5 Ways to learn to love your dog

Pet ownership has mental and physical health benefits including reducing stress and making people more active. But not every adoption is a match made in heaven. Sometimes, it’s clear from the start that a family can’t accommodate the pet they’ve adopted and they need to surrender it. But sometimes, it’s just a matter of getting in rhythm with your new furry friend. If you’re having trouble connecting with your new dog, here are 5 things to try.

People or pets, feeding someone is a great way to not only show love, but to feel love. Anyone who has invested time in creating a great meal for their family knows that the experience of cooking helps them feel closer to the people eating. You could make your own dog food, but most people don’t. Instead, spend some time researching the best kinds of dog food for your pet. The more time you spend looking into what kind of dog food will help your buddy thrive, the more connected you’ll feel. Feeding your dog healthy food will also help her stay healthy and comfortable.

Sometimes we have trouble bonding with a dog because we don’t understand that dog. Working with a professional trainer, in person, or even over Zoom, can help you get a better understanding of who your dog is. This can be especially helpful if you adopted an older dog that already has certain habits. The more comfortable and secure you feel with your dog, the more you’ll come to love them. If you find that you’re good with dogs, you may want to investigate becoming a dog trainer yourself.

Dogs play to build social relationships. If you met a new person, you might ask him or her about their job, or their favorite TV show. With a dog though, you need to play. Getting down on the floor with your dog, or throwing him a ball will help you and your dog learn more about each other.

Sometimes loving a specific dog is about getting into dogs in general. Reading dog stories, looking at dog pictures, watching dog shows and videos can all make you feel more loving towards dogs in general, which will in turn help you feel better about your own dog. Instagram is an easy way to get your cute dog fix!

We all love the stories about the person who walks into a shelter and falls in love with a dog. But, just like with people, it’s not always love at first site. Sometimes, we think that if we don’t love a dog right away, it’s a problem. In reality, some relationships just take more time to build. This can be especially true of rescue dogs. Rescue dogs who have been moved around from house to house or shelter to shelter may take longer to trust you. But once your dog trusts you, you’ll find them harder to resist.

Dogs are “Man’s Best Friend” for a reason. If you don’t love your dog right away, that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your or the dog. It just means the friendship needs more time to develop.