by Diane Garrod

Created on: August 24, 2009   Last Updated: August 25, 2009

People may laugh when you say things like "you should build a relationship with your dog" or "it is important to build a strong bond with your dog." People can barely surmise or commit to doing this with human relationships, let alone with understanding another species and their needs. Yet, creating a bond with your dog is important because it minimizes behavior problems. Dogs are social creatures, they need to build strong ties with members of their family and a bond is what makes you worth listening to. Being worth listening to means you are respected. Respect to a dog equals having confidence in you as the leader, the provider, the hunter.

A bond cannot be forced. It is offered willingly and loyally. It is a natural by-product of positive training techniques. It is a real feeling of being a part of your life, family and community.

People say, "I thought love was enough" when it comes to bonding with their dog. The reality is love is not enough. It is part of the equation. Your dog can become too bonded to you, or avoid bonding with you. Too much of a bond may lead to separation anxiety or other behavioral problems. Too little can lead to escape behaviors, lack of respect, taking over the household or confusion, even reactivity and aggression.

The importance of bonding with your dog is building ties intertwined with trust, respect and reliable response. A true bond is strong, earned and trust is the end result. Positive interactions with your dog provides less stress for the dog so the strong bond between you means your dog will progress faster.

How do you create a bond?

Build Trust

From the beginning be a person your dog is able to trust. When you say you are going for a walk, go. Trust is built daily. If trust is violated, it is a lengthy process to get back. Be reliable in your actions and expectations of your dog. Trust is earned not forced. It means establishing respect in your household sticking to feeding and exercise times, being reliable in your behavior and how you handle not only your dog, but the things you expose your dog to, such as other people, other dogs, objects and real life situations.

Mental Stimulation

Training is one element of mental stimulation. Provide problem solving problems. Mental stimulation can be Frisbee play, ball play, obedience training, trick training, classes for agility or dance or creating a dive dog, or doing dog sports such as hunting, herding, conformation.. Mentally stimulating activity can also be find,

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