The first time they look at you with their puppy dog eyes, wide and curious, is an experience you’ll never forget.
It’s a lifelong partnership filled with tongue-out fun and pant-worthy adventures.
Knowing how to form a strong, trusting, lasting bond with a puppy is an important part of the journey. Beyond simply puppy care, there are also physical and psychological steps that you need to take.
It requires patience, understanding, and effort, just like any relationship.
If you’re wondering how to bond with your puppy, this guide will teach you great tips and effective strategies. Starting in the early puppy development stages is crucial, helping you form positive associations and become a trusted pack leader.
Form an unbreakable bond with fun and engaging puppy training, great grooming practices, and stimulating activities.
Here are some simple (and some not-so-simple) steps to forge a better connection.
Follow this guide and form an unbreakable bond with your puppy.
Puppy Developmental Stages: What Are They and When?
Generally speaking, puppies go through 5 stages of pre-adult development.
As a dog owner, you must be familiar with your puppies' week-by-week development. Each stage has different requirements for grooming, exercise, and training.
Choosing age-appropriate activities fosters the best possible bond and supports their development, especially when tailored to their developmental stage.
How To Bond With Your Puppy When They’re A Baby
Stage 1: Neo-Natal (up to 2 weeks)
This is the earliest stage of development. In reality, the mother will do most of the work. Nothing is to be done in terms of exercise, training, or grooming. But even at this tender age, there are things you can do to support your bond.
- Be gentle when handling puppies, as they are very delicate.
- Provide a calm and nurturing presence so the pups acclimatize to your voice and scent.
Stage 2: Transitional Stage (Up to 4 weeks)
Their little eyes open as they move and explore, although they’re a little clumsy at first!
At this stage, you can begin bonding more interactively.
- Maintain calm and soft tones combined with gentle petting. This is their first experience of humans, so make it a good one!
- You can start introducing small, soft brushes. The goal at this stage is to build familiarity for later—small touches for brief periods. The Coastal Lil Pals Bristle Brush would be great for this.
- You can also begin to familiarize your puppy with their crate towards the end of this stage. The Bowzers Moderno Dog Crate would be a great investment.
Stage 3: Socialization Stage (Up to 12 weeks)
Suddenly, they want to play! They explore more widely and develop their personality.
This is where the fun begins!
- Introduce your puppy to other humans and animals in a safe and fun environment. This will build their confidence and their trust in you.
- You can begin with simple commands like “Sit,” “Stay,” and “Come” by using treats and lots of positive reinforcement. Soon, they’ll start to look to you for guidance.
- Now, you can groom more regularly, checking their coat, ears, and teeth. Be sure to lavish them with affection so that they associate grooming with positivity.
- Playtime! Introduce toys to your puppy to help them build independence and curiosity.
Puppy Bonding With an Older Dog
Stage 4: Juvenile Stage (up to 6 months)
This part is scary because they grow so fast. From fitting into the palm of your hand, they are filling out, getting closer to their true size.
- They will now enjoy more structured training so you can start bonding with more complex commands. They are old enough to start leash training. The key to the best bond here is patience (as always) and consistency.
- They will be little bundles of energy, so lots of walking, playtime, and exploring new places are great ways to strengthen your relationship.
- You can start grooming your dog every day as a fun way to relax together, with the added benefit of keeping their coat clean and healthy.
Stage 5: Adolescent Stage (up to 18 months)
Similar to the “terrible twos” for our little ones, this is the point where our puppies become independent and might start testing their boundaries.
This is natural and offers an opportunity to nurture strong bonds in adult life.
- Ensure your training is well-structured and has a foundation in consistency, patience, and trust. Not only will this help your dog become social and balanced, but it will give you the strongest bond.
- Take them for longer walks, extra playtime, and lots of mental stimulation. This will improve their behavior and maintain a close relationship between you both.
- Regular grooming is a must, so continue using positive association and reinforcement, including praise and treats.
Tools to Build A Strong Bond With Your Puppy
Many tools are available to help form a great bond with your new puppy.
Age-Appropriate Toys
From soft plushies when they’re young, through gentle tug-of-war toys during socialization, to chew toys, fetching toys, and puzzles when they're older, picking the right toy for their age is great for bonding activities that both of you will love. Healthy Pet offers a whole range of toys that would be great to keep your puppy stimulated.
Safe Exploration Zones
Consider a whelping box when they are young to keep them safe. As they grow, they can use a playpen where you can introduce new surfaces to explore. The Midwest Black 8 Panel Excercise Pen would work well for this.
Older puppies will love outside, in supervised backyards, or even in dog parks. The idea is to encourage their natural curiosity in ways they can manage and control. You can buy a variety of leashes, collars, and harnesses to get your puppy used to being on a leash from an early age.
