How to Bond with Your Rescue Dog

After going through the process of searching for the best rescue dog for you and your family, the time has finally come to bring your new family member home.

The early days are spent finding ways to make your new rescue dog feel at home, but there is another question that many new dog owners find themselves pondering – how to bond with your rescue dog.

After all, we have all seen the stories of the incredible bond that inspires books and movies.

You may be surprised to learn that some of the best ways to bond with your dog are activities that are already part of your daily schedule. Bonding with your dog isn’t based as much on what you’re doing as it is on how you do it.

The Importance of Bonding with Your Dog

The bond that exists between dog and owner, also known as the ‘human-animal bond’ is one that will greatly benefit both you and your dog.

On one hand, your dog will receive the love, companionship, care, and affirmation that he needs.

Meanwhile, having a close relationship with your dog can improve your emotional, mental, and physical health in many ways.

In addition to the personal benefits that both you and your dog will experience, bonding with your dog and strengthening that relationship can improve trust and your dog’s willingness to learn and train.

If your dog trusts you and feels connected to you, they will want to make you happy.

This makes it easier to raise a well-behaved and well-mannered dog, setting you up for a long, happy life spent together.

However, this bond isn’t built or strengthened magically without effort on your part.

To truly experience the benefits of the human-animal bond in your life, you need to be willing to actively work on your relationship.

The good news is that there are many fun and effective ways that you can build and strengthen your bond.

Ways to Bond with Your Dog

When you first bring your dog home, give him time to adjust to his new environment.

As he gets used to his surroundings and his new ‘pack’, you can start focusing your attention on building that special bond that will serve you for the rest of your time together.

Here are 6 simple ways to bond with your dog that you can easily work into your daily schedule.

Training and Learning

From creating and enforcing house rules to teaching your dog cute tricks, learning together is a great way to improve your bond.

Throughout the training process, you are working together toward a common goal.

It is all about communicating effectively with one another, making mistakes together, and having fun with the process.

When you first introduce the dog to your house, this could be training them on the expectations and rules around your house.

If, later in your relationship, you feel that you have run out of training opportunities that you can comfortably create, try taking an advanced training class to continue building on their skills.

Have Fun Together

I can’t stress the importance of interactive play with your dog enough!

Playtime is an opportunity for you both to put everything aside and focus on connecting and having fun with one another in a very positive way.

Enjoy games where you interact with one another like fetch or tug-of-war.

Some dogs aren’t as interested in toys but love simply going on walks or visiting the park together.

The goal is to bond with your dog by spending quality time having fun together, whatever that may look like.

Join a New Hobby Together

If you’re looking for a good way to increase the amount of quality time that you are spending together, consider starting a hobby together.

There are many fun dog-friendly hobbies that you can enjoy together including hiking, camping, canoeing, agility, skijoring, running, flyball, dock diving, and scent work.

Each of these activities will provide you with a great opportunity for bonding with your dog by having you work together as a team.

Do you need some guidance in the beginning? Check out local clubs in your area.

Grooming Time

Taking the time to groom your dog is a necessary part of dog ownership, maintaining his coat, teeth, and nails.

However, this is also one of the easiest ways to bond with your dog, as it’s already part of your schedule.

Make the grooming process a positive experience by offering praise and encouragement.

Your dog will look forward to it as a chance for love and affection while accomplishing those necessary tasks.

Try Hand Feeding

This isn’t something that you have to do all the time but taking the time to hand feed your dog treats or even his meal a couple of times each week is another great bonding opportunity.

Not only does it include the positive association of food or treats, but you are also interacting with one another the whole time.

As your dog tries to take the rewards from you gently, he is focusing on you, your commands, and your expectations for good behavior.

Curl Up for Some Cuddles

Take some time out of your schedule and make it a priority to be intentional with the praise and attention that you are giving your dog.

Put down your phone, close the laptop, and dedicate this time to your pup and your pup alone.

If your dog is overly affectionate, he may be interested in curling up on the couch with you to watch a movie.

A timid dog may find this to be too much, but still love being pet.

Let your dog dictate how hands-on you are throughout this process and call it if you notice that your pup is getting uncomfortable in the early days.

Bonding with an Abused Dog

While not every dog that you adopt will have gone through the experience of abuse, I don’t feel that we can discuss how to bond with your rescue dog without touching on this important point.

Dogs that have experienced a history of abuse may be more fearful or mistrusting of people.

The first step in bonding with an abused dog is to focus on rebuilding the trust that they have lost due to their experience.

When first bringing your dog home, you need to provide them with a calm, safe environment where they can adjust and decompress.

Talk in a low, soft voice when around your dog and stick to slow movements to avoid frightening him.

While the 3-3-3 rule of bringing home a dog does provide an idea of how long it will take for a new rescue dog to settle in, a dog with a history of abuse may take longer to work through this process.

Allow your dog to dictate the speed you move at, watching for signs of fear or comfort.

Avoid using any punishment that is harsher than a firm ‘no’. Instead, use a positive reinforcement approach to training.

With patience and understanding, your new dog will slowly learn that you are a safe presence in his life.

NOTE: If you are struggling with extreme fear or nervousness in your dog or are unsure of how to gain a dog’s trust after a history of abuse and want some guidance, connect with an animal behaviourist for guidance from a professional.  

Try to remember throughout this process that every dog is different, depending on their past experiences, breed, age, and personality among other things.

While one dog may bond quickly, others take a little more time and patience on your part.

But one thing is true – the special connection that you will share when you get there is worth it every time!

How do you bond with your rescue dog in your daily routine? Do you have specific activities or times set out just to connect?

Feature Image Credit: SDI Productions | Canva