The best part about our job is getting to pair one of our Sugar Sweet pups with their fur-ever family. It is so exciting to welcome home a new member of the family (especially when they are as cute and cuddly as a puppy). Like a lot of new pet parents, you may be dreaming of all the fun years of companionship you can spend with your little puppy. However, in order to have that long-lasting relationship full of love, you have to build a bond with your pup, and we aren’t just talking about puppy love!
The love between a human and their puppy happens naturally- I mean, just look at those sweet faces! However, a bond may take a little more time and attention to grow. How are they different? Love makes your puppy snuggle up next to you on the couch and wag their tail. A bond keeps them from leaving when you let them off the leash and helps them to obey any commands you might teach them. This bond is foundational in the relationship between you and your pup.
So where do you start? Luckily, Sugar Sweet Georgia Puppies has your back again! Whether you are still thinking about which companion is perfect for your pup or you already have the perfect little furry best friend home, we can help you start thinking about creating a strong bond with your pup. We compiled a couple of best practices to implement when bonding with your new furry friend.
5 Effective Ways to Bond With Your Puppy
1. Use Clear and Concise Communication
Sometimes humans forget that our pups can’t speak English. Any command longer than three words will be hard for your puppy to understand. Therefore, when you use lengthy or confusing commands our pup gets lost in what you are trying to say. Instead of speaking to your puppy like a human, try looking up a couple of short commands to teach your pup followed by a simple hand signal. Eventually, your pup will be able to understand what you are looking for just by your hand signal!
2. Give Your Puppy Some Structure
Puppies thrive on structure! They need boundaries to help them understand where they can go and what is their space. Having these boundaries also helps establish you as their leader. Building healthy boundaries helps them continue to look for you for future direction! A lack of boundaries and rules can lead to some undesirable traits and behaviors. While these behaviors may be cute while they are still a pup- they won’t be cute forever. Keep in mind- chewing and potty accidents are the two most common challenges new puppy owners face. Make sure your pup knows where their spaces for these activities are and what they are allowed to chew on/play with.
3. Stick to a Schedule
Just like a new baby- new puppies are trying to understand and get accustomed to their new environment. A set schedule helps add structure to your puppy’s day and helps them to know what to expect. Routines are most important when it comes to potty training, good eating behaviors, and establishing desired behaviors. Remember, consistency is key! Because of this, try to make sure that your schedule and your pup’s new schedule line up pretty close. You don’t want to set you and your pup up for failure by creating an ideal schedule that doesn’t fit in with reality.
4. Watch Your Affection
We get it- puppies are so cute you could snuggle them all day. However, it may be important to note that we should watch the level and type of affection we are giving our puppies. Typically, dogs and pups do not receive firm hugs the same way humans do. This may cause your pup to feel irritated or even panicked. You also may need to be mindful of how you pet and love your pup. Obviously, we wouldn’t like it if someone roughly patted the tops of our heads, and most of the time dogs don’t love it either. Try making your affection soft and more of a massaging motion. Another good tip when petting near the face is to come under the chin and rub in circular movements with your fingers. Hard pats on the top of the head or face may overstimulate or frustrate your pup. With this in mind, make sure you show all the family members in your home the proper ways to show affection to our furry friends.
5. Build Trust
Make sure that you understand that the puppy bond is built on trust. Trust allows you to know that you are there to take care of them not hurt them! This could include things like touching their food bowls and treats after you’ve laid them down and touching different parts of your pup like their mouth, tails, and ears. Something you may want to watch is your unspoken language like your body language. At first, your pup may be uncomfortable with fast-approaching movement and prolonged eye contact. Make sure you take note of the things (or people/animals) your puppy doesn’t like and make sure that you don’t force a relationship they are unhappy with!
Things to Avoid When Trying to Bond With Your Puppy
Sometimes, whether intentional or not, humans can create what we call bond infractions with their pups. These are essentially things that weaken or hurt the quality and strength of the relationship with your pup. Some common ones include physical punishment, neglecting the physical needs of your pet, not giving sufficient time or attention to your pup, and lack of play/exercise. Remember, you want your pup to respect you not fear you. To have a healthy bond with your puppy, you need to create a relationship that is built on mutual trust and respect.
Wrapping it Up
Focusing on creating a healthy bond with your pup is one of the most important aspects of living with a canine. By using the tips that we’ve discussed, you’ll improve
bonding with your pet.
Still feeling a little shaky about creating a bond with your new puppy? We recommend training programs to all our new pet parents. Not only will this help you establish some new tricks and begin bonding with your puppy, but you can also get in some good playtime as well! We feel confident you and your pup will walk away with a ton of newfound knowledge!
Ready to Find Your Perfect Companion?
Sugar Sweet Georgia Puppies offers adorable, happy, and healthy puppies contact our Lawrenceville, GA pet store location to find the perfect puppy for your family.
