13 Mistakes You Should Avoid When Raising Your Puppy
Raising a puppy can be a fun and exciting experience, but it can also be a challenging one. As a responsible dog owner, it’s essential to avoid certain mistakes that can have a lasting impact on your puppy’s behavior and well-being. In this article, we’ll explore the most common mistakes dog owners make when raising their puppies and provide tips on how to correct them.
Mistake 1: Rushing Inside After Your Puppy Does His Business
If your puppy enjoys being outside to sniff and explore, it won’t take him long to learn that as soon as he pees, the fun is over. As a result, you may end up with a dog who avoids going to the bathroom when he’s outside until he absolutely has to. To avoid this, take your pup out on a leash and wait patiently until he does his business. After, praise and reward him and go for a walk or have some playtime in the yard.
Mistake 2: Letting Your Puppy Give You Love Nips
Puppies use their teeth to explore the same way a toddler uses their hands. Expect them to put their teeth on everything, all the time, when they get excited. Encouraging little nips while horsing around may not seem like a big deal now, but it’s not something you want to feel when your pup is full grown. To redirect your puppy’s behavior, try redirecting them to one of their toys whenever they start to bite.
Mistake 3: Getting Way Too Excited When Someone Is at the Door
It’s fun to share the excitement of friends or pizza arriving at the door, but when you psyche up your pup and rush to the door or excitedly ask, “Whos at the door?” it can lead to bad habits like rushing the door, jumping on guests, or your pup escaping down the street and potentially compromising her safety. To avoid this, keep greetings low-key from the beginning and teach your puppy how to be polite when people come to visit.
Mistake 4: Allowing Your Puppy to Pull During Leash Training
Dogs do what works for them, so if you allow pulling in puppyhood, that’s what she will do now and forever, even when she’s a much, much bigger dog. To avoid this, teach your puppy from the start that a loose leash earns great things like treats, praise, and continuing the fun walk. But when the pulling starts, immediately stop.
Mistake 5: Letting Your Puppy Jump Up on People
You’re excited to see a cute puppy, and the puppy is excited to see you. Puppies are generally small, so the mode for sharing affection and kisses is jumping. But remember that if jumping up is ok now, he’ll assume it’s still ok later on when he weighs 80 pounds and can knock people down with his enthusiasm. To avoid this, teach your pup to keep all four paws on the floor.
Mistake 6: Not Using Consistent Cue Words
You can’t expect your pup to learn obedience commands when you use different cue words for different behaviors. Create a list of all the behaviors you’re teaching your puppy and keep it on the fridge so all family members can be on the same page.
Mistake 7: Feeding Your Puppy from the Table
When you start feeding him from the table, he will expect it each time. And what happens when the begging becomes audible and he whines and barks until he gets what he wants? To avoid this, change the reservation to humans only and give your pup an alternative behavior to keep him happy and occupied.
Mistake 8: Not Setting Boundaries
A puppy who runs out the door or jumps on the couch without waiting for your invitation is a puppy who isn’t looking to you for direction and may even hurt themselves in their excitement. Use everyday opportunities for the things that your puppy wants as opportunities to practice impulse control and reinforce your pup’s manners.
Mistake 9: Keeping Your Puppy All to Yourself
It’s essential that you expose your pup to novel experiences like meeting new people, other dogs, pets, and going new places. If you don’t, your puppy will lack confidence, which manifests as fear, aggression, and nervousness with people, dogs, and new situations.
Mistake 10: Giving Up on Nail Clipping
Nail clippers can be a scary thing for a young pup, but there’s no need to get this routine handled by your vet instead of clipping your pup’s nails at home just because she whined, barked, or ran when you tried before. When the puppy is young, handle the paws and give a treat.
Mistake 11: Forgetting Your Pup is Always Learning
Training isn’t just for puppyhood; things like discomfort with grooming, veterinary procedures, possessiveness of food and objects, or fear of novelty can develop later. Don’t ease off on teaching socialization exercises. Break each procedure down into smaller components and make each one predictive of something fabulous for your puppy.
Mistake 12: Rushing to Her Crate When She Whines
Each time you rush to the crate when she whimpers or barks, she learns you will rush to comfort her, and she may have trouble being alone later on. To avoid this, come and go frequently for very short periods. Wait for quiet before you return or let him out of his crate.
Mistake 13: Letting Your Puppy Free Roam
Your puppy discovers an amusement park of fun with so many sofa pillows to tear apart, shoes to poop in, and toilet paper to unravel when he’s allowed to roam the house unsupervised freely. To avoid this, keep your puppy in one puppy-proofed room under your supervision. If you have to take your eyes off of him, confine him using a crate or block off a small area with an exercise pen or gate.
Tips for Raising a Well-Behaved Puppy
- Be consistent in your training and socialization efforts
- Use positive reinforcement techniques like treats and praise
- Be patient with your puppy as they learn and grow
- Provide adequate exercise and mental stimulation
- Keep your puppy safe by puppy-proofing your home
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Rushing inside after your puppy does his business
- Letting your puppy give you love nips
- Getting way too excited when someone is at the door
- Allowing your puppy to pull during leash training
- Letting your puppy jump up on people
By avoiding these common mistakes and following the tips outlined in this article, you can help raise a well-behaved and well-adjusted puppy that will bring joy and companionship to your life for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is it bad to rush inside after my puppy does his business?
_It can lead to a dog who avoids going to the bathroom outside until he absolutely has to._
Q: How can I stop my puppy from giving me love nips?
_Redirect your puppy’s behavior to one of their toys whenever they start to bite._
Q: What happens if I get too excited when someone is at the door?
_It can lead to bad habits like rushing the door, jumping on guests, or your pup escaping._
Q: How can I teach my puppy not to pull during leash training?
_Teach your puppy from the start that a loose leash earns great things like treats, praise, and continuing the fun walk._
Q: Why shouldn’t I let my puppy jump up on people?
_It can become a problem when your puppy grows into a bigger dog and can knock people down with their enthusiasm._
Q: How can I ensure consistent training for my puppy?
_Create a list of behaviors you’re teaching your puppy and keep it on the fridge so all family members can be on the same page._
Q: Is it okay to feed my puppy from the table?
_No, it can lead to begging and whining, so it’s best to change the reservation to humans only and give your pup an alternative behavior._
Q: Why is socialization important for my puppy?
_It’s essential to expose your pup to novel experiences like meeting new people, other dogs, pets, and going new places to build their confidence._
Q: How can I make nail clipping less stressful for my puppy?
_Handle the paws and give a treat when the puppy is young to make it a positive experience._
Q: Why is it bad to let my puppy free roam the house?
_It can lead to destructive behavior like tearing apart sofa pillows, shoes, and toilet paper, so it’s best to puppy-proof a room._