How to build trust between a dog and a human?

Trust is a very important issue when we want our relationship with a dog to be as good as possible. Without it, it's hard to coexist, even among us. How to build this trust? What to avoid?

How to interpret dog behavior?

There are dog behaviors that make us wonder, sometimes they make us happy, which turns out they shouldn't. We misinterpret some of them and can cause more harm than good in the future. Biting the tail, for example, is not playing. It's a stereotype - a behavior that helps relieve nervous tension, where pharmacological treatment is often needed. Growling at the owner at our gesture is a warning sign - they can react aggressively, where some perceive it as a game. A positive gesture is showing a full set of teeth towards us, with a strong upward pull of the lips. They often do this when greeting or playing with their peers. Pawing while sleeping is just sleep! I've heard from many people that it annoys them, but in reality, our dog is just chasing a bunny and having a great time. A puppy chasing its tail is... discovering that such a thing exists! It's a charming game that you can watch and watch. If you notice strange behaviors in your dog that make you wonder, or even worry, it's worth seeking advice from a behaviorist. Read also: Preventive health check for your dog - do you remember it?

How to gain a dog's trust

It's not something you gain overnight. Take care of your dog's health by going to the vet. This may sound absurd, but someone once told me that a healthy dog feels safer and more confident, which translates into its relationship with the owner. Simple, yet rarely mentioned. We can gain a dog's trust through physical exercise and walks - spend more time with them. Play - nothing brings you closer than shared moments of good fun and recreation. Teach tricks by rewarding them with delicious treats. As the saying goes - the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! Don't hit, don't yell. Respect them and love them like a member of your family, and they will return that love a hundredfold.

 Maced treats are a proven brand, producing high-quality dog treats.

These are important things, and believe me, I very often see how many people simply don't think about and don't practice such basics, and then they wonder why the dog is afraid and won't let anyone near them.   

Most common behavioral problems in dogs

Does your dog bark without reason? Does it chew on things? There are many such behaviors that can cause problems. I will describe the most popular ones in bullet points:

1. Barking - a normal thing, but a problem arises when it reacts to every, even the quietest sound. The dog often alerts us, warns us, shows its excitement, wants attention, shows anxiety, or... is bored. Look for the factor that affects the dog in this way and try to get rid of it. If it starts barking, get its attention and praise it with a treat! Consistency will certainly help the most here.
2. A dog bites when it is afraid, feels pain, protects its possessions, tries to dominate, or has a predatory instinct. From a puppy, it must be taught that this is incorrect behavior and not to delay with it! Some people don't know how to approach this, not everyone knows, then don't be ashamed to seek help from a specialist.
3. Dog digging is a common nuisance, but most often the dog is hiding something, or wants to hide itself, or is bored! Spend time with your dog determining why it does this and try to solve the problem on your own.
4. Separation anxiety - here you need a specialist who will help the longing dog. They will train you on how to deal with it, and with consistent teaching, you will certainly no longer have to worry about it.
5. Passing stool and urine. First, it is advisable to go to the vet to rule out related diseases. If the dog is healthy, we try to get rid of the problem by praising the dog with rewards when it relieves itself outside. Sometimes you need to seek advice from a behaviorist if the problem persists.
6. Chewing on objects in the house is most often a result of boredom. Of course, a longer walk and paying attention to the dog should slowly solve the problem.
7. Aggression manifests itself in growling, biting the owner. It is worth checking if something is wrong with the dog, but it may turn out that you will need help from an experienced trainer who will eliminate this behavior.

Read also: Welcome home little doggy

Dog is aggressive towards people

What to do when a dog is aggressive? First of all, we limit contact with people, especially strangers and children. During walks, the dog should wear a muzzle and be on a leash. You are responsible for the dog, so ensure the safety of the surroundings. Absolutely, you MUST consult a specialist about the problem. Help is essential in this case to get rid of the problem. Generally, from a puppy, you should teach them not to nip - many people associate this with play, but it is not. In such a case, when you see the dog is about to bite your pants, offer a toy as a substitute with the command "NO" and ignore the dog. Only pay attention to it when it stops biting and is calmer. It is worth rewarding your dog if it plays with a toy instead of you. The most important thing is that every household member must actively participate in this. Not even one person can allow such behavior, because your work will simply be in vain.

This plush toy is a great choice. It has a squeaker that attracts the dog's attention.

Dog doesn't listen and runs away

Running away and disobedience in dogs are most often caused by a lack of basic needs being met. When I had a Bernese Mountain Dog, I thoroughly prepared myself for what the dog needed most and how to provide the best conditions for it. Of course, it turned out not to be a Bernese Mountain Dog, but a Bernese couch dog, but that's a matter of temperament. Every CONSCIOUS owner must meet needs such as:

• contact with humans,
• learning,
• chewing,
• throwing,
• playing,
• exploring the area,
• sniffing,
• contact with other dogs.

It often happens that a dog runs away to a female in heat nearby. In this case, it is worth considering castration so that hormones calm the urge in the quadruped. It is worth looking at the situations in which the dog does not listen to us and when it runs away, and it is also worth working on the relationship with the dog. Here, we should look for the problem, unfortunately most often, in our upbringing of the dog and repairing mistakes. If we do not know how to approach this, we can seek advice from a veterinarian or a behaviorist, who will certainly help us get started. The human-dog relationship is a long journey, but worth all the sacrifices. Give yourself time, and I am sure that your friendship will endure many challenges, and the dog itself will infect every household member with love.