Puppy
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9 min
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One of the most magical parts of being a dog owner is the strong bond you’ll share with your pooch; nothing quite compares to the human-canine relationship! Nurturing this bond starts as soon as you get them, ideally when they’re still a puppy - but how will you know if your pup is bonding well with you? Read on as we go through the signs that indicate a strong puppy bond, and explain what to do if you think your relationship could be improved.
If you’re new to dog ownership, you might even be surprised by how much your puppy clings to you immediately! A lot of puppies will start bonding as soon as they recognise you’re their new parent, however, some might have more trouble, particularly if they’re anxious by nature.
Signs of a strong puppy bond might be:
Following you around. Your pup will seem like a shadow at times, following your every move and going with you to different areas of the house.
Excitedly greeting you. Get used to seeing your pup’s excitable face and enthusiastic jumps whenever you come back to them!
Calm in your presence. A pup who feels bonded with you will seem rested and relaxed when you’re around, and rarely on edge.
Responds to your voice. When you attempt to train your pup or teach them new commands, they’re very engaged with your voice and will pay full attention.
Good appetite. Your pooch should be happily eating whenever they’re given meals, which should consist of a well-balanced puppy diet full of whole proteins and veggies.
Affectionate. You’ll have lots of sloppy kisses, long gazes and snuggles coming your way if your pup’s bonded with you.
So what about the other scenario, and your pup doesn’t seem as close as you’d hope? Signs of a struggling puppy bond could be:
Keeping physical distance. Your pup doesn’t seem keen to be near you, and has fear around closeness.
Hiding. This could include hiding away in other rooms, behind furniture or under blankets, or making efforts to be out of your reach.
Showing attention to others. Take note if your pooch seems very excited or intrigued by other humans; or only perks up to other dogs or animals, rather than people.
Averting eye contact. Dogs who are bonded love to gaze at you - pay attention if your pup bows their head or averts their eyes from yours.
Not engaging in training. If it’s difficult to get your puppy to engage with your commands, this could mean there’s a break in your bond.
Signs of stress or anxiety such as excessive barking and whining, seeming fearful or submissive, or a loss of appetite, could appear more than bonded behaviours.
The key to enjoying a strong bond with your fluffy pup is making sure they trust you - and trust is also something that can be built. Once your pup understands that you’re there to care for them and keep them safe, but also a person who sets the rules, they’ll naturally come to trust you. Here are some tips for building your puppy’s trust…
As a rule, your pooch will calm down and be more receptive to you when they have a regular daily routine. As you’re the one in charge of the routine, that helps them feel safe and secure, they’ll soon come to love and look up to you.
Your pup’s daily schedule should consist of waking up for breakfast at a similar time each day, having set times for going to the toilet and eating meals, and regular walkies (twice a day, for at least 30 minutes each time once your pup’s old enough).
It’s also a great idea to have planned playtimes and training sessions, so your pup’s getting a good amount of stimulation each day. A daily ‘wind down’ before bed is made much easier when your pup’s tuckered out from a full schedule! For the wind down, you could give your pup a couple of calming dog treats, a toy or blanket that’s especially for night time, and take them to a calm, darkened area to relax.
Let’s remember, moving from the comfort of their littermates to a new home is a big deal for a pup, and they’re experiencing the big, wide world for the first time! Do everything you can to support their transition into your home and the outside world, and their bond with you is sure to get stronger.
Make your home a haven for pup-friendly activities. This means quiet areas with a dog bed and blankets where your pup can get rest and alone time; lots of soft toys, chew toys, puzzle toys for mental stimulation, and a designated eating space for mealtimes. It’s also a good tip to have multiple spots for your pooch to get water, as puppies can easily forget to drink and become dehydrated.
Sometimes the day can get away from you, but planned playtimes make sure your pup’s getting as much fun and mental stimulation as possible. Not only is this great for their development and wellbeing, but it should strengthen your bond, too. Here are some suggested games to play with your dog.
It’s essential your dog is being trained from an early age - even simple commands such as ‘Sit’, ‘Stay’ and answering to their name are perfect to start with, before building up to more complex tasks. Most dogs love to learn and if you reward them with lots of praise and healthy dog treats, learning new things will become an entrenched habit.
Sometimes, pups find it hard to bond when they feel nervous around others. Socialising with other dogs, animals and people regularly, can get them used to the company of others and boost their confidence. Having friends with dogs come to the house, or going to meet other dogs on walks or at training sessions can have a positive effect on their socialising skills.
There are some puppy behaviours which might have you feeling a bit on edge. It’s easy to worry when your pup doesn’t seem entirely happy and it’s impacting your relationship, but rest assured that just like a human toddler, your pup will have simple ups and downs as part of their growth.
Lots of nervous puppies suffer from separation anxiety. Your pup is just a baby and being away from you can naturally be distressing for them; but some do suffer more severely than others. If your pooch demonstrates clinginess, and cries, goes to the toilet indoors or destroys things when left alone, it’s worth trying some techniques to increase your pup’s sense of independence.
Introduce manageable periods of alone time (even 5 or 10 minutes to start with), be consistent with training sessions and playtime to boost their confidence, and try a rotation of special ‘alone time’ toys, scented blankets and calming dog treats so they associate alone time with rewards. If things don’t improve, try talking to your vet.
Your pup might express their anxiety or frustration in unhealthy ways, like being destructive or aggressive. It’s important to nip this in the bud as it happens, with training and consistency, as well as the recommended amount of exercise and a healthy puppy diet.
Some level of turbulence is normal when you first get a puppy (many new dog owners get symptoms of Puppy Blues!) - but if your young pooch is acting out in ways you find unusual and there’s no sign of improvement - chat it through with your vet or a puppy behavioural therapist. Don’t just suffer through it. It might take a little longer, but chances are your puppy will relax and your bond will strengthen over time.
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