Building Trust with Your Dog

Trust is the foundation of any meaningful relationship, and it’s equally important in the connection we share with our dogs. It creates a sense of safety, helps us understand each other, and enables us to communicate in ways that make both of us feel secure and comfortable.

In our busy, fast-paced lives, it’s easy to overlook how important trust is in any relationship. Between work, personal commitments, and everything else life throws at us, it can feel like there’s little time left for meaningful connection. But with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect opportunity to invest in the relationships that matter most — including the one with your dog. This month presents a wonderful opportunity to focus on building your dog’s "Trust Bank Account," a concept introduced by the amazing Sarah Fisher, that provides us with an opportunity to invest in small, everyday activities that deepen the connection we share with our canine companions.

What Is a Trust Bank Account?

The concept of a Trust Bank Account is simple, yet very effective. It helps us build and strengthen the trust we share with our dogs, one small deposit at a time.

Just like a financial bank account, your dog’s trust account grows with every enriching and rewarding interaction. These "deposits" can be thought of as small investments that help build a healthy trust account.

Each time you offer your dog a rewarding, enriching experience, you’re adding to their Trust Bank Account. These regular deposits strengthen the foundation of trust, ensuring that your relationship remains resilient enough to handle the occasional “withdrawals” that life may bring.

Simple Ways to Make Deposits

Building your dog’s Trust Bank Account doesn’t require grand gestures—often, it’s the small, regular interactions that make the biggest difference. Here are a few simple ways you can make meaningful deposits into your dog’s Trust Bank Account:

Opportunities to forage, investigate, and explore
ACE Free Work
Opportunities for licking and chewing
Choice of resting areas
Sniffy walks
Mindful body contact (if appropriate)
Mini adventures
Quiet, relaxed time together

By incorporating these small, daily deposits into your routine, you can create a healthy Trust Account. Over time, these deposits strengthen your connection, helping you both navigate life’s challenges together.

Understanding Withdrawals

Just like any relationship, there are times when we may need to make a withdrawal from the Trust Account. These moments might be unavoidable, but they can impact the relationship you share with your dog. Here are some common withdrawals that can happen in a dog's life:

A trip to the vet
Body contact (especially for touch-sensitive dogs)
Grooming (baths, brushing, nail trimming)
Walking on slippery floors
Wearing poorly fitting equipment (harnesses, collars, etc.)
Medical treatment or procedures

For example, Harry recently hurt his leg and had to make a trip to the vet. It wasn’t the most enjoyable experience for him, and I could tell he was uncomfortable being examined. That visit was definitely a withdrawal from his Trust Bank Account. Later in the week, we had a lovely walk on the beach, Harry got covered in sand and needed a bath. Not his favourite thing, but it was important to wash all the sand off. Just like the vet visit, the bath was another withdrawal from his Trust Account. You can see how these withdrawals can quickly add up.

Maintaining a Healthy Trust Bank Account

To ensure our dog’s Trust Bank Account remains healthy, we can try to reduce the number of withdrawals where possible and focus on making regular, meaningful deposits. While it’s not always possible to avoid stressful situations, you can help your dog build resilience by ensuring they experience more enriching and positive experiences than challenging ones.

A healthy Trust Bank Account not only strengthens your relationship but also helps your dog navigate life’s challenges with more confidence. The more deposits you make, the stronger your dog’s trust will be, making it easier for them to bounce back from the occasional withdrawal.

Create Your Dog’s Trust Bank Account

Why not try creating a Trust Bank Account for your own dog? This simple activity will help you track and balance trust-building moments.

How to Do It:

Grab a piece of paper and divide it into two columns:
- Deposits
- Withdrawals
Every day, write down at least three deposits and keep track of any withdrawals. If your dog has a tough day with several withdrawals (like a vet visit), try to add a few extra deposits to balance out the withdrawals.
At the end of the week, check your dog’s Trust Account balance: Take a moment to review the deposits and withdrawals you've made in your dog’s Trust Bank Account.

If you're looking for fun, rewarding activities to enjoy with your dog, the Confident Canine Hub is the perfect place to explore! Take a look and discover new ways to deepen your connection while having fun together.