How to Build a Relationship With a Dog

The foundation to having a good relationship with your dog starts with respect. Training your dog to have good behavior and teaching her commands is a positive way to gain respect. Spending quality time with her helps to build your relationship.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Build a sense of trust with your dog. He needs to know that you are there to take care of him and keep him safe. Feed him, give him fresh water and give him a warm place to sleep to instill trust.

2. Teach your dog simple commands and behaviors beginning the day you bring her home. Ignore any behavior your dog shows that you find unacceptable or bad. Praise her for good behavior with food or affection. If her action receives positive attention, she will repeat that action to get the response she wants.

3. Develop communication with your dog. Establish a different tone and hand gestures for positive and negative reinforcement to help him differentiate whether his actions were good or bad.

4. Spend quality time with your dog by taking her on a walk, going to the park or throwing a ball. Set up a routine with your dog that she can look forward to and know what comes next.

5. Massage your dog to show affection. A massage can help your dog to feel comfortable with you and strengthen your bond with him. This also gives him the one-on-one time dogs thrive on.

Tips & Warnings

• Ignore bad behavior instead of saying, "No." Any attention, even negative, can reinforce bad behavior.
• When giving positive or negative reinforcement, always use the proper tone you have established for good and bad. This way your dog knows whether he has done something acceptable or unacceptable.