Building a Strong Bond: Tips for Connecting with Your Animal

What a great feeling it is when you come home and your dog, cat, bird or other animals show their excitement or vocalize happily to see you! Yes, they miss us when we're gone.

It is a beautiful bond of love and friendship shared between 2 different species who's common language is love. Animals are always present and all in the moment, every single moment. We have our phones, devices, work, overactive minds and our lives apart from them outside of the house. All they have is us. To be fully present in the moment engaging with them helps to create a strong bond with them.

A few ways to create this bond is sitting together with no distractions. Petting, snuggling and grooming causes us to be present with them. Playtime and incorporating tasks and training into your time together also helps to mentally stimulate them. Through encouragement and direction you teach and guide them to do something new and this creates trust and deepens the bond and connection because they will look to you for guidance and support in all situations. They learn quickly that you have their back and they can feel safe with you in their home or outside of the house.

Animals like routine which provides security for them. They like to know what's expected of them and deliver that consistently to make you proud. Being aware that you're calm and positive in your communication and actions with them invites them to want to be closer to you. Allowing them to have a space where they can have time to themselves is important in case they feel overwhelmed by loud guests or just need quiet time to rest.

Taking the time to be mindful of all of the things that can bring you closer to your animal shows them how much you care and how important they are to you.