We are patiently working to re-establish pack structure with the dog we adopted 2-1/2 years ago. As we progress, I am hoping that she will also "bond" more closely with us -- she is gentle and non-aggressive, but at the same time aloof and not outwardly affectionate. While I realize that it is some dogs' nature to be more independent and to have a low pack drive, are there any "bond-building exercises" that we could be doing at this point that could help? I saw an older thread about teaching a dog to walk, step by step, across a ladder laterally suspended about a foot off the ground... apparently that can really build trust, and I would like to try it. Would love to hear other suggestions!
Many thanks.

Have you taught a 'watch me' command?

This is easy to teach with marker training and gets the dog looking into your eyes and associating eye contact with something good. For me it was an important step in developing a bond with my dog...

All marker training is bond-building, IMO.

Do you have activities together? What?

What is this dog's currency? Is she food-driven? Is there a toy or game she loves?

Do you maintain a reliable schedule for her day?


JMO:

The opposite of bonding: Unfair corrections; failure to lead (and protect); poor communication; no shared activities.

Lynne -- funny thing, I just started (well, re-started -- we're kind of taking everything from scratch) the "Look" command on our walks yesterday. I will keep it up, as I think it will be a nice one for us to use for re-directing. Thanks!

Activities together: well, our daily walks... and marker training sessions (I'm starting those again, kind of combining them with engagement-type sessions)

Lenney is highly food driven. Also loves to play tug, but I don't have the ME DVDs yet (next on my list!) so I am basing my interactions on what I see on the free Leerburg videos. And yes, we are able to maintain a reliable schedule for her: a morning 45-60 minute walk or hike after our breakfast, and a second walk or hike in the late afternoon, plus one or two short training sessions in between.

Opposite of bonding...(blush) GUILTY. I'll admit it. Heck, I'm here to learn! Unfair corrections: well, certainly NOT extreme, but I now know we've sometimes given corrections on the assumption that "she KNOWS she should do that" (she didn't); definitely failure to lead and protect. Poor pup! Communication: lots of blah, blah, blah -- we used to ALWAYS chitchat with her, knowing full well she couldn't understand a word! Silly humans. Shared activities: at least I think we did okay on this one...!

"Opposite of bonding...(blush) GUILTY. I'll admit it. Heck, I'm here to learn! Unfair corrections: well, certainly NOT extreme, but I now know we've sometimes given corrections on the assumption that "she KNOWS she should do that" (she didn't); definitely failure to lead and protect. Poor pup! Communication: lots of blah, blah, blah -- we used to ALWAYS chitchat with her, knowing full well she couldn't understand a word! Silly humans. Shared activities: at least I think we did okay on this one...!"


I was NOT referring to you, BTW. I meant, in general.

These are the bond-damagers we have ALL done. Even just eliminating these will be a huge step in the direction you want to take!

 Quote: Marina Latulippe

Lynne -- funny thing, I just started (well, re-started -- we're kind of taking everything from scratch) the "Look" command on our walks yesterday. I will keep it up, as I think it will be a nice one for us to use for re-directing. Thanks!

Activities together: well, our daily walks... and marker training sessions (I'm starting those again, kind of combining them with engagement-type sessions)

Lenney is highly food driven. Also loves to play tug, but I don't have the ME DVDs yet (next on my list!) so I am basing my interactions on what I see on the free Leerburg videos. And yes, we are able to maintain a reliable schedule for her: a morning 45-60 minute walk or hike after our breakfast, and a second walk or hike in the late afternoon, plus one or two short training sessions in between. ...

Good steps! GOOD JOB!

Agility is a great bond builder and confidence booster on both sides.

I certainly wasn't feeling "picked on" just acknowledging our errors !!

I would love to do agility with Lenney... she is so energetic, and game for anything. My obstacle is the off-leash thing. I live in a very rural area, and the only person with agility equipment around here, has it in her front yard. We've tried it a few times, but one time I didn't listen to the cues Len was sending me that she had lost interest, so she took off on her own... and nearly got hit by a car. Ugh. That was the end of that (for now, at least -- I am now more focussed on simply building engagement -- and teaching both of us(!) that I am "interesting".

Something we do however is a bit of rock and boulder climbing and obstacle course-type stuff in nature, when we go on hikes... normally my husband does more of that with her, but maybe I'll have to get more involved in that, too (normally I just stick to the "easy" trails).

Thanks for the input!

Hi Marina!
Just a couple ideas- Agility doesn't have to be off leash at this point, a lot of the equipment can be trained and completed with a long line or even a 6 foot leash (tunnels can be tricky, with leashes though) Also, it is really easy to make agility equipment for your own yard at little to no cost- just be creative Some examples are: a jump could be an old pallet from the local harware store's trash bin, a 99 cent hula hoop held up by duct tape and a couple tree branches, an old patio table to jump on and do some OB, or an old sheet draped over some sort of frame for a tunnel. The possibilities are endless for teaching agility, you just have to do some brainstorming and have fun with it

For building a bond with her Marina, I think it would be best if you just do something your comfortable with and confident in doing. She doesnt need to walk on ladders or do obstacle courses for it.

Something as easy as Watch Me like Lynne said, where she succeeds and you praise and reward her will accomplish the same thing, I think anyway.