The other thread had some really interesting responses so please share. What was the process like for bonding with your dog, did it take time? happen right away? was there a moment or just gradual familiarity? that kind of thing.
Merlin is only 6 months old.
But it certainly wasn't an instant bond. When I found out HE was mine I was very happy because he was one of my favorites from pictures and the first day I saw him at the breeders I thought he was very cute, as all puppies are.. but there was no *instant connection* so to speak. In fact, for the 2 days I spent at the breeders I was HORRIFIED that this puppy did not like me and that I wasn't crying or feeling anything. We went to puppy class with the breeder while I was there and he didn't even look at me or listen.. honestly, that first night at the breeders was tough. I was ELATED to have a puppy, to be there, to meet them, he was such a sweet boy but there was this nagging "aren't I supposed to feel..I dunno.. something more?"
We had our first trickle of a bond only when we were alone together, at the airport, waiting to fly home. when it was finally just me and him he was cuddling in my lap and I was like "yup, this is my dog"
but the week or so after were FULL of doubts, ups and downs, a fear period I thought for sure was the end of the world, etc..
It was honestly only when house training was OVER, when the fear period was all but gone and forgotten and my happy, bubbly, sweet, bouncy Merlin began to really blossom that I started to LOVE Merlin.
I brought him home Dec 14th and only really started to feel a real BOND with him on January 5th.. Not just because he was my cute puppy but because I really liked the dog he was becoming. I remember the exact day because I was in my apartment on this dreary day reading and he was bouncing around and I was taking pictures of him and I just..knew.
It took a month from him coming home for me to LIKE him.
and another for me to LOVE him.. feb 14th he alerted to an upcoming seizure and it really solidified that he was the RIGHT dog.
Month two (feb) was also the month I stopped STRESSING, I threw out the training log and lists and things he should know and just enjoyed him. It improved our relationship by leaps and bounds. Merlin is a smart dog, he has plenty of time to learn but having silly fun and going out and getting dirty and getting ice cream..that really helped us.
but even today, it's a process. I love him, of course I do..but the process of truly bonding with him as he grows is a process, Merlin is growing and changing everyday it seems so we are both kind of learning each other in a sense.
I adore him because he is Merlin, my gooberhead and very much my dog. He loves me because well, he does lol no doubts about that.
but I feel like the real human/dog bond for us is something that is still growing and changing as he grows and changes everyday.
So my answer for us is..
1 month for me to like him
2 months for me to LOVE him
and for us to truly bond, work in progress we are getting there, but there is so much growing and changing for him to do, he is only 6 months old!
YOUR TURNS
Merlin is only 6 months old.
But it certainly wasn't an instant bond. When I found out HE was mine I was very happy because he was one of my favorites from pictures and the first day I saw him at the breeders I thought he was very cute, as all puppies are.. but there was no *instant connection* so to speak. In fact, for the 2 days I spent at the breeders I was HORRIFIED that this puppy did not like me and that I wasn't crying or feeling anything. We went to puppy class with the breeder while I was there and he didn't even look at me or listen.. honestly, that first night at the breeders was tough. I was ELATED to have a puppy, to be there, to meet them, he was such a sweet boy but there was this nagging "aren't I supposed to feel..I dunno.. something more?"
We had our first trickle of a bond only when we were alone together, at the airport, waiting to fly home. when it was finally just me and him he was cuddling in my lap and I was like "yup, this is my dog"
but the week or so after were FULL of doubts, ups and downs, a fear period I thought for sure was the end of the world, etc..
It was honestly only when house training was OVER, when the fear period was all but gone and forgotten and my happy, bubbly, sweet, bouncy Merlin began to really blossom that I started to LOVE Merlin.
I brought him home Dec 14th and only really started to feel a real BOND with him on January 5th.. Not just because he was my cute puppy but because I really liked the dog he was becoming. I remember the exact day because I was in my apartment on this dreary day reading and he was bouncing around and I was taking pictures of him and I just..knew.
It took a month from him coming home for me to LIKE him.
and another for me to LOVE him.. feb 14th he alerted to an upcoming seizure and it really solidified that he was the RIGHT dog.
Month two (feb) was also the month I stopped STRESSING, I threw out the training log and lists and things he should know and just enjoyed him. It improved our relationship by leaps and bounds. Merlin is a smart dog, he has plenty of time to learn but having silly fun and going out and getting dirty and getting ice cream..that really helped us.
but even today, it's a process. I love him, of course I do..but the process of truly bonding with him as he grows is a process, Merlin is growing and changing everyday it seems so we are both kind of learning each other in a sense.
I adore him because he is Merlin, my gooberhead and very much my dog. He loves me because well, he does lol no doubts about that.
but I feel like the real human/dog bond for us is something that is still growing and changing as he grows and changes everyday.
So my answer for us is..
1 month for me to like him
2 months for me to LOVE him
and for us to truly bond, work in progress we are getting there, but there is so much growing and changing for him to do, he is only 6 months old!
YOUR TURNS