Mistakes that First-Time Dog Owners Often Make

If you are a first-time dog owner, then you need to make sure that you avoid these top mistakes. If you don’t, then you may find that you end up with an unruly pup that never listens. Take a look below to see what steps you can take to stop this from happening.

 

Getting a Dog Before You Are Ready

 

If you are thinking about getting a dog, then it can be easy to act too quickly. You may find yourself tempted to adopt an animal from the shelter so you can do your bit for the local area. If you want a puppy, you may be tempted to start researching reputable providers too. Dog ownership is a huge responsibility and it is also a long-term commitment. There are a lot of things you need to think about, such as whether you have enough room in your schedule to devote to training, walking and caring for your dog. You also need to think about whether or not your lifestyle is suited to a dog, or if you have the living space to house them. If you don’t, then this can make raising your dog much more difficult. Have a conversation with your partner about things like this, so you can make sure that they are on the same page as you.

Not Creating a Plan

 

It is so important that you have a plan for house training. If you decide to get an older dog, you probably don’t need to worry about this. If you are getting a younger dog, however, you will have to give this some serious thought. If you neglect this kind of training earlier in your pet’s life then you will find it difficult to leave them, even if it is for short periods. It is wise to create a plan for your dog and to make sure that everyone is on board. If your plan is to crate-train your dog, then this is great, as kennels take advantage of your dog’s denning instinct. They don’t like to go to the bathroom in places that they see as being where they eat and sleep. Just make sure that you give your dog ample time to go to the bathroom. If you want some help training your dog, then check out these training tips from Lucky Lab.

 

Not Socializing Your Dog

 

Early socialization for your dog is so important. It helps them to create good habits going forward. If your dog is socialized earlier in their life, then they aren’t as likely to become anxious adults. You may also be able to limit any aggressive behavior later in life. As a dog owner, you need to socialize your pup to different sounds, sights, places and people. During the first three months, this is so important. Keep raising the expectations you have of your dog as time goes on. If you want some help here, then try activities such as walking your dog down the street, or taking them to a pet store. If you can do this, then you will be able to keep them socialized and you can also make sure that they are not fearful of new environments.

 

Skipping Obedience

 

If you are a first-time dog owner then you may find it overwhelming to deal with all of the excitement of bringing your dog home. All canines benefit from undergoing basic obedience training. Some dogs need to have more training than others. With that in mind, you have to go through the basics with your dog so you can make sure that they have a good understanding of what you expect from them. Basic dog training will create a good routine for them and it will also teach them good behavior. You have a lot of options when it comes to dog training. You can get private lessons from a trainer, or you can train your dog yourself. Either way, it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you are providing your dog with ample opportunity to learn.

 

Overfeeding

 

If this is your very first dog, you may be under the impression that a few table scraps or even a few extra treats won’t be an issue. The truth is that pet obesity is a huge deal. Even if your pet puts on just a little bit of weight, this can have very big consequences later down the line. Keeping your dog at a very healthy weight can work wonders for your dog’s long-term well-being and for this reason, you have to make sure that you are feeding them a balanced diet using the best ingredients. If your dog does have a weight problem, then your vet will be able to advise you on what you can do here, so you can make the right choices going forward.

 

Forgetting Vet Visits

 

You probably know that getting a dog means regular vet visits. Your dog needs their core vaccinations and they also need to be spayed or neutered. Although your dog will probably be happy to skip the appointments, you have to remember that it is a vital part of their general care. When you take your dog for their routine appointments, you will soon find that they get a physical exam, and their teeth checked. They will also have their heartbeat listened to, their weight checked and anything else that may be required., During these visits, your vet will give your dog their annual booster to make sure that they are covered. As your canine friend gets older, it is so important that you attend these visits on a  more frequent basis because if you don’t, then your pet is at a much higher risk of developing health complications. On top of the checks that your vet will do, they may also talk to you about flea and worming treatment. This allows them to stay protected when meeting other dogs and it also keeps them in the best of health. There are expenses when paying for this, so try and make sure that you keep that in mind when the time comes for you to get a dog.