Clicker
A clicker works well for older dogs because it provides precisely timed, consistent reinforcement for the behavior you want to encourage. This helps you bond because it reduces your puppy's confusion and helps them trust you. We recommend the Starmark Pro Training Clicker.
Treats!
The excitement when the treats come out is infectious. They are a beautiful option for training and rewarding your puppy, and they adore them.
But it’s important to be mindful of what treats you’re giving and how often to avoid overfeeding.
Younger puppies don’t need many and should have softer treats. Look for low-calorie, healthy treats for older puppies – especially for intensive training.
Shop our wide range of training treats.
How Long Does It Take a Puppy to Bond With You?
Generally, they will start to form a bond with you between the first few days and the first few weeks.
There is a lot of variation here. As we have seen, tailoring your behavior to your puppy’s developmental stage is crucial.
Using the best exercise, grooming, and training methods ensures your puppy bonds with you securely and quickly.
More Puppy Bonding Tips
So far, our tips are based on your puppy’s development stage. Below are some general and evergreen ways to form and maintain a healthy bond you can nurture throughout their development.
Be Kind & Gentle
Remember, your puppy doesn’t communicate the same way as humans, focusing much more on tone and body language.
Set Clear Boundaries And Rules
Help your puppy bond with others. Set clear rules and boundaries, especially in more risky locations such as the street or around food.
Be Consistent
Consistency reduces confusion which helps your puppy feel more confident around you, making them more focused and disciplined.
Create Positive Associations
Make experiences as positive as possible. Whether it’s their first bathtime, a trip to the groomer or the Healthy Pet Dog DIY Dog Wash, or shots with the vet, your puppy will make associations with these experiences that can last a lifetime.
Be a Source of Comfort
Soothe your puppy if they’re anxious and provide support and comfort when it’s obvious they need it.
Puppy Psychology: Recognizing the Signs
What Does Puppy Anxiety Look Like?
Our puppies will often become anxious when faced with new things, unexpected situations, or when you’re separated. The symptoms of puppy anxiety include:
- Pacing
- Shaking
- Drooling
- Hiding
If you notice your puppy is anxious, help them by providing a safe and secure place such as a crate or cozy corner. Speak in a soothing tone and try not to force them into any unwanted interactions. Try to gradually introduce them to the new environment to get them used to it.
How Do I Know If My Puppy Is Bored?
Young pups always look for something new and often get bored without stimulation. Here are some symptoms that might mean your puppy is bored:
- Chewing or damaging things
- Digging
- Barking more than usual
- Restlessness
- Attention Seeking
It’s simple to overcome your puppy’s boredom—just find something to do! Going for a walk, getting more physical exercise, or playing with stimulating toys can help break up the day—instead of your furniture.
What If your Puppy Has Separation Anxiety
Puppies normally spend their time with the pack, and it’s normal for them to experience separation anxiety. However, over-dependence can be a problem. Here are some signs of separation anxiety:
- Severe distress when you leave the room
- Constantly following you around
- Panicking when alone
- Unable to self-soothe
It can take a lot of time and perseverance to help a puppy with separation anxiety. Try to increase the time you’re separated each day so they begin to feel independent.
Encourage them to play independently with toys and try not to engage them when they’re playing. It’s hard, but try not to reinforce clingy behavior.
With patience, your puppy will become more confident, strengthening your bond.
Is it working? Signs Your Puppy Is Bonding With You
After all that, you might be wondering if it’s working. If your puppy is bonding with you, you’ll notice.
Bear in mind that every puppy is different and will show you their affection in different ways:
- Following you around: This means they trust you and feel safe
- Physical touch: Snuggling up to you on the sofa or giving you a good lean
- Soft, relaxed eye contact: a sign they are bonding with you emotionally
- Bringing you toys: They want attention and approval, demonstrating your value.
- Relaxing or sleeping around you: This shows a deep level of trust and security
- Licking: It shows affection and natural bonding.
With consistency, patience, and kindness, your puppy will form a loving, forever bond with you. Just make sure they don’t use it against you for extra treats!
Stop by one of our stores for the best advice on any products you may need on your pup’s introduction to your home and family.
FAQs
At what age does a puppy bond with their owners?
A puppy will bond with its owner between 4 and 12 weeks old, depending on their age, temperament, and your interaction with them.
What are the initial steps when raising a puppy from birth?
To raise a puppy from birth, you must maintain a calm environment and allow them time to explore comfortably, safely, and securely.
What should you do with a new puppy on day one?
If they are young, let them sleep. For older puppies, stick to their usual routine and allow plenty of toilet breaks.
They will need playtime and rest to adjust to their new environment. Spend lots of time together to help form a bond.
How can you form a strong bond with your puppy?
Spend lots of time together playing, exploring, exercising, and grooming. Incorporating play and treats into your training sessions will provide a multi-faceted approach.
Become a trusted leader through clear and consistent communication and quickly strengthen your bond with your puppy.