Why Are Some Dogs One-Person Dogs?
There are several reasons why dogs become more attached to one person than others.
Certain dog breeds are more prone to being one-person dogs than others. Dogs like Akitas or German Shepherds are bred to be loyal to one person. When dogs are used for jobs that involve “service,” as is the case for military and police dogs, they will have a single handler. They are not only trained to listen and follow one person but are selectively bred to do so.
Rescue dogs who are adopted as adults are also more likely to bond with one person above all others, especially if they have been through a traumatic or difficult situation. It’s usually the first person they bonded with, the person they find the least threatening, or the one they felt most comforted them.
Puppies often bond with the person who took on most of the puppy raising and training duties. If one family member trains, feeds and cleans up after a puppy, they are likely to form a stronger bond with the pup than anyone else.
Just like people, dogs can form stronger bonds with one person over another. We may not always like it, but dogs have preferences just like we do.
In most cases, a dog’s preferences for one person are mild and amusing rather than problematic. They usually don’t cause any serious inconvenience or harm to the dog. However, there are some circumstances where a dog bonds with one human to the exclusion of others. This situation can cause difficulty for other family members and the dog.
Why One-Person Dogs Can Cause a Problem
Dogs who are truly only bonded to one person are only happy when they are with that person. They may hide, mope, or even refuse to eat when their person isn’t around.
In extreme cases, dogs won’t allow anyone else to handle or transport them other than their chosen person. They become stressed, uncooperative, and refuse to obey anyone else. This can be extremely troublesome for everyone else who needs to interact with the dog.
How to Help One-Person Dogs Bond with Others
The great thing about dogs is that they are very adaptable. You can do some simple things to help your one-person dog bond with more people.
Share The Dog Chores
Since dogs often favour the person who feeds and cares for them the most, the easiest way to change their point of view is to have the “less favoured” family members care for the dog. This works best with feeding, but if your dog is particularly attached to walks or playing ball, use that to your advantage too. The more relevant someone becomes in a dog’s life, the more likely they are to engage with them.
Create Positive Associations
The non-favourite person should associate themselves with things the dog loves. The “thing” will be different for every dog and can range from scratches behind the ears to a favourite toy to car rides.
Train The Dog
Training builds respect, trust, and understanding between a dog and its handler. This is why dogs bond the most with their primary trainer. Having other family members engage in training sessions is a great way to help them understand each other better.
Try Something New
If taking over dog duties isn’t an option, try learning something new along with the dog. Taking on a challenge together where the dog has to look for you for guidance is a great way to form new attachments. Learning a new trick is a great place to start.
Final Thoughts
There are tons of ways to help one person’s dogs form stronger relationships with others. Dogs who can bond with more than one person will be less stressed overall and will be easier to handle for all family members.
