Animal Diaries Archive

Bonding with animals

1 September 2006

Having a bond with an animal is an amazing feeling, but sometimes it’s not as easy as you think. A lot can go into building up a good strong bond - there has to be a lot of trust coming from both sides.

A balanced diet plays a big role; a healthy animal is a happy animal! Along with that comes play time. So being healthy doesn’t have to be all that boring. Playing games with your animal is loads of fun and helps to keep both of you fit at the same time. The types of games you play will depend on the animal, so don’t think you have to go out buying expensive toys, because I know that with Freddo the bird he loves it when I just find a nice bit of bark for him to pull apart or even a cardboard box. Be creative!

Knowing about your animal is very important. Learning the animal’s behaviour and body language will help when bonding. Treats are great to use when rewarding good behaviour, but there are things other than food to use as rewards, such as a good pat or scratch and verbal praise. Don’t forget about quiet time, though; chilling out with your animal lets them know they can relax and feel safe and comfortable around you, therefore building a great bond.