Bonding with Your Dog: Fun & Easy Activities

Bonding with your dog can provide one of the most rewarding relationships in your life. It is amazing how people love their dogs - and hard for non dog owners to understand right? Dogs will give you their love and loyalty even when we don’t deserve it. In this article I want to focus on some simple, maybe underappreciated, ways to form a closer bond between you and your fur baby.

As pet owners, we all want to have a strong bond with our dogs. A strong bond with our furry friends can lead to a happier and healthier life for both you and your dog. Whether you have a puppy or an adult dog, there are many fun activities that you can do at home to bond with your dog and strengthen your relationship.

Playtime: One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to bond with your dog is by playing with them. Playtime can be as simple as a game of fetch or tug-of-war, or you can try more interactive games like hide-and-seek or obstacle courses. 

I love to play hide and seek with Bucky!  She will chase me through the house and try to find me as I hide behind doorways or furniture. When I am feeling anxious or overwhelmed I try to play this game with her and I always get a few little screams (she always catches me and scares me 😂… every. time.) and I always laugh.

Training: Training sessions are a great opportunity to bond with your dog while also teaching them new skills. Whether you are working on basic commands or advanced tricks, training sessions can be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your dog.

Your dog wants nothing less than to please you. By working on simple training (sit and paw is as far as we have ever gotten with Bucky) your dog will have to concentrate and learn something new. You will have to give them your undivided attention. It’s a wonderful way to spend some time together and I guarantee you will be rewarded 💟

Grooming: Grooming can be a relaxing and bonding activity for both you and your dog. Brushing your dog's fur, trimming their nails, and cleaning their ears are all important grooming tasks that can also be a great opportunity for bonding.

Bucky loves the time we spend together when she gets brushed. She sits eagerly and shifts around so that I get to all the good spots! When I finish she runs around the house flopping on the rugs and wiggles around on her back. It is a guarantee to get the whole house laughing and she clowns around with the kids afterwards. As a plus - it means just a bit less fur to vacuum up!

Walks: Going for walks is not only great for your dog's physical health, but it's also a great opportunity for bonding. Walking with your dog allows you to spend quality time together, explore new areas, and bond over shared experiences.

Try to use your walks as a moment to detox from tech - leave your phone in your pocket and leave the ear buds at home. Take time to really see what your dog is interested in and chat with them. It might feel silly but I notice a huge difference in Bucky when I do this. She will happily turn and look at me as I chat and even will plop down in front of me and lean into my legs - her version of a hug! It’s such a sweet gesture and reminder that she loves spending quality time with me.

Cooking: If you enjoy cooking, why not try making some homemade dog treats with your furry friend? This can be a fun and rewarding activity that allows you to bond while also providing your dog with a delicious snack. If making healthy dog treats is too much hassle you could always order some all natural treats here at The Barkery!

Even a simple dish of boiled potatoes and an egg gets Bucky fired up. I wish I had the organisational skills and time to be able to give her home cooked foods, but alas as a mother of 3 with a business to run I cannot commit to only feeding her fresh food. But when I am able to, boy does she understand what I am doing! This morning we had run out of her normal dog food (oops!) and so I quickly gathered some leftovers and cooked up some sweet potatoes and she sat drooling the entire time. She even did a little dance as I drained the potatoes… they know and they love you for it!

Reading: Reading with your dog can be a fun and relaxing activity. You can curl up with your dog and read a book, or you can even try reading to them in a soothing voice to help calm them down. Your dog will just love you being there with them. Hearing your voice calms them and helps them to relax - they know that everything is ok and you will feel their love.

In conclusion, bonding with your dog doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Keep it simple and sustainable.

By incorporating these fun activities into your daily routine, you can strengthen your bond with your furry friend and create a happier and healthier life for both of you.