In a household with multiple family people, it can be tempting to think about who is your doggo’s favourite family member.
Is it the “alpha”? The one who feeds them? Or the person they curl up with at night?
Here’s the thing…dogs don’t really think that way.
Sure, one person might make most of the decisions, fill the food bowl, or give the best cuddles. But in a dog’s world, every pack member is loved.
Research shows that dogs see Owners as their family and can bond with multiple humans over their lifetime.
Because of this finding, it’s actually much more useful to think about how everyone can strengthen their bond with the pooch instead of trying to figure out who is the favourite family member.
With this in mind, here are some ways to ensure that each family member is getting quality time with the dog. That way, everyone can benefit from that wonderful puppy love equally.
“Oh, don’t make me choose!”
It’s all about association
Your pooch is great at making associations for future reference.
The bathroom, for instance, might have been a neutral, even interesting, part of the house before their first bath. Now, that room means bad news.
Likewise, things like their leash, the car, the road you take to reach the dog park are all associated with good feelings.
When bonding with your dog, aim to make most interactions positive. Full of play, love, and maybe a treat or two!
You can’t avoid the occasional negative task, but make the good moments far outweigh the bad.
Schedule one-on-one playdates
When everyone is home at the same time, it can be difficult for your dog to know where they should channel their attention. This is why it’s important to schedule alone time for each “favourite family member”.
Dog training experts suggest that any amount of one-on-one time can be beneficial for the bond. Even 15 minutes can make a difference. The key? 100% attention on them.
Bonding activities can vary. For active types: take them on a long walk or play fetch. For couch lovers: opt for snuggles and belly rubs. Whatever the activity, the more genuine the interaction, the stronger the connection.
And it doesn’t have to be the same activity for each family member. If one of you is active and energetic, a longer dog walk is the perfect date. On the other hand, another family member might be more into curling up on the couch, which will mean belly rubs for the dog.
Here are some other activities that will help with the relationship-building process:
- Grooming – if your pooch is into it, that is. Focus more on brushing and massaging than bathing and teeth-cleaning.
- Training – while this may not seem like a very fun activity for a human, learning new tricks is mentally stimulating. It also helps to create strong connections between dogs and their Owners. Despite what the old saying implies, you can teach tricks to both young and old dogs.
- Mealtime – make dinner time a grand event by giving your dog lots of verbal encouragement. Stirring the food in the bowl, and asking them to do a simple command before you set the bowl down will also help. This is going to make meals, and thus the meal-giver, extra special.
Share the not-so-fun tasks
Often in a family, one member takes on the brunt of certain responsibilities. Examples can include clipping the dog’s nails, brushing their teeth, or taking them to the vet. And this is fine if the dog has already built a positive bond with that family member. However, if one person always handles the less-appealing activities, your dog may link them with “bad” experiences.
The easiest way to avoid this association is to share the responsibilities. Spread these tasks around so no one becomes the “bad cop.”
Whenever you do have to do these unpleasant tasks, ensure you give your dog plenty of love during and after. Follow up all negative experiences with a play session or cuddle fest to remind them that you love and care for them.
Now, no more arguing! Everyone can be the favourite family member ♡
When each family member invests in bonding, your dog will see you all as equals in the love department.
Psssst…Want to get some extra brownie points with your doggo?
Book them a fun-filled doggy daycare sesh or lock in a long weekend staycation with their favourite Pet Sitter. Just don’t be jealous if they have more fun than you do if you go away!
From Adelaide to the Gold Coast, and everywhere in between, Mad Paws are ready to join your pet’s second tier of favourite humans.
1 comment
Mammals are family oriented and those who care for them as young often remain as a parent and will respond as such and canines become bonded as do humans . Dogs will love and protect a parent and reacts to threats to loved ones as humans do