Raising my dog Bruno was quite a challenge.
Now, he’s a wonderful and very loving dog, but when he first came home, I quickly realized this puppy was not going to make it easy for us.
I’ve always lived with dogs, but Bruno was the first one I took full responsibility for raising. Looking back at his first few months, I realize I made numerous mistakes that you can avoid.
Luckily, we’ve been able to correct all these mistakes, but I’ll share them so you can start working on them as soon as possible.
Moreover, talking to other people, I realize these are common mistakes many of us make, so it’s likely you’ll make several of them with your dog.
9 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Raising a Dog
Raising a dog comes with many challenges, and avoiding these common mistakes can make a significant difference in your dog’s behavior, health, and overall well-being.
1. Waiting Too Long to Start Training My Dog
My first mistake was this: simply waiting.
At first, I thought letting my puppy freely explore before starting training was best, as he still needed to develop. In fact, some people recommend waiting until six months to start training, but this is bad advice.
Dogs are very observant and learn from the moment they arrive at your home. And commands like “come,” “stay,” or “drop it” are very useful in the first few months of life.
Dogs are keen learners and can master these commands from a very young age. It’s best to start training your dog as soon as they arrive home.
Keep sessions very short and fun, and always use positive reinforcements like treats and praise. This way, not only will your dog learn, but you’ll also prevent boredom.
2. Not Socializing My Puppy Enough
Though I’m sure you’ll introduce your puppy to new people and dogs, the mistake is not doing it consistently or widely enough.
Socialization is crucial for a dog to develop without fears and with confidence. It means exposing your puppy to different environments, people, animals, and sounds.
And in my case, by not doing it adequately, my dog ended up being afraid of cats and loud noises like horns.
For good socialization, take your puppy to various places like parks and urban areas, and introduce them to different types of animals and sounds.
But remember, not all socialization is good. Be careful not to mix them with aggressive dogs or go to a dog park where the dogs are very territorial. It’s important to do this in a controlled way to avoid bad experiences.
3. Not Researching Enough About the Breed
This, I believe, was one of the most serious mistakes I made.
Each breed has its peculiarities and needs, and you should know them to take the best possible care of your dog.
In my case, Bruno is a Golden Retriever. I had always seen videos of these dogs being affectionate, calm, and adorable, but the reality is that they are an energetic and stubborn breed.
And it’s not just about their temperament; you also need to research typical health issues to provide necessary preventive care.
Now Bruno is a happy and balanced dog, but at first, we were overwhelmed by his temperament and I lacked the necessary knowledge to train him properly.
Don’t be swayed by what you see on social media or what people say. Thoroughly research your dog’s breed. This will allow you to take care of them in a way that truly suits their needs and the characteristics of their breed.
4. Overfeeding With Treats
It’s easy to fall for those pleading, adorable eyes, but take this point seriously. Giving your dog too many treats can lead to serious issues like obesity, which in turn can cause severe health problems such as joint diseases, heart conditions, and diabetes.
Here, always keep these three aspects in mind:
- Give healthy treats: forget those ultra-processed treats sold in supermarkets. Opt for natural foods, like pieces of turkey, carrots, or apples. Research healthy dog foods and find the one your dog likes best.
- Calculate how many treats you give: if you’re training your dog, you’ll be giving them more food than usual. Calculate in weight how many treats you’ve given, and subtract that amount from their daily food ration. This way, they won’t ingest more food than necessary.
- Don’t overdo it: the treat should be a reward for a behavior or response from your dog. If you keep giving treats non-stop, they’ll lose their effectiveness.
In my case, there was a time when I went overboard with the treats and Bruno gained a few extra pounds. Now what I do is calculate how many treats I give him to keep him at his weight.
Golden Retrievers are prone to developing elbow and hip dysplasia, and excess weight only exacerbates these problems.
5. Not Exercising Enough
Dogs, especially energetic ones, need plenty of exercise to stay balanced and happy. I thought that taking him to the dog park for a while would be enough, but it wasn’t.
Failing to realize how much exercise he needed, my dog started to go crazy at home, jumping on sofas and barking uncontrollably. It’s vital to provide enough exercise to burn off their excess energy and prevent boredom.
The best thing is to take your dog for daily walks of at least 30 minutes, but if possible, include activities like running and swimming, which are excellent for their health.
And here’s what surprised me the most: I also needed to exercise my dog mentally.
Interactive games helped a lot, but there was another activity that provided long periods of entertainment. It involves encouraging them to use their sense of smell. And for this, I did three activities:
- Snuffle mat: it’s a mat where you hide pieces of food. I just had to throw small pieces of food and let my dog find them.
- The treasure hunt: my dog has a great sense of smell, so I had to raise the difficulty. I took a part of the house and hid small pieces of food on the floor. Then, I turned off all the lights and let Bruno find them.
