5 Simple Ways to Bond with Your Dog – A Guide by Amy Pishner
One of the most common questions dog owners ask is: How can I strengthen my relationship with my dog? The answer lies in proven strategies to bond with your dog! With intentional training and interaction, you can build trust, respect, and a deeper connection that improves your dog’s behavior and happiness.
Here are five practical ways to bond with your dog and create a lasting, positive relationship.
1. Hand Feed All Meals – A Key Way to Bond with Your Dog
Feeding your dog by hand instead of using a bowl is one of the most effective ways to bond with your dog. Even a few minutes of hand-feeding, or using kibble as a reward during training, teaches your dog to trust you as a provider.
Combine hand-feeding with simple exercises like the Name Game or Luring. Your dog learns that being close to you is rewarding, which strengthens trust and connection.
2. Tether Your Dog to You – Encourage Focus and Bonding
Keeping your dog on a leash at home for short periods is a powerful way to bond with your dog. Tethering encourages your dog to follow your movements and pay attention to your cues.
Pair this with a calm exercise, like the Art of Doing Nothing, to teach your dog to relax near you. This reduces pacing and builds focus, making your interactions more meaningful.
Trainer Candice and “Adoptable Alice,” a rescue dog we donated a board and train to (who got adopted at the end of her training- YAY!)
3. Separate Your Dogs – Improve One-on-One Bonding
If you have multiple dogs, spending individual time with each is essential. Dogs bonded too closely to each other may ignore you, reducing your influence.
Separating them for short sessions allows you to practice hand-feeding, tethering, or play individually. This dedicated attention is an important way to bond with your dog and ensure every dog trusts and respects you.
4. Use Play to Connect – Engage and Strengthen Your Bond
Playtime is a great way to bond with your dog, but it works best when structured. Limit toy access and use favorites for interactive sessions once or twice a day.
Tug toys or balls on a string encourage give-and-take, teaching rules of engagement and cooperation. Structured play ensures your dog views you as both a trusted leader and fun companion.
Trainer Maria and Oakley
5. Limit Your Dog’s Access to You – Build Appreciation and Focus
Limiting access to you might seem counterintuitive, but it strengthens attachment. Crate time lets your dog decompress and anticipate your quality interactions.
Proper crate training—teaching your dog to enter, wait, and exit calmly—ensures the crate is a positive space. Controlled absence is a highly effective way to bond with your dog, increasing excitement and focus during interactions.
Puppy learning crate drills
Start Bonding with Your Dog Today
Implementing these five strategies will strengthen trust, focus, and overall happiness. Hand-feeding, tethering, structured play, and mindful crate use all contribute to a deeper, more rewarding relationship.
Which of these tips will you try first?
Written by Amy Pishner
About the Author:
Amy Pishner is the Founder of Valor K9 Academy, a veteran-owned dog training company in Boise, Idaho. With over a decade of experience training thousands of dogs, Amy specializes in balanced dog training that builds trust, obedience, and lasting results.