How did YOU bond with your pup?

[ladyfreckles]

Just as the title says, when you had a puppy, what sort of ways did you use to bond with it? I'm curious of what various people did to develop a relationship. You can answer even if you no longer have puppies.

I take Viking with me everywhere. If I go upstairs to the office I bring him and the ex-pen to the office. If I go out I bring him with me in the car. When I'm just sitting around on my laptop I sit in the ex-pen with him and play with him. I play peekaboo with him from behind the couch. I'm trying to slowly incorporate training into his routine. Very slowly. I turn it into a game, which he seems to like. So far he's only understood quiet, but he's getting there.

What do you guys do to bond with your pup?

[qbchottu]

I find out what the dog loves and play that game with him or her. Luckily my dogs all have over the top ball drive so taking them out one by one and playing ball is a great way to bond. I buy a ton of toys and figure out which one the pup likes and then use that to have play sessions with the pup. I also take long hikes or walks with each separately. Obedience and training is a great way to establish a bond. Every time I trained with a dog, it took our relationship to the next level.

When I have a new dog or pup, I like to take a cup of kibble and hand feed them one by one. I have very food motivated dogs so this is a great way to establish focus and a bond. I'm also always touching, roughhousing and petting my dogs. They learn to be handled and cuddled very quickly. I'm also always talking to them so they get used to my intonations. Recall training is also great to establish a bond.

I think giving massages is also a great way to establish a bond. My dogs LOVE when I sit on the floor because they know it's pampering time. I use long deep strokes with the palms and fingers of my hand on them. They like that better than short pets. They roll over on their backs and soak up all the attention

[LaRen616]

I took Sinister everywhere with me, parties, parades, my mom's hair salon, my hospital, friends and family's house, petco and petsmart.

I played with him all the time, I worked on training with him everyday, I fed him and walked him. I did everything with him.

Sin and I are stuck together like glue, our bond is so strong that we dont like to be away from each other and I have separation anxiety when I am away from him and sometimes he has it too.

Malice and I are not very bonded, I made a mistake with her, she is bonded to Sinister. I dont spend nearly enough time one on one with her like I should be. I do take her to my mom's salon, to my ex's and my dad's house but that is about it. She behaved so badly at Petsmart a couple of weeks ago that I am afraid to take her to another store. Once we work on some more training then I will take her out more.

[fuzzybunny]

I did the usual stuff like taking my pup to Petsmart, for short hikes, training classes, car rides, walks, etc....

Now that they're both adults, I make it a point of doing individual things with each of them instead of together. They get so excited when they realize they are having one-on-one time with mom.

[Rua]

One of Juno's favourite things in the world to do is sit by the warm fire with us every evening. I brush her, kiss her, and give her lots of loves. Sometimes she'll drape herself across my chest and tuck her head under my chin for a cuddle. She has such intelligent eyes, and she'll study my face for ages, cocking her head from side to side when I speak to her. I love our "cuddle time".

[Emoore]

Off-leash hiking. Puppy classes and fun training. Sleeping in the same room where he can smell and hear me all night. Fun trips to different places.


Now he always wants to be in my pockets; I think we bonded too much.

[msvette2u]

Emoore, our Shep boy is like that w/my 16y. old. She walks on water, in his opinion, and hung the moon.
I've never worried about bonding much. It seems just about every foster dog that comes our way becomes quickly attached to me, and all of our own dogs tend to as well.
GSDs are experts at bonding, it seems. Dachshunds (smooths anyway) tend to bond to one person so that's interesting around here, how that transpires.

[catz]

Rio and I took a long time to bond. We just didn't click until she was about 6 months old. I brought her everywhere with me, we played games and were together every min of the day but I didn't feel like I mattered to her until later. It all payed off in the end though because now we have a great bond and she will choose me over everyone else. She is my dog and everyone knows it haha.. I'm so glad we got to a point where we finally understand each other

[Daisy&Lucky's Mom]

Daisy was my first and actually my only puppy. She was the only child and a princess.I did puppy kindergarten,walks playing. She slept w/ us ok my husband who would fall asleep in our family room in the basement w/ her on his chest and then come to me. She is a daddy's girl but Mom is who feeds gives meds takes you to the vets and to the woods. She is equally bonded w/ each of us just differently. Lucky was barely a year when we got him,some trauma issues probably physical abuse. He loves women and he is mine ,my shadow.It took almost two years for him to bond w/ hubby. I did classes and walks and the vet and he went places w/ me. Daisy was a berserker in the car he just pukes. I bonded even more w/ Daisy getting her through the Parvo.I think bonding happens a little differently w/ each dog and person but time,affection and care are all central parts.

[JakodaCD OA]

I honestly have been so blessed with the dogs I've had and have, I have never really had a problem with them bonding to anything (other dog or other person) other than me..

I have had the luxury of being able to spend alot of time with my dogs , past and present, and all of them have made 'me' the center of their universe..Very flattering to be so loved by ones pets, but I love them just as much