April 22, 2026, 2:37 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
When looking to strengthen the bond with their dog, most people think of training first. Commands like sit, stay, and a reliable recall are considered particularly important. However, a recent study suggests that something entirely different might be far more crucial for the relationship. This can be easily integrated into daily life and requires only a few minutes.
Strengthening the Bond with Your Dog–Is It Really That Simple?
Many dog owners invest a lot of time in training and engaging their pets. But does this really help strengthen the bond with their dog? A research team from Sweden explored this very question. The scientists wanted to find out if playing with the dog significantly improves the relationship–perhaps even more than training.1
What Exactly Was Examined in the Study?
The study consisted of two parts. In the first part, nearly 3,000 dog owners were surveyed online. Among other things, they were asked how often they play or train with their dog and how they assess their relationship with the animal.
The second part focused on the causes and effects. Just because people with a close bond play more often with their dog doesn’t automatically mean that playing improves the bond. They might simply play more because the relationship is already good. Therefore, the researchers conducted a four-week experiment to test whether additional playtime or training could strengthen the bond with the dog.
How the Practical Test with the Dogs Was Conducted
The participants were divided into three groups:
- Play Group: at least five minutes of additional daily playtime
- Training Group: additional exercises with food rewards, but without playful elements
- Control Group: no changes in daily routine
The play group received suggestions for various types of play, such as tug-of-war, chase games, or hide-and-seek. The training group focused on classic exercises with positive reinforcement. Toys or games were deliberately not used as rewards to keep training and playing as distinct as possible.
Before and after the four weeks, all participants completed a scientifically established questionnaire on the human-dog relationship.
Strengthening the Emotional Bond with Your Dog Through Play
The large survey initially showed a fairly clear picture. Those who play or train with their dog more frequently report, on average, a better relationship. Owners felt emotionally closer to their dogs. Notably, those who played more with their dogs had a closer daily interaction with them. This effect was stronger than with training.
In the second part, only one group showed a truly measurable change after four weeks. Only the play group improved statistically significantly in emotional closeness to their dog. This effect was not observed in the training group. This suggests that playing together apparently strengthens the bond more than training alone.
Why Training Doesn’t Automatically Strengthen the Bond with Your Dog
But why does playing seem to have a stronger impact on the relationship than training? The researchers cite several possible reasons. Playing is usually voluntary, relaxed, and emotionally positive. It’s not primarily about performance or achieving a goal, but about sharing good moments. This could be what strengthens the emotional bond with the dog.
Training is useful and important, but it can be more focused on success, correctness, and repetition. While it can enrich daily life, it doesn’t automatically have the same emotional quality as carefree play together.
Survey Assesses How Burdonsome “Pandemic Puppies” Are for Their Owners
Emotional bond between humans and dogs measured for the first time
Even a Few Minutes a Day Can Make a Difference
The study shows that the bond with a dog is strengthened not only through training but especially through shared joy. Short sessions are sufficient.
Five minutes of additional play per day were enough to achieve a measurable change between dog and owner within four weeks. This is surprising, as many assume that more training automatically leads to a better relationship.
What the Study Doesn’t Show
As exciting as the results are, there are, of course, some limitations. Many responses are based on the subjective assessments of the owners themselves. Secondly, the observation period was relatively short at four weeks. Whether the effect lasts long-term is still unknown. Lastly, the measured effect was rather small. The effect is real, but it’s not a miracle solution that will instantly transform every relationship.