New puppy owners are like new parents. If it’s their first time owning a puppy, they can make some mistakes, regardless of their best intentions. They can be unexpectedly intimidated by the amount of responsibility required to raise a healthy puppy. And, with that in mind, instead of re-inventing the wheel and repeating common mistakes, we are going to share some things that new puppy owners should be aware of:
6 Common Mistakes Of New Puppy Owners
Not Enough Commitment- before adopting a new puppy, you need to be sure of your commitment. You shouldn’t adopt or buy a puppy just because he looks adorable. If you do this, your puppy may end up returning to the shelter in a few months. Be aware that it is a commitment that could last for 10 years or more.
Lack Of Training- “I’ll do it next week”, you promise. However, a new week comes and goes. Your puppy will continue growing and he may start to develop some bad habits. Without regular and proper residential dog training, you may end up with a rambunctious adolescent dog. It is better to immediately start residential dog training to nip potential problems in the bud. Training should be consistent with the same hand signals and verbal commands all the time.
Give Out Treats Easily- your puppy will immediately eat anything you offer. this means that you shouldn’t just hand out treats and favourite food without clear reason. Treats should be reserved only for training purposes and when praising puppies for good behaviour. It’s important for puppies to associate good behaviour with treats, so you need to give out treats occasionally.
Poor Socialisation- owners should make sure that puppies interact with and are handled regularly by humans. Once the new puppy arrives to his new home, the socialisation process must begin immediately. The puppy should be familiarised with all family members and existing pets. If your puppy is exposed to more social experiences, he will be more confident and have much better behaviour. This will also make residential dog training Preston much more effective.
Not Enough Physical Activity- puppies typically have plenty of pent-up energy. Even the laziest puppy needs to move around regularly. Boredom and lack of activity may trigger behavioural issues like excessive barking and destructiveness which can be cured through residential dog training.
Not Puppy-Proofing The House- things won’t go well if your home isn’t puppy-proofed. Make sure that your puppy can’t reach electrical cords and be sure that cleaning products are put away securely. Anti-freeze solution and various petroleum-based products in the garage can be harmful for your puppy as well.
Contact Dog Harmony
To learn more common mistakes new puppy owners make, contact Dog Harmony today and speak to an expert dog trainer who can help train your dog to be easier to manage and a lot more fun.
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