How to Be the Human Your Dog Thinks You Are: 5 Everyday Ways to Connect
By Ike Allen, Co-Founder of Happy Healthy Dog
It’s incredibly easy to slip into autopilot with our pets—feed them, walk them, give them a quick pat on the head, and repeat.
But if you’re looking to build a deeper, more meaningful friendship with your dog, it doesn’t take grand gestures or expensive gear. It just takes a little bit of intentional time together.
Here are five simple, everyday ways to show up for your dog the way they show up for you.
1. Give Them 10 Minutes of Undivided Attention We spend a lot of time physically near our dogs while our minds are a million miles away—scrolling on our phones or watching TV. Try sitting on the floor with them for just 10 minutes a day with zero distractions. Let them dictate the interaction. If they want to play, play. If they just want to lean against you while you stroke their ears, do that. Being truly present goes a long way in building trust.
2. Let Them Lead the Walk (Go on a “Sniffari”) We usually treat walks as a mission to get from Point A to Point B. But for a dog, the world is experienced through their nose. Once or twice a week, loosen the leash and let them choose the route. Let them stop and sniff that bush for three straight minutes if they want to. Giving them the freedom to explore at their own pace shows them you respect their needs and aren’t always rushing them.
3. Learn Their Love Language Every dog has a spot they love being scratched and spots they tolerate just because they love you. Pay attention to their body language. Do their eyes soften when you rub their chest? Do they lean into you when you massage their shoulders? Find out how they like to be touched, rather than just patting them out of habit.
4. Talk to Them Like a Friend You don’t need to use a high-pitched baby voice, and you don’t need to issue commands like a drill sergeant. Just talk to them. Narrate what you’re making for dinner, or tell them about your day while you’re driving together. Even though they don’t understand the vocabulary, they absolutely understand your tone, your calmness, and the fact that you are actively including them in your world.
5. Share the Quiet Moments Not every bonding moment needs to be active. Sometimes the deepest connection happens when you’re just existing in the same space. Invite them up on the couch next to you while you read, or let them lay at your feet while you have your morning coffee on the porch. Just a gentle hand resting on their back while you both take in the morning air reinforces that you are a team, through thick and thin.
Our dogs give us their whole hearts, asking for very little in return. Taking a few small steps to meet them halfway is the best way to say “thank you” for everything they do.
If this made you ReThink your relationship with your dog, get my free weekly Tuesday Tune-Up and learn how to ReThink everything in your life: www.letsrethinkthat.com
