The bond between a dog and its person is a wonderful thing, but sometimes an owner might feel that there isn’t a strong enough bond in place. This can be especially true if you recently have acquired a rescue dog. There are many ways to build and strengthen that bond and create a strong, loving connection. Playtime, agility equipment and training are just a few ways to help improve the bond.
First, consider your dog’s personality. Is he or she timid or friendly? Do they cower when you call their name or seem meek? Sometimes dogs are unsure, and that is simply because they haven’t really figured out your personality and aren’t 100% sure that they trust you. If your dog seems a bit unsure, this can make bonding a bit more challenging and you also need to adjust your approach to help them feel safe and comfortable.
Generally dog training can be a great way to improve the bond you have with your pet, and this is especially true if you make training a fun experience rather than 30 minutes each day of scolding and correcting. Dogs love to please, so be sure to be gentle, but firm when a dog does not display the correct behavior, yet full of excited praise when they do a good job.
Sometimes training truly can be playtime, especially if you combine obedience training with agility training. Agility equipment, such as K9 training equipment, is fun for dogs to navigate, provides great exercise and also promotes obedience. For instance, you could start out with a piece of K9 training equipment such as a broad jump and teach your dog to jump over this obstacle. Using agility equipment such as a pause table also can be a great way to teach a dog to sit, stay and lay down.
Using agility equipment can improve the bond because you are spending quality time together, which dogs adore, and you are teaching them skills and they are learning how to behave and respond to you. When dogs understand the rules and know what you expect, it’s easier for them to please and they feel closer to you.
In addition to using agility equipment and K9 training equipment, other types of play are beneficial. Tugging on a toy or teaching a dog to fetch a toy and bring it back are lots of fun for dogs, and this also can improve obedience. You can teach a dog to tug, but release the toy on command. When playing fetch, a dog will be learning to bring something back to you and return to you on command. Because dogs love games like these, these types of activities also improve the connection between the two of you.
Many dogs also love to be groomed, and spending 20 minutes each evening with a gentle brushing of their coat not only is good for them physically, they also enjoy contact with their favorite person. Of course, simply just petting and cuddling is usually always welcome and makes them feel safe and content. Some dogs, especially at first, will shy away from contact. For these dogs, try to always speak in calm, soothing tones and gently approach them for a pat. You also can sit on the floor and gently encourage them to come to you for a soft pet or two. Eventually, most dogs warm up if you are calm and patient.
At Carlson Agility, we believe that fun activities such as agility are a fantastic option for just about every dog. Dogs need exercise, fun and fresh air and so do their owners, thus everyone benefits from using agility equipment. We have just about every piece of agility equipment imaginable on our website, including K9 training equipment. We also sell UKC equipment and much more. If you have a puppy or a small dog, we offer a full line of mini agility equipment. This smaller equipment also is a great option for a timid dog, which might balk at first when climbing a full-size A-frame or teeter-totter.
Brad Carlson enjoys dog agility training. To find agility equipment or to find more about training equipment for dog agility equipment, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
