When you arrive home from an exhausting day at work, one of the best ways to unwind and relax is to enjoy the company of that barking, little guy who is so ecstatic to see you that your troubles just melt away. The relationship between you and your best friend is based on mutual trust and affection … and bonding with this little guy can change your life.

But how do we reach this ideal plateau of affection and mutual trust? There’s a tried-and-true method of bringing a joyful relationship into the life of you and your dog — a system that enables you to relate to and problem solve behavior issues with this warm, loving creature. The system is summed up in one message: “Companions For Life.” The “Companions For Life” concept was created to walk dog owners through the steps to a perfect relationship between you and your dog. This foundation is built upon three simple steps: 1. Get to know your dog; 2. Develop a relationship; and 3. Build the trust. Allow at least 30 days to create this bond … by then, you will have identified the things your dog likes and things he does not.Regardless of your dog’s personality or age, you are going to be able to rectify even the most difficult problems that arise. When you understand his character … high strung, mellow, shy or even out of control, you will have the tools necessary to deal with the situation. Bonding with your dog is key … so take your time and dig in your heels. Don’t quit!At this point, you are now ready to train your dog based on his individual personality. You understand his idiosyncrasies and he now understands that he can trust you to feed him, keep him sheltered and, best of all, to love him. And hopefully, you will realize that a dog is the one animal that wants to please you and wants to be your best friend. Thus, the unending relationship is forged.Now that the bond between you is forged, it is time to move on to problem solving issues, basic-to-advanced behaviors and additional training, if desired. If the bond is not sufficiently cemented, correcting your dog when he makes a mistake becomes an extremely negative experience. At this point, out of frustration, the dog may go untrained and a habit will be established on unwanted behaviors. So, build your foundation of trust with this loving animal and avoid needless problems while training him. Bonding with your dog will lead to a lifetime of pleasure, loving companionship and friendship for life.