How to bond with your partner's dog!

It was a quiet drive through the Connecticut country side when my boyfriend leaned over to me and said "I can't wait for you to meet Winnie. I was the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes. He's a great judge of character too." Ah - the tension was building! And imagine my surprise when we opened the door and Winnie came running up to me instead of my boyfriend! That's not to say that my relationship with Winnie did not take work.

Although I received a warm greeting ... that was the honey moon and I was on my own to win over Winnie's heart. Some animals mimic people, in the way that even though they are glad to meet you, they are slow to accept you into their inner clique. I could tell that Winnie was going through a period of 'sizing me up' and although he was a sweetheart, when bedtime came he wasn't quick to fall asleep in my arms at all. So by introducing myself into his daily routine with my boyfriend I began the process of assimilating myself into Winnie's life.

Why is it important to form your own bond with your partner's pet? Well, for starters pets are a part of the family, an important part mind you. Before I met Winnie I heard more about him from my boyfriend than many members of my boyfriend's family. This is how I knew that my boyfriend was the constant force in Winnie's life since the day Winnie opened his eyes. Winnie was more than a pet, Winnie was more of a sibling. The bond between pet and owner runs deep and just as you would be foolish to ignore forging a relationship with your partner's family, you shouldn't over look their pet either. Many people consider their pets to be good judges of character and if their pet doesn't take to someone they may take notice of that.

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The Magic of Dogs: Bonding With, Training and Caring for Your Dog from Puppyhood to Adulthood

For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend

So we get it! It's an important bond to cultivate but how can we do it? Well, there are many opportunities to grow closer with your new four legged friend ... in my case I tried to focus on simple activities that I could share with Winnie, and I've found some tricks and products to help me along the way too. I'll include all of them for you to check out and it you think any of these tips or products can help you too just click the pictures to check them out:

1.) Dinner Time: It is a well known fact that a quick way to a animal's heart is through their stomach so when dinner time rolled around I was right there with Winnie, speaking to him in a friendly reassuring voice. Sometimes I would break up bits of treats randomly into his dish and give him a pat on the head! There are all sorts of gourmet and healthy treats available - even holiday treats which are a perfect way to enjoy bonding on Christmas morning! These are some of my favorite treats:

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I've made some special homemade treats for Winnie too ... and with all the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen he was right there next to me patiently waiting for goodies. Making homemade treats is as easy as making cookies. I've included suggestions from Amazon at the close of the article below to help you get started ;) Or you can check out my page on Homemade Doggie Treats.

2.) Take a nice long Walk! Multiple trips outside a day to take 'care of business' and you should be involved in these trips too! Introduce your self into their routine slowly by taking long walks with your partner and their dog. Gradually take the lead at times so you get comfortable taking the reigns and so the dog becomes comfortable with you. When you are ready, begin occasionally taking a stroll alone with the dog. Not comfortable taking control? There are several products that can help ease your anxiety (if your partner does not already have these on hand) - for example a harness lead is comfortable for your pup and eliminates pulling and tugging from your pet:
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3.) Splash Around ~ It's bath time! This doesn't have to be a traumatizing experience for anyone and if you approach the bath with a fun attitude and talk the pet through the process it can be a great bonding experience for the two of you. Make sure that you wear sweats or some old clothes that aren't that important to you though, there is no advice I can give on how to avoid being soaked in the process - it will happen! Nonetheless it is a fun activity for you, your partner and your pet :)
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4.) Show off your playful side! This should always be on your daily agenda! Remember that you get out of your relationships what you put into them ... including bonding with your significant other's animal. It's usually a good idea to get down to eye level with the animal and play with them that way you avoid seeming intimidating. This could mean sitting on the floor and playing with a new squeak toy that you bought for him/her. (That's right ... a new toy from you is a great bonding opportunity! And gives the pet something to associate with you as well.) Take any opportunity you can to get out of the house on a Saturday afternoon. Take a trip to a dog park with your partner and their pet. Pack a picnic lunch and extra homemade treats for the pup. Winnie loves toys that stretch and squeak - so these are some of my top picks for toys:
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1.) Step up when your pet isn't feeling well! Be the Hero! For example westies' skin tends to be dry and occasionally Winnie's skin will develop little scabs of irritation. When that happens I use a little anti-itch cream and rub it on those spots for him. It's always a special bonding experience when you can help ease any pain they have no matter how big or small. Vitamins are also a good daily treat and special bonding experience for your new pet ... every morning when you take your vitamin pull one out for the pet too! It gives you one more moment of bonding each day and keeps them in top condition. (Yes there are pet vitamins :) Even if your pet has a small tummy ache there are homeopathic remedies widely available and are great to have on hand just in case the situation arises.

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For more information on baking your own treats and a free recipe to get you started head over to my article about: Homemade Doggie Treats.

Yummy Do-it-yourself Canine Cake Mix!

Three Dog Bakery Cookbook: Over 50 Recipes for All-Natural Treats for Your Dog

Adorable Canine Cookie Cutters!

After our evening walk Winnie usually curled up on the couch next to my boyfriend ... so I knew I had made headway in my relationship with Winnie when on a random night in July he jumped up next to me and snuggled in. A little shocked at first, I gleamed a smile and pet Winnie on the head. A few weeks later as I was napping Winnie crawled up by my chest and went to sleep in my arms. I knew then that I had finally been accepted into the pack and just as I was drifting to sleep with a smile on my face, I was woken by a bright flash. I opened my eyes to find my boyfriend standing over me with a camera in his hand and a smile on his face. He said "Nothing warms my heart more than to see the two of you together like that, you both mean so much to me." I could instantly tell that taking the time to bond with his 'little guy' (the way he fondly refers to Winnie) meant more to him than any tangible present I could have given.