There are few more powerful bonds than the one between you and your dog. After all, a dog is called “man's best friend” for a reason. Of course, that doesn't mean that dog ownership is always going to be easy, far from it! The truth is that owning a dog can often be a real challenge with a lot of frustration involved when they end up making a huge mess of your home or ignoring your commands. Sure, it's almost certainly worth it for all of the love and companionship that your furry friend can bring. But, that doesn't mean that it's not worth putting in the effort to try and make things a bit easier. There is one thing you can do in order to make life easier with your dog. You can learn to understand them. Here are some things that you can to get to know your furry friend just a little better.
It’s Time To Really Get To Know Your Furry Friend
What's their breed like?
One of the most important things to remember is that not all dogs are cut from the same cloth. Different breeds have different temperaments and attitudes, not to mention different needs when it comes to food and exercise. Knowing your dog's breed is a great jumping off point to really come to understand them better. You can read more about how to find out your dog's breed here. Sure it's not going to tell you everything about your dog, but it can certainly be a good starting point.
What's their history?
If you've had your furry friend since they were a puppy then you don't have to worry about knowing what their history is. However, if you've rescued or adopted an older dog or one with previous owners then it's a good idea to get as much information about their past as possible. Some rescue dogs have been mistreated in the past and that can have a big impact on how these feel about certain things. It can leave dogs with fears and worries and knowing about those things can help you take the best possible care of them and build up the strongest possible relationship with them.
What are their likes/dislikes?
Just like people, sometimes dogs just have their own opinions on things and you need to be able to know what they like and don't like if you're going to have the best possible relationship with them. Things like particular foods, types of toys, or even times of day for being walked can have a huge impact on how your dog feels and how happy and well behaved they are. Sure, you don't need to spoil them, but knowing your dogs likes and dislikes is going to make your friendship a lot stronger.
Now, this doesn't just apply to new pet owners either. Even if you've had your dog for years and you think you know everything there is to know about them, it's still worth being able to take the time to get to know them a little better. Dogs, much like people, have a surprising amount of depth to their personalities. Getting to know those depths is the best possible way to create the strongest possible bond between you both.