Bonding With Your New Dog

When your family welcomes a new dog, whether he’s a puppy or a rescue dog, it’s important you start bonding with him right away. Your dog wants to feel loved, welcome, comfortable and safe. Just like humans, dogs can get scared and nervous in a new environment. The following are some ways to immediately start bonding with your dog so he can feel welcome in your family and your home.

Practice Patience

Patience is perhaps the greatest step when it comes to bonding. If you start incorporating the dog into your busy life too quickly, little Fluffy could get overwhelmed. Depending on the temperament of your dog, it could be a while before everyone feels safe around each other.

Don’t take it personal if your dog seems distant to begin with. Give it time. Allow your dog to move at his own pace. If he’s shy, don’t invite your friends over. If he likes to play and run, spend plenty of time outside allowing him to get used to the yard. Not only will patience allow everyone to get used to each other, it will establish trust between you and your dog, and that’s an essential part of good bonding.

Allow the Dog to Join You

There are a lot of things you’ve got going on in your life, and including your dog in those things could create a true bond. For example, when you sit down to relax or watch a program on TV, let Fido curl up next to you on the couch. You can get couch protectors to keep your furniture fresh, allowing your dog to relax when you relax.

If you exercise on a regular basis, include the dog in your routine. For example, perhaps you typically go to the gym. Switch up your routine and do some things around your neighborhood so the dog can join in. Go on a run, making sure the dog has a comfortable leash so he learns to enjoy running and exercise as well. Play with your dog at a park. Frisbee , fetch, tug of war and other similar activities are good exercise for both you and your dog.

While the first couple weeks may be stressful and an unwise time to take a trip, slowly incorporate your dog’s life into your trips as well. When traveling, it’s important you take all safety precautions, such as having plenty of water on hand, using a pet car seat and going to areas that are safe for pets.

Handfeed Your Dog

You want your dog to know he can trust you, no matter what. Handfeeding is a great way to build that trust. It also creates a bond when your dog knows you’re there to take care of him. As your dog eats out of one hand, give him a good rub behind the ears with your other hand.

If eating out of your hand doesn’t sound appealing to you, take some extra time when you’re giving your dog a treat . Sit down on the floor, start petting him as he sits next to you, and give him the treat when you’re both calm and relaxed so it’s an enjoyable experience.

Make Rules and Be Consistent

Just like with a child, it’s important your dog knows what you expect of him. If little Fido is allowed to just run wild all day, there will be no discipline and it will be harder to train him in the ways you would like him to act. Set some rules. If you don’t want your new dog in your bedroom, make sure there’s a gate , keep the door closed and instill a consequence when he breaks in. Be sure the whole family is in agreeance on the rules so one person isn’t rewarding him for behavior you disapprove of.

Be consistent with your rules and your schedule. When your dog knows what is expected, and realizes it’s the same today, yesterday and tomorrow, he will feel a greater bond and know that he belongs in your family. Some things to consider in your routine include a feeding schedule, rewards for good behavior, punishments for bad behavior, playtime, going on walks, bedtime, outdoor potty breaks and other similar items.

Give Your Dog Some Space

Although everyone in the family is going to want to smother your new dog with affection, it’s important you give him some space. Set up an area in your home that belongs to your dog. Whether it’s a corner of the kitchen or an unused bedroom, your dog needs a space he can feel safe and comfortable in. In his space, include his bed, his toys and even wall décor that says, “This is my space.” When you can tell he’s stressed out, allow him to retreat to his personal space. Leave him there until he’s ready to come out and be a part of the family again. If you sense depression, it might help for one person, such as yourself, to go sit with him and comfort him.

Play With Your Dog

Playtime is important, especially for young, energetic dogs. When you allow your dog to play, get his energy out and display his fun personality, you’re telling him it’s OK to be a dog and be himself. Play with your dog, rather than just sitting there, watching. If he’s getting comfortable with the whole family, engage in a big game of fetch. Take him to the lake and let him swim with everyone. Playtime is perhaps one of the moments your dog will look forward to every day, so be consistent with it, and show him you can have fun together.

As you can see, there are a lot of things you can do to bond with your dog. Take some time to pay attention to his personality so you can really understand his needs. When you’ve got a handle on that, you can tailor your bonding experiences.