Bonding with dogs - Page 1

What are your opinions and experiences with bonding with older dogs (2yrs and up). I have heard some people state that they couldn't bond with an older dog or that nobody could bond with their dog after seperating from them.

I've  obtained dogs as puppies and as adults and have never had an issue with bonding. After a few days-weeks of walking, feeding, and spending time with them they all seem to come around and become pretty attached.

What are your experiences?

James- You said "After a few days-weeks of walking, feeding, and spending time with them they all seem to come around and become pretty attached".


I think your confusing the dogs "acclimating with you" as opposed to bonding. JMO, but in my experience it takes 4-6 months to actually Bond with the dog.

Just my opinion

Kim

I agree with Kim but I really say it depends on the dog.
Some it could possibly take a few weeks, others a few months and maybe a few it could take a year.  All depends on the dog, its personality and the enviornment/trauma it has previously been through.

I think it all depends on the person. I trust my GSD's opinion of people better than myself. They feel and sense things about people far better than I. Simply put, they see things I can't. If you have a good person and a GSD, bonding should not take more than a couple weeks to a month. JMO
                                                                             Pete  

    I think much of it is the experiences the dog had with human bonding in earlier life. I have a 9 year old I got at age eight that was moved around a bit. We are very tightly bonded and it happened quickly.

I think it's a 2-way street really. Some dogs bond quicker than others (regardless of age & breed), and some humans are more apt to take to dogs than others. Respect is huge when it comes to human + K9 interaction. Not to say, that they are one in the same, because you can bond with a dog, and have it not necessarily respect you. Time + patience are really the key ingredient to forging relationships with dogs. I somewhat liken it to "chemistry" with fellow humans. One can have good chemistry with another whereby the interaction seems effortless, or it can go the other way, where it takes more work to 'get along' per se.

Bonding is a rather fascinating topic. My husband doesn't have the same bond with my dogs as I do. Since I work them, walk them, feed them, bath them, brush them, poke/clean their ears, take them for car rides, play with them, get them vet checked etc...they show more of a bond towards me, than him. Not to say, that he doesn't do some of those very same things with them, but more of me, is invested in all of those things with them. I know they know that. As stated above, dogs are extremely perceptive. They have a power of discernement, that sometimes us humans don't possess.

@pirates, no i meant bonded, not just acclimated. Yes the bond grows stronger with time but after just a few weeks the dogs that I had were truly attached to me and would let anybody else know it.

Examples. Many Navy k9 handlers do not deploy with their dogs. the dogs are on a different rotation than the handlers and the dogs are not handler specific. On each deployment the handlers have to quickly gain rapport with the dogs because the standard deployment for Navy is 6-12 months. the dog/handler team must become in sync in a very short amount of time in order to be operational.

This routine is different for each branch and for special operations.

Jamesfountain- No offense, I believe as ACE pointed out it all depends on the dog.

And this is just my opinion, a weak dog will bond quicker than a strong dog.

I know that everyone on this forum believes that they have experience with strong dogs, however I would suggest that they have never experienced a strong dog.

JMO, not looking for an argument.


Kim

Kim brings up a good point that I never considered...weak dog vs. a strong dog.
I would agree that a weak dog would bond faster as it is looking for a leader.  Again it all depends on the dog but nerves would certainly play a part.

James - How are/were you sure that your dogs that bonded after a few weeks would really protect you?  Being defensive at a strager coming towards you doesn't mean they will defend you. You said, "they would let anyone know it"...what does that mean?  They would bark and lunge at someone while on a leash?

James- you said

"the dog/handler team must become in sync in a very short amount of time in order to be operational".

I think we can all agree that trained Military Personnel understand the concept of becoming in sync in a very short amount of time in order to be operational.

But were not talking about trained Military Personnel, were talking about Dogs!

Are you stating that a dog can bond and gain a rapport with a new Handler in a short amount of time, then repeat it again with another Handler due to Standard Deployment time?


If you are, then I would respectively suggest that you have a limited understanding of the "Bond" which should exist between the Handler & his/her K9 Partner. 

Furthermore, I would suggest that the same dogs you speak of are weak & needy. 

JMO

Kim