We all make mistakes. And bringing home a new puppy, foster dog, or an adopted older dog is ripe with opportunity to make mistakes. Whether you’re new to dog care or this is old hat, there’s always something to learn so that we might take better care of these beautiful companions. If you’ve done any of these things, no shame. Almost everyone, we’re sure, has done one or more of these common dog parenting mistakes.
And it’s really never too late to make up for any mistake you have made. We’ve written helpful posts about training older dogs, bringing puppies home, and how we at Sundance Retrievers approach training. Check any of those out, and if you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Onto common dog parenting mistakes…
Not giving your dog enough exercise
They can seem so… wonderfully lazy at times. And so peaceful and happy in that laziness. (Are we talking dogs or people here!?) But they really do need to move around. A lot. Not only for physical health but for brain health too. And if you’re concerned about longevity, there’s no better way to help your dog have a longer life than to exercise them more.
How much is enough depends on a lot of factors and you’ll want to investigate this and make sure your dog is getting enough. If you’re confused, talk to your vet. But you’ll want to take into consideration the following: their size, their age, their breed, their temperament, and their specific overall energy, as well as their current health.
Not giving your dog enough mental stimulation
Along the same lines of not giving your dog enough physical exercise, it’s also important to give them things to do, problems to solve, and games to play. Again, we’ve written about mental stimulation for your dog before so check that out. But you can also look for games for you dog to play right here.
Not socializing your puppy enough
The most important time of a puppy’s life to get the benefits of socializing is the three to 16 week period. Make sure you’re taking your puppy or dog to meet other humans besides yourself and your own immediate family. Make sure your puppy gets used to playing around and with other dogs. Take them to different sorts of locations, building up possible difficulty or overstimulation over time.
Inconsistency with training
This one can be quite difficult. We all get busy and forget or we rush through a process in which the puppy or dog needs more time. Or there are a number of people in the household who are all training in different ways, using different commands and different rewards. It all matters. Being as consistent as possible with your words and actions will lead to healthier, happier, and better behaved dogs in the long run.
Picking the wrong dog
This might seem strange but it is important to think this through. What kind of dog is really best suited to you versus what kind of dog have you always dreamed of owning? Those two might not be the same thing. If you live in an apartment and do not have any outdoor spaces of your own, do you really want a large dog? That’s just one example. But do take your space into consideration, as well as the time you have to be with the dog. Also think about the other people who will be in the dog’s life. And finally, do you have other animals or children in your house?
This is just a start and we’ll write more about this in the near future, but do you have any questions about possible common dog parenting mistakes?