Let’s all be honest and admit that we all selfishly take our dogs’ love and affection for granted. Drained and tired after a busy day, we all cuddle with our dogs but do we spend as much time playing with them as when we got them? The pieces of advice for strengthening the relationships with animals are basically quite similar to the ones for human relationships. The key is always in spending quality time together, and there is no one who would appreciate that more than your dog.
Feed them
Spend time preparing your dog’s meals with love, as dogs can feel that. If you don’t have time, then don’t feel sorry to spend money on the best food for them. Also, experts say that the best way to feed your dog is to give them tasks before meals and let them earn their food. You can buy different treats and other quality dog supplies online to reward your pet’s good behavior in any situation.
Communicate
Although your dog is able to feel your affection, it is a good idea to show it often. Apart from frequent cuddles, it is nice to talk to them, show them respect and praise them if they potty in the right place, if they fetch you something you asked them to or any time they show obedience. It is enough to smile at them, pet their head and say, “Good job!” Like people, animals like to know if they are doing well, and your positive feedback is all the encouragement they need. Apart from listening to you, your dog also carefully observes your reactions, behavior and your body language. Be careful that your message is always clear, whether you comment on their positive or negative behavior. The better you understand each other, the stronger your relationship gets.
Show respect
No matter how stressed you are, you need to remind yourself that your dog loves you unconditionally, so don’t lash out at them, no matter what they did. Try to remain calm in every situation and show them how to behave correctly. Although you need to give your dog independence to explore, be careful to observe their body language carefully. There are signs that you can easily recognize that can show you that your dog is stressed or feels uncomfortable. When you notice that, react and protect them; that will build up the trust between you. If you show respect for their emotions and needs, their love and respect for you will only grow.
Play
Make sure to find time for your dog. Play with them without any distractions as they need to know that they are important to you and to feel as your priority. When playing, it is very important to be creative and innovative: this develops your dog’s skills and piques curiosity and interest. Also, by challenging their capability, you give them a chance to show off, and dogs love that. If you play fetch, use a lot of balls of multiple colors. This will confuse your dog and make the game more interesting. You can also try playing hide and seek with your pet, by hiding from them and calling their name, or just hiding their favorite toy and making them find it. You can use different tools, sticks or even toys for other pets to make it exciting and funny.
Train them
Training your dog is beneficial for both of you. Your relationship can only get better if your dog learns to understand your commands and feels good about listening to you, and you will benefit from their obedience as you will be able to take them basically anywhere with you and therefore, spend more time together. Be patient and reward their success. Any dog can learn to sit down, stay calm and to walk obediently next to you, it is just a matter of persistence. Also, try to walk your dog as much as you can. Dogs enjoy long walks, and it can only be healthy for you, as well as rewarding for your relationship. To make your walks more interesting, try changing your route frequently as well as the schedule of walks. If you surprise your dog with an unexpected walk, they will be grateful and the whole experience might be completely different and interesting to you as well.
And finally, if you really don’t have time for extra walks and play, just let your dog be your companion when working, doing house chores, shopping or doing anything else, as teamwork is the best way to bond.