Owning a pet is a huge responsibility and every pet owner knows it. They also know how much harder and challenging it actually is than what they were expecting it. This is especially true for dog owners. First time dog owners, like everyone else, believe these cute animals are not that big of a deal to have around. They are cute, enjoy being petted, need regular walks, and enough food. Reality is much more complex as these are simply the basics that any living being can be described as needing.
In this article, we will talk about those things and more importantly, we will mention the most common mistakes first-time dog owners make. Having a puppy around is rewarding, exciting, and fun, but it is a living being with needs, wishes, and it can experience health issues just like you. It is important to take care of your dog’s health with regular vet checkups and the required vaccinations. Bivvy offers affordable dog insurance that can help you cover your pet’s health. Some coverage options include routine care and vaccinations which can help you meet the requirements to own a healthy dog. Keep reading to find out more about the typical mistakes first-time dog owners make.
1. Allowing them to be in charge
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If you are seriously considering getting a puppy and becoming a pet owner for the first time, there are a lot of things you must know before you make this decision. As cruel as it may sound, you have to start setting some ground rules as early as possible. Once you get a dog to your home, you have to immediately let them know what is okay and what is not. Welcoming your four-legged friend requires a few rules. Remember that dogs are pack animals, and pack animals naturally follow a leader. You are that leader and the pup has to know it. Being stern and training them from day one is how they look up to you and how they realize you are not only their friend and family member, but their superior. They will be happy knowing you are the boss as long as you do it effectively and in the easiest, most loving way possible.
2. Skipping obedience and discipline training
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We already mentioned that you have to start training your pup as early as possible. Doing it while they are still young and while the environment is new is the best time. However, expect them to test the rules from time to time, both intentionally and without realizing it. They are curious, they want to have fun, and they have no concept of being naughty like humans do. When or if the dog is overly eager, aggressive, or whatever else that is not allowed, you will have to make it known. Solving issues when they happen is how you prevent them from becoming a bad habit. Obedience and discipline is everything with owning dogs, but you have to persevere and be willing to devote time to it.
3. Inconsistency
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Continuing the topic of discipline, training, and allowing your dog certain things, you must never be inconsistent with your rules. If the puppy is banned from doing something, like climbing on certain furniture or entering certain areas, never allow them to do it. They will automatically thing that it is no longer off limits and start behaving differently. Make sure everyone else enforces these rules too, your family members and the guests that you have over from time to time. The dog may also feel confused about what they can and cannot do if the rules are inconsistent, which puts you at risk of your pup disobeying other rules they had no trouble following before.
4. Putting them on a wrong diet
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Modern trends seem to cause more and more people to feed their dogs alternative foods because they themselves are on similar diets. Pay attention to the following sentence: DOGS NEED MEAT. Although carnivorous, every dog needs to eat a balanced diet that includes different sources of meat. Projecting one’s own life choices, whether they are vegetarian, vegan, or whatever else, does not mean the dog has to suffer. Make sure you buy the right type of food for the breed you have and for their age. In addition, introduce meal times to make it easier for both of you. Dogs can actually eat a lot of human foods, which is great for preventing food waste as well as buying expensive dog food brands. To learn more about what human food dogs can eat without any issue, and which they actually enjoy quite a lot, make sure to check out marinpetwasteremoval.com.
5. Fitting harnesses loose or tight
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Neither too loose nor too tight is good for the dog. You will also have more trouble controlling the doggo when you take it for a walk if you tie it the wrong way. Choking and chafing tend to happen when you fit a harness improperly. A nice trick is to think about it as sports equipment. What this means is that it needs to be tight enough but still comfortable. The perfect fit distributes the weight evenly all around, it prevents rubbing, and ensures it never slips off. Safety straps should be used if you cannot seem to find the right fit for the size/breed combo of your furry friend. The same principle goes for any other thing you put on the dog, whether it is a collar, a jacket, or a costume. They will often try to wiggle out of it anyway, which is a good test of how tight and how well it fits.
6. Never socializing them
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Remember how we said that dogs are pack animals? Well, this means they are inherently very friendly and sociable. They need to meet and interact with other dogs, as well as other people. The worst punishment for any animal is to constantly be locked up or tied up somewhere all alone. It is not humane. Socialize with them early and allow them to get accustomed to other people in the street, other pets, wild and stray animals, and the whole bustle and hustle of traffic and the city. The sooner they are used to this, the less you will have to deal with possible aggression, separation and social anxiety, and fear later in your dog’s life.