- Let them smell during walks: this is essential. Let your dog smell everything they want during walks. This makes them extremely happy and they come home relaxed. For this, I recommend getting a 3-meter leash for your dog. This will make it much more comfortable for you.
6. Thinking Their Behavior Would Improve as They Grew
I confess, when I was overwhelmed by his behavior, I believed I just had to wait for him to grow up to become more obedient. But it doesn’t work like that.
Thinking that a small dog will improve on its own over time is a common mistake, but also a dangerous one.
Bad behaviors, if not corrected, tend to get worse over time.
For example, if a puppy learns that barking gets them what they want, it’s likely they’ll keep barking louder as they grow.
It’s essential to correct any inappropriate behavior from the start. You must teach them what is acceptable and what is not, without being swayed by how adorable they might seem when misbehaving.
If you don’t, you’ll face major problems when the dog is an adult.
7. Not Adapting the House
Unfortunately, we often forget this. Your dog, at first, won’t adapt to the house, so the house must adapt to your dog.
What you need to keep in mind is that your dog will chew. They might do it more or less intensely, but they will chew. Remove anything you want to protect from their reach.
I know there are anti-chew sprays, but if you have something really valuable, remove it until your dog grows up.
Once you see they have stopped chewing, you can put these furniture or objects back within their reach.
Making this mistake cost me more than one piece of furniture…
8. Repeating Commands Over and Over
Saying ‘sit’ over and over until your dog obeys can get them used to waiting until they hear the command several times. And this is not effective at all.
Instead of repeating the command endlessly, if your dog doesn’t obey, try taking them to an environment with fewer distractions and try again. This will teach them to respond more immediately.
The key is to deliver your command clearly, and then reinforce positively when they respond correctly. And remember, consistency and patience are essential for effective training.
When your dog learns a new command, don’t go months without practicing it. Occasionally have a short training session to reinforce the command.
This will keep it effective.
9. Feeding Them Leftovers
I always knew I would never give my dog food while I was sitting at the table, but I did make this mistake at other times.
For example, when I was cooking and saw his eyes fixed on me, I would let “accidentally” some pieces of food fall. This actually taught him that when I was cooking, he might get a reward.
And what ended up happening is that every time I was in the kitchen, my dog was very close to me, which made it very difficult for me to move around.
Also, keep in mind that human food can be inappropriate for dogs, as they often contain high levels of salt and fat.
Well, these were my 9 most striking mistakes, but I think it’s also interesting to tell you about the 3 things I don’t regret having done with my dog. And specifically, the third one I’m especially proud of.
I’m sure these will help you with raising your furry companion.
3 Things I Don’t Regret Doing With My Dog
These three actions have greatly benefited my dog and our relationship, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking to strengthen their bond with their furry friend.
1. Attending Dog Training Courses
Attending several of these courses that were offered in my area was one of the best decisions I could make. Not only did my dog improve, but I learned a lot about how to treat my dog.
I was able to better understand how dogs think and what they expect from us.
Also, these sessions are fantastic for your dog to socialize properly, as the educators will ensure that the environment is suitable for the dogs and that no conflicts arise.
Understanding your dog’s mind is the first step in knowing how to behave with them. I highly recommend this.
2. Reading Books About Dog Training
While it’s true that I’ve read several books on dogs, you don’t necessarily have to do the same. What I’m going to do is recommend a short but very good one. It’s called “On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals” by Turid Rugaas.
It’s amazing how our dogs communicate with us right in front of our noses and we don’t even notice.
In the book, you’ll discover several surprising things about your dog. And if you like reading, you can always read some more.
3. Giving Them All the Love in the World
A balanced dog that receives daily love from you is a happy dog.
Giving Bruno all the love I could has been a fantastic idea, and over time I’ve learned why.
Positive reinforcement is infinitely better than negative reinforcement. It’s better in the long run to reward your dog for what they do right than to punish them for what they do wrong.
And I’m not just talking about giving them treats. Kind words and displays of affection are really useful.
Also, when your dog has an accident at home, the best thing you can do is take care of them affectionately. If they have diarrhea and couldn’t wait to go outside, your dog must have had a really hard time, and the last thing they need from you is a scolding.
When you treat them with love and respect, you create a strong bond with your dog. And thanks to this bond, your dog will follow your commands more readily, come to your call sooner, and view you as their trusted guardian.
But it’s not about giving kisses and hugs. What you need to do is treat them with care, be careful with them, and respect their needs.
You’ll see how you build a beautiful relationship with your furry friend.
Raising a dog is a journey that comes with both challenges and rewards. By avoiding common mistakes such as delaying training or not researching the breed, you can ensure a smoother experience for both you and your dog.
At the same time, dedicating yourself to providing love, care, and structured training will build a strong, trusting bond.
Remember, dogs rely on us to guide them, and our effort shapes their well-being. With patience and dedication, you can create a joyful and balanced life for your dog.
