stay. Learning more tricks gives your dog a chance to use their brain and show off. Training should be fun for both of you, not strict or regimented.

Many owners stop training once the basics are learned, which is a shame, as dogs enjoy learning. Teaching your dog to roll over or give a high five is a sure-fire way to keep them entertained and stimulated, and it strengthens your bond. A training session is mentally tiring too, so your dog will often sleep happily afterwards.