How to Bond With Your Puppy in 4 Steps

Building a trusting relationship with your puppy takes time and effort, but doing so will yield several benefits. Bonding can:

• Allow you to communicate with your puppy: Part of bonding with your dog is learning how they use body language to communicate needs, fears, and wants. This will help you meet your puppy’s needs, so they do not resort to bad behavior.
• Help your dog feel secure: When young puppies know they can depend on their owners for protection and love, they are more likely to avoid anxious behaviors like barking, biting, and hiding. A trusting dog is more likely to listen, play well with people and other animals, and enjoy going on new adventures.
• Prevent bad behavior: The bond between a dog and a pet owner is essential for raising a well-behaved dog. If your puppy feels a sense of loyalty to you, they will aim to please, meaning they will be more likely to follow commands and repeat behavior that you reinforce.

Consider the following tips to help you bond with your puppy:

• Be patient. It is normal for your new puppy to feel uncomfortable in a new environment. Getting used to family members, other pets, and new surroundings can delay the bonding process, especially for certain dog breeds or rescue dogs. Rather than forcing any behavior, monitor your puppy’s body language and avoid situations where they appear scared or annoyed.
• Practice hand-feeding. If your dog is shy or anxious, get a fistful of dog food and let your dog eat directly from your hand. This communicates that you are a safe person, that you will provide for your dog, and that they can trust you.
• Remain consistent. Establishing clear boundaries with your puppy will deter bad behavior and strengthen your bond. Ensure all of your family members know the rules for your puppy and enforce them consistently. If your puppy does not understand your expectations, they may feel confused and stop listening to you altogether.
• Use positive reinforcement. Puppies want to please their owners and are more inclined to repeat a positive behavior if you reward them with their favorite game, treats, or verbal praise. This is more effective than yelling at your puppy for bad behavior, which can undermine your bond because it causes confusion, fear, and distrust.

Here’s how to bond with your puppy in four steps:

1. 1. Devote time to bond. When you bring your puppy home for the first time, set up a comfortable environment with toys, treats, a crate, and a playpen. Make sure any accessible room is puppy-proof so that your new dog stays out of trouble. If you can, spend the first few days at home with your puppy to help ease them into the new environment.
2. 2. Establish a schedule. Dogs thrive when they know what you expect of them. They also like to know they can rely on you to care for their needs. Help your new puppy feel secure by establishing set times for feeding, potty breaks, playtime, and walks.
3. 3. Include your puppy in daily activities. The more time and physical contact you share, the sooner your dog will become your best friend. Set up a playpen near your so you can be close to your puppy without constantly needing to supervise them. When you’re on the couch watching TV, let your puppy nap on you. Or include them in your exercise routine by bringing them on walks or hikes to promote socialization.
4. 4. Start a training program. After your new puppy adjusts, teach them basic commands like sit, stay, and lay down. You can hire a dog trainer to help, but training your puppy yourself builds trust, respect, and understanding between you and your new best friend.

Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially— “no” is just a MasterClass Annual Membership away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan.