Who they socialize with early is a big factor
For dogs, their key socialization period is from birth to six months. Puppy brains are very receptive at this age, so the social experiences they have as puppies influence them for the rest of their lives. It’s important for puppies to have a wide variety of positive interactions with a wide variety of people, places, and things.
If, for example, you adopted your dog at an older age and they were raised by a single female for the first six months of their lives, they may be much more comfortable around women and may have a difficult time bonding with men since they weren’t introduced to them at a young enough age. That could influence who they bond with as an adult.
It’s never too late to start socializing your dog. The more experiences they have and the more people they meet, the easier it should be for them to warm up to others in the future.
Attention and affection improve bonds
You might be the one to walk and feed the dog, but if your partner gives the dog more time, attention, and affection than you, they may favor that person. While the amount of attention and affection you give your dog makes a difference, the quality of attention may be the deciding factor. A half hour walk, for example, is not the same to your dog as a half hour interactive play session with you.
Not that it’s a competition. (OK—it kind of is.)
While most dogs love and bond with every member of the family, there’s often one person they’re especially drawn to. And in some breeds, that draw tends to be stronger than in others, says Nicole Ellis, pet lifestyle expert at Rover.com. For example, grey hounds, Shiba Inus, Cairn terriers, and Basenjis often bond strongly with one person, while Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, poodles, and beagles like to spread the love more equally.
The way your dog was socialized as a pup can impact the people she’s drawn to later in life. For example, if your dog was exposed primarily to women during her key socialization period (the first four months of her life), she might bond more closely with the women in the family. But that doesn’t mean you’re in trouble if you got your dog later in life, Ellis assures. “Socialize them as soon as you can and keep things positive with treats and praise,” she says. These are the first things to train your puppy.
Just as people tend to choose friends who match their personality and energy levels, dogs often choose their favorite person based on the same criteria. “A mellow dog will bond more closely with the low-key family member than the person running around the house,” says Ellis. If you find yourself more active than your dog, try resting with him for at least a half-hour a day. Slow your breathing and relax your energy to match his—he’ll appreciate the effort. This is how to determine your dog’s energy level.
No matter what your dog’s energy level, she’ll love trying new things with you. Plus, it’ll help the two of you bond and secure your spot in her heart. For high energy dogs, try something like agility courses, hikes, and swims. For older or mellow dogs, try scent tracking, Kong toys, or puzzle games. Training is a great way to bond with dogs of every age and energy level—keep it short (say 15 minutes) and don’t forget the treats! Here are some dog-friendly national parks to explore with your pup.
How Your Dog Chooses His Favorite Person
Though they cant put their love into words, dogs have an unexpectedly large repertoire of ways to show they care.
From subtle body language to over-the-top displays of affection, your pooch is probably showering you with devotion in plenty of surprising ways.