Top Behavioral Mistakes Made With Puppies And Adult Dogs
Under-socializing puppies. It's important to provide puppies with positive human and pet interaction
during their first seven weeks of life. Acclimating your pet to nail trims, bathing/grooming and
examination will make these tasks easier later in life. Reputable breeders will begin these interactions, and
you can continue the process when you bring your pet home. To develop a healthy and trusting
relationship, play and handle your new puppy every day.
Not setting rules. You can’t expect a pet to know right from wrong without training. It takes persistent
correction and reinforcement to clarify your expectations to your canine friend. You need to make it clear
that jumping up on people, scratching furniture, and peeing on the carpet are unacceptable behaviors. Be
sure to reward your pets for good behavior and be careful not to reprimand too strongly for accidents (see
the next item). If you need guidance, consult a trainer promptly.
Punishing pets. There are many things that will likely make you want to yell at your pet. For example,
coming home to a soiled house may make your blood boil. Veterinary behavior experts report that
reprimand is usually counterproductive. Since the transgression took place in the past your dog likely won't
know why you are yelling, and will develop fear, which in turn may worsen the undesired behavior. A
better strategy is to praise your pets immediately when they do something right (positive reinforcement).
Providing too little exercise. Just like people, pets need exercise to stay healthy. Without sufficient
exercise pets are prone to obesity, which can lead to diabetes, heart disease, urinary, respiratory, and joint
problems. Most pets should get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, but different breeds and ages may
have particular needs. The added benefit of walking your dog is that it helps you as well!
Letting the dog walk you. Thousands of people get toppled over and injured due to pet-related falls.,
often during walks. Obedience training is the best way to make sure your pet is calm and controlled on a
walk and doesn't knock you over.
Providing too little attention. Pets tend to get bored if you don't play with them. This boredom may lead
to mischief such as chewing, digging, whining, and barking. Some ideas to keep your dog occupied
include hiding treats for him to find around the house, providing chew toys, playing fetch, tug-of-war, or
hide-and-seek.
Misreading body language. You may be a pet lover, but can you read the warning signs from an
unknown dog? For example, when a dog wants to threaten someone he may hold his tail high and wave it
stiffly back and forth. This may be mistaken for a friendly wag and could lead to a bite. To avoid
misunderstandings, learn about your pet's body language.
Leaving a dog alone too long. Spending 8-10 hours crated or in a small room or even outdoors is too long
for most dogs. Problems that may arise include separation anxiety with destructive behaviors including
chewing, soiling, digging, and nuisance barking. Some dogs will suffer depression. When you are not able
to avoid these long gaps, you should consider doggie daycare options, a mid-day visit from a pet sitter, or
even a canine companion. Be aware that a canine companion does not always solve the problem in every
case though.
Leaving young kids unsupervised with your dog. Children usually adore pets, but this enthusiasm is
sometimes misplaced and can lead to problems. Young kids commonly play too rough, sometimes causing
a dog to strike out in defense. Be sure to supervise play time until you are confident that the pet and child
both have a mutual respect for one another. Set rules early on with kids as to how to behave around your
canine and what signs to look for when your dog wants to be left alone.