Building a strong bond with your puppy, tips to strengthen your connection.

Bringing a puppy into your home is an exciting journey for you, filled with joy and laughter. Keep in mind that your puppy has just left everything familiar behind. It’s essential to create a nurturing environment so your new friend feels at secure. Establishing a bond with your puppy not only supports their well-being but also makes your experience together more rewarding. Here, we'll share practical tips to help deepen your connection with your puppy, ensuring they feel safe and secure.

Create a Safe Space

The first step in fostering a bond is to create a safe space for your puppy. Designate a cozy corner this may be a puppy pen with a blanket over it to make a den or a corner of a room with a soft bed, toys, and blankets. This area will become their retreat, a sanctuary to feel safe as they adapt to their new surroundings.

A cozy and safe space for a puppy to relax

Choose a place for their space which is away from loud noises or busy areas in your home. A quiet environment helps your puppy understand that they have a safe place to retreat when feeling anxious or needing to rest and sleep. This simple step can greatly reduce stress and help them acclimate faster.

Spend Quality Time Together

Building a strong bond involves spending quality time with your puppy. Engaging in activities will strengthen your connection. Consider these ideas:

• Playtime: Interact with engaging toys like squeaky balls or ropes. Physical activity not only entertains your puppy but also stimulates their mind. For instance, 10 minutes of free play with puppy having access to a choice of toys and the option of interacting with you is ideal.. Remember that puppy is growing and developing with some parts of their bones being open to injury through high impact activities such as running up / down stairs, jumping off furniture etc. Protect them from themselves!

  
  

• Training: Short, fun training sessions enhance your bond while teaching essential cues, a couple of minutes at a time are sufficient in early days. For example, 'capturing ' behaviours that you like which your puppy offers naturally such as “sit', can later be put on cue. To begin with just say 'yes' as you see them sit and give them a treat. After you have 'captured' this behaviour several times you can then in the cue word 'sit' . Puppies need to hear the cue word numerous times before they successfully pair it with the required action. Remember to use your marker word 'yes' and to reward them with a treat straight away. Where 'reinforcement flows, behaviour grows'.

  
  

• Snuggle Time: Don’t underestimate the impact of touch, some puppies welcome touch, others are not as accepting. To check out if your puppy is happy with you stroking and touching them, place a hand on their chest for 3 seconds before removing it. Now observe puppy's behaviour, if they move towards you they are ready to accept more stroking, if they move away respect their decision that stroking is over for now. Physical touch may foster trust and can reinforce your bond once puppy is ready to accept it. Research shows that closeness and touch releases oxytocin in both the human and the puppy, often referred to as the “love hormone,” creating a deeper connection.

  
  

Remember, building a connection is a process that takes time. Keep it fun and enjoyable for both of you!

Establish a Routine

Puppies require 18 to 20 hours sleep and rest in every 24 hour period, without sufficient sleep and rest puppies become over tired and over stimulated. This is when the incidence of biting, 'zoomies' and other undesirable behaviours increase . A consistent routine for feeding and toileting rest, sleep, and short playtimes help your puppy understand what to expect, which can significantly reduce anxiety.

A strong routine might include:

• Regular Feeding Times: Consistent meal times encourage good habits. Puppies do best with a loose structure to their day such as feeding at about the same time daily. The number of feeds required is age dependent, reducing to twice daily after the age of 12 months.

  
  

• Walks: This is one method of providing exercise for your dog, however, remember that for young puppies the outside world is busy and frightening. It's advisable to begin to expose puppy to the sights and sounds from a distance, avoiding them becoming overwhelmed. A puppy carrier is ideal for taking puppy on new adventures and as long as puppy stays in the carrier until vaccinations have been completed, taking them outside in their puppy carrier allows them to feel safe next to you and able to hear and see things without being involved and being overwhelmed, Don't be in a rush to take puppy out on a lead, loose lead walking is a complex skill, concentrate on rewarding them for walking next to you without a lead in your home, then in your garden in the early days.

  
  

• Free Play and Training: allowing puppy to play in the home and garden with toys of their choice and spending time capturing and luring puppy to teach them simple cues are the first steps on their training journey. Engaging in play with your puppy helps to strengthen your bond and to develop a confident puppy.

  
  

A reliable routine helps your puppy feel secure and connected, solidifying your bond.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a powerful method for training and deepening your relationship with your puppy. By rewarding desirable behaviour, you can create positive associations, making your puppy more likely to repeat those behaviours.

Here are ways to effectively implement positive reinforcement:

• Treats: Rewards like small, moist tasty treats motivate your puppy during training and everyday situations. For instance, using a high-value treat (like chicken) can boost motivation during training sessions.

  
  

• Praise and Affection: Use verbal encouragement and physical affection when your puppy exhibits good behaviour. Celebrating small victories fosters confidence and shows love.

  
  

• Playtime Rewards: Incorporate a game after successful training or good behaviour, reinforcing positive actions. For example, if your puppy follows a cue successfully, conclude the session with a fun game of tug-of-war.

  
  

This method allows your puppy to feel secure and strengthens your emotional connection.

Be Patient and Understanding

Forming a strong bond with your puppy is a journey that takes time. Patience, consistency and understanding are vital. Your puppy will need time to adjust. to their new home.

Keep in mind:

• Stay Calm: When your puppy seems frightened or anxious, your calm demeanour can help them feel secure.

  
  

• Understanding Body Language: Learn to recognize their body language and vocalizations. Understanding when your puppy is uncomfortable enables you to provide the necessary reassurance and support. The most effective way of making puppy feel less afraid is to put more distance between puppy and the object causing them to be afraid. A great way to help you realise when puppy is feeling stressed is to offer a treat, if puppy usually enjoys the treat but in the moment will not accept it, they are beginning to feel anxious, so increase the space.

  
  

• Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge every little success. Whether mastering a new trick or simply adjusting to the vacuum cleaner, these milestones deserve recognition.

  
  

Your patience and understanding will ultimately lead to a loving, trusting relationship with your puppy.

Final Thoughts

Building a strong bond with your puppy is essential for their adjustment and your shared journey. By creating a safe, consistent and loving environment, spending quality time, establishing a routine, using positive reinforcement, socialising, and exhibiting patience, you will form a deep connection with your puppy..

As your puppy learns that they can trust and rely on you, they will become a loyal companion, your goal should be to enjoy each other and to enrich each others life by doing things together which you both enjoy. Your journey together is not solely about training; it centres on love, trust, and understanding. Embrace it fully, and the bond you create will become one of life’s greatest treasures.

Let the adventures with your new puppy begin!