- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Adopting a puppy is an exciting time filled with cuddles, new adventures, and lots of training. One question new puppy parents may have is how to know if their new puppy is bonding with them.
Building a bond with your new puppy is an important step in your relationship to build upon communication and trust. We spoke with Alexandra Bassett, a certified professional dog trainer and lead dog trainer & behavior consultant at Dog Savvy. She breaks down the signs your puppy is bonding with you—plus how to strengthen your bond.
Signs Your Puppy Is Bonding With You
Bonding with your new puppy is both harder and easier than it sounds. On one hand, a squirmy little pup isn’t like a mature dog. Everything is new for them, and it can sometimes feel like you’re competing with every sight and smell for their attention.
But in another way, bonding with your puppy can be a lot simpler than it seems. Just having positive experiences together can make a huge difference. “Building a bond with a pup via pleasant experiences early on promotes a feeling of connection with a puppy and helps a pet parent get to know their pup and fulfill all their needs,” Bassett explains.
Here’s how to know if the hours you’ve logged together playing and training are paying off. If puppy bonding is going well, you’ll start to see the following signs.
1. Increased eye contact
Does your puppy look you directly in the eyes? Do they make eye contact with you in new environments? Do you ever find them lovingly gazing at you from across the room? If so, these are signs your puppy is bonded with you.
2. More physical affection
If they often want to give you kisses or cuddles, or you find them putting their paws on you, these are all signs of successful puppy bonding.
3. A constant companion
If you feel like you have a shadow, that might be another sign your puppy is bonding with you. “Your puppy likes to be close to you and follows you around, indicating they trust you and feel safe around you,” says Bassett.
However, if your puppy never willingly leaves your side or expresses extreme distress when you’re gone, that might be an early sign of separation anxiety. It’s a good idea to consult your vet or your trainer to get to the bottom of things.
4. Improved communication
Learning your dog’s body language can be a slow process, but it gets easier as your bond gets stronger. If you’re finding it easier to understand when your puppy is hungry, needs to use the bathroom, or is scared, those are good signs of a positive human-dog relationship.
5. Sleeping near you
“Your puppy wants to sleep near you, which can be a sign of affection, especially if they lie belly up because they feel safe around you,” said Bassett. She says puppies would probably choose to sleep somewhere else if they didn’t want to be near you or feel a bond.
That doesn’t mean you have to let your puppy sleep in your bed—but it’s an encouraging sign if they would want to!
-
Evrymmnt via iStock
6. Excitement to see you
Puppies showing excitement or wagging their tails when you come home is another sign of affection and bonding. Jumping is also a form of affection—even though it’s one you’re likely working on putting a stop to in training.
7. Obedience
Most young puppies take a while to learn to obey your cues. But even small successes here mean a lot. If your puppy is starting to listen to you when you ask them to do something, for example, to come or sit, that’s a sign that they’ve bonded with you.
8. Frequent check ins
Just like human friends and family, if a puppy is bonding with you, they’ll check in on you to see how you’re doing. Bassett says they’ll also keep an eye on you when off-leash or make frequent check-ins to see where you are.
9. A desire to play
If your puppy seeks engagement or playtime with you, that’s a good sign they feel a connection and bond with you. And rewarding that instinct is a great way to build an even stronger bond.
What If My Puppy Isn’t Bonding With Me?
If you’re worried your puppy isn’t showing signs of bonding with you yet, give it time. Puppies may not feel bonded with their new pet parents for a variety of reasons. Those include:
- stress for both puppy and owner
- time commitment
- preparedness with potty training
- a puppy’s temperament, energy levels, and personality
Adopting and taking care of a puppy is a life-changing event that can feel overwhelming and all-consuming. It’s so common there’s even a word for it: the puppy blues.
If you’ve given it time and feel like the situation isn’t changing, there are good resources out there to help. Your first stop is your vet, who can make sure your puppy is healthy and identify any physical problems that might be delaying development.
Next, a good trainer or canine behaviorist can make a huge difference. They’ll give you exercises and activities to do together—not just training—that focus on building a bond between the two of you.
And there’s also a lot you can do on your own. Below, Bassett reviews some of the best ways to help your relationship with your new dog blossom.
How To Strengthen Your Bond With Your Puppy
Building a bond with your puppy is a process. Not every one of these steps has to happen at once—but over time, every little change you make can add up.
Create a routine
According to Basset, setting up a daily schedule is one of the most important steps in building a bond with your puppy. This includes feeding times, playtime, walks, potty breaks, training, and naps.
“Encourage and participate in plenty of exercise and activity with your new furry friend,” said Bassett. “Let them outside to run around a fenced-in yard or dog-friendly park once they are fully vaccinated. You can also let your puppy run around indoors to get exercise.”
She also recommends puppy-proofing your home and picking up small objects and cords, so your curious pup doesn’t find them.
Train together
Teaching your pup basic cues and planning short foundational training sessions are good ways to build a bond with your puppy.
“Pet parents should use positive methods of training that promote trust and boost a dog’s confidence, as opposed to aversive methods of training which may do the opposite,” said Bassett. Bassett recommends taking your time with training and avoid using complicated commands during training that your puppy may not understand yet.
-
tderden via iStock
Show your puppy affection
It’s okay if you don’t always feel wildly affectionate toward your puppy—especially after they’ve chewed up your shoes. But it’s still important to keep a level voice and avoid punishments during training sessions or if your puppy has an accident indoors. Your negative reactions can wear down trust.
Similarly, when your puppy does something right, celebrate! Treats are good, and pets are even better. “Petting or cuddling your puppy is part of the bonding process and helps them become comfortable with being handled during vet visits or grooming,” explains Bassett. This could also include brushing sessions, which will also help get your pup more comfortable with grooming.
Use tools like crates, playpens, and gates
Puppies require almost constant attention, which can be draining. Bassett recommends leaning on “behavior management” tools, like crates, playpens, and gates, to help keep your puppy out of trouble.
“Behavior management tools help to prevent bad habits (like pottying anywhere a pup wants to and chewing on things it shouldn’t) from developing and keep a puppy safe from harm when no one’s watching,” she explains. “They are also ‘sanity savers’ that give a pup parent a much-needed break from always having to watch their puppy, which can prevent them from getting overwhelmed.”
Use socialization for enrichment exercises
Consider giving training a break some days and instead take your puppy to experience something new—it’s great practice, and it can be fun for both of you.
In fact, puppy socialization, or getting your pup used to other people or dogs, is an important part of your puppy to-do list. “Early socialization experiences that introduce your pup to new people, places, and things can be fun and enriching for a pup, as long as they are done with care, so understanding how to do this is important for boosting a pup’s confidence and self-development,” says Bassett.
How Long Does It Take to Bond With Your Puppy?
“Bonding can begin from the moment you meet your puppy and bring them home,” Bassett says. “Some puppies can become attached instantly or within a few days, while others might need a few weeks or even longer to feel comfortable with you and learn to trust you, especially if they are older and already bonded with another person or family before you’ve adopted them.”
Bassett notes that dogs are usually pretty adaptable, and bonding can take place at any age. It’s best to start bonding with your pup as soon as you bring them home. The “ideal” time to bond with a puppy is during the socialization window: 4 to 16 weeks old. But that’s not a hard rule.
“Pup parents shouldn’t worry if their pup is older than 4 months when they get them as long as they understand how to socialize them and take care of their pup properly,” Bassett concludes.
