You have probably heard it many times that when you keep up with teaching your pet new things, you strengthen the bond between the two of you. Have you ever wondered why this happens? It makes perfect sense when you think about it for a while.
Quality time
Every minute that you spend teaching your cat, dog, rabbit, rat, or bird something new is quality time spent with him. During this time, all your focus is on your pet, and he will get all of your attention. Although you shouldn’t stretch out the training session with your pet, he will appreciate the special time with you. Start with a few minutes at a time.
Communication
Throughout the training process, you will be talking to your pet and giving him a variety of cues. But it is not only words, woofs, and meows that you will exchange, you will also communicate with each other through body language.
Animals are highly intuitive and will pick up on your mood and feelings very quickly. He will know when you’re feeling frustrated when he’s not learning fast enough. And that’s why it is important to stay calm throughout the training session. When you’re calm and loving, he will pick up on that, and it will make the training process a little easier.
Praise and reward
For every small achievement, you need to praise and reward your pet, even if it is something small. Most pets will eagerly work for food, and what better reward than a small treat? Couple that with some good old praise, like: “Who’s the best dog in the world?”, and your dog will instantly feel special.
Repeat often
To make sure that your pet remembers everything that he has been learning, you will have to repeat the tricks or tasks regularly. By repeating the same actions, you are once again focusing all your attention on your pet. And the more he gets it right, the better he will become at it and the more praise he will get.
Conclusion
Most pets love routine – it makes their lives easier and more predictable. By creating a daily training routine, you also create daily interaction with your pet. And all of this will help to strengthen the bond between you and your cat, dog, bird, rabbit, or small rodent pet. It’s a win-win situation.
