5 Mistakes That First-Time Puppy Owners Should Avoid

1. Doing The Correct Thing But At The Incorrect Time

Every time you talk to your dog, you will transmit a message. So, when you're training your puppy, you might give the wrong message without meaning to. You don't want to undo any of the hard work you've put into training, but sometimes you do it without even realizing it, so you need to be aware of this. For instance, if you show your dog love when they do something bad, they will be more likely to do it again.

2. Treating Your Pup Like A Human

You should keep in mind that you and your dog are two different kinds of animals. You might want to treat your dog like a child, but doing so will take away a lot of things from them. You need to set limits from the start and keep in mind that your puppy is a dog, not a child. Give them the right food, encourage good habits, and pay attention to all the things that a dog needs to grow and thrive.

3. Not Socializing Your Puppy Soon Enough

If you want your dog to get along with other dogs as a puppy and as an adult, you need to socialize them early on. Researchers have determined that the first four months of a dog's life are the most important for shaping its behavior. This is a great period for it to meet other dogs. When you get your puppy at 12 weeks, the only people it has been around are its mother, the other puppies in the litter, and the breeder. So, take your puppy out into the great wide world and get them used to being around other dogs and people as soon as you can.

4. Not Exercising Your Puppy Enough

A lot of energy comes from puppies. Exercise them often so they don't act up and break things around the house. The more time you spend walking and playing with your dog, the less barking, gnawing, and jumping you'll have to deal with. Of course, each breed needs a different amount of activity, so do your research and find out what your dog really needs.

5. Not Teaching Leash Etiquette Early On

You need to learn how to use a leash correctly as soon as possible to avoid issues later on, especially with bigger dogs. We've all seen those dogs that pull their humans along. Once this starts, it might be hard to stop. You can't take your dog outside until it has all of its shots, but you can surely practice leash training indoors. If your dog pulls, use a short leash and keep your dog focused on you while you walk. That's all there is to it. These are just five mistakes you should try to avoid. Training a puppy is not easy at all. If you are patient and stick with it, you will see results.