by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: October 20, 2010   Last Updated: October 31, 2010

Bonding with your dog should be your primary goal if you wish to have a fulfilling relationship with your dog. The biggest satisfaction in dog training comes when dog and owners start to bond together.  When people bring their dogs to training classes, you can easily tell from their interactions if there is a bond or not.

Generally, when there is not a bond, dogs will appear disoriented, almost as if they are in their small world, alone  and with no guidance. When there is a bond instead, dogs will follow their owner and have faith in them. If the owner leaves the dog unattended for a few seconds, the dog will start looking for its human companion, when there is no bond, very likely the dog will continue as if his life can go on without him.

Bonding with your dog is fundamental, no dog can be trained well if  no bond is established. You can bond with your dog by providing your dog with the leadership, guidance and  the level of commitment required to make your dog feel comfortable in your presence and secure. Often, a good bond is formed by taking your dog on frequent walks, playing together and going to training classes. Competing together in sports may even make the bond stronger.

Often dog owners question why their dog is not interested in following directions and obeying to commands. In other circumstances, owners wonder why their canine companion escapes from the yard to explore the world. Most likely, these are signs no bond has been established between dog and owner. A dog that bonds with its owner, will be eager to please him and will not want to leave his pack because it is considered his family, his safe haven.

Creating a bond however does not mean giving the dog treats and petting the dog when the dog demands it. Your dog may listen to you when he sees a treat but he many be smart enough to know that once there are no more treats, the fun is over. In these cases, the dog is simply obeying commands because he knows you have food. Because there is no bond and no eagerness to please owners, these dogs will only work for treats and continue to do so.

There are many ways you can bond with your dog.  If you take your dog on a leisurely walk each day, without letting your dog walk you, your dog may bond to you and start seeing you as his leader and see himself as the follower. Obedience training will make your dog eager to work for you. Sports like agility will build up your dog's confidence level and your dog will learn to rely on you for directions. Clicker training will open up your dog's mind and your dog will learn to trust you and be eager to get things right. Playing with your dog is another great way to bond, if the right games are played.

There are also many ways to destroy your bond with your dog or diminish it over time. Leaving your dog in the yard alone all day long will cause your dog to become independent and more likely to be more interested in its environment than in you. Allowing your dog to do as it pleases all day without limitations and guidance, will cause your dog to believe he rules the household and will cause an unhealthy relationship. Punishing your dog may also cause your dog to lose trust in you and will negatively affect the bond. 

Creating a strong bond with your dog should be your top priority as a dog owner. It is a pleasure to watch a dog who is eager to please its owner and trusts him. Strong bonds are also the most likely to cause a high level of satisfaction and eagerness to work together. Without a bond, dogs and owners lead their lives as two separate entities: two specimens going on different paths instead of walking together. 

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