Mankind’s best companion is the dog. One would believe that doing everything possible for him would be expected. This, however, is not the case. Not all of the foods you feed your dog are nutritious, healthy, or even familiar to him. But don’t worry, we’re here to help!. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the most common first-time dog owner mistakes so that you can avoid them in order to keep your pet healthy, happy, and in top shape.
Do you have any idea how to look after your pet?
It’s no longer a question that can be left unanswered, thanks to the availability of studies and vets advices. Aside from the fundamentals of existence, such as food, sleep, and water, every dog has its own set of requirements.
Dogs are adorable and lovely creatures. They are devoted, kind, and affectionate and make our lives complete by playing with us, running with us, sleeping with us, and making our lives full. They are, nonetheless, quite lovely and have their own preferences and dislikes. If you don’t understand them, they can become enraged.
As a new dog owner, make sure to read through and learn from our tips so that you can have the best possible start with your new best friend. Be aware that the following are potentially dangerous too to your dog.
1. Not walking your dog at least twice a day.
Walking for 30 minutes on average every day is beneficial to the dog’s health. It will maintain their emotional and physical well-being, and it will eventually be beneficial not only to your dog but also to you, since walking may help us humans release stress. Keep in mind that it is our responsibility as dog owners to provide this for our pups.
Both you and your dog will suffer as a result of this.
- When it escapes, there is a chance where your dog will not recognise the neighbourhood and will be unable to return home If you never take your dog for a walk.
- Your dog may also gain weight, and because they will be less sleepy, they may get into more trouble.
- Worst of all, if dogs don’t get enough exercise, they won’t be healthy, and if they’re confined indoors too much, they’ll develop nasty habits like chewing on furniture or ripping things apart.
If you are unable to go outside due to bad weather or other circumstances, play with your dog for at least 30 minutes and be physically active. You can begin to figure out what your dog requires by paying attention to them; if they appear bored and are getting into things, they most likely require more exercise. Dogs also require to socialize, sniff, and be interested in life and to take a break from being in the house and take a look around. You’d go insane if you spent all of your time inside or in the same room.
2. Leaving the door open for strangers to enter your home.
If you have a dog, don’t leave your door open for outsiders to enter. Dog bites are more prevalent than most people realize, and they are typically more dangerous, so you should take this carefully. How safe are our dogs at home? And just how dangerous are they? If someone truly intends to hurt us or our pets, they will find a way to get over any security systems we may have.
First and foremost, Dogs are frequently stolen because thieves know it will be difficult for their owners to track them down and return them to their homes.
Second, When they are left alone outside without you noticing, it will be tough for them to deal with others when they encounter them outside your home especially if there are children close by.
Introduce the basic commands
You’ll also need to teach your dog how to act around strangers and how to respond if someone attempts to come near enough to touch him. Because if we don’t properly train them, it can make them very unpredictable and aggressive towards other animals or even humans. It’s important that we teach our dogs not to bite strangers and always keep an eye on them at all times.
3. Letting them out of their kennel when you are not around.
This is a dilemma that many first-time dog owners experience. When you have a dog, you must make sure that they are safe and secure when you are not around. When you are not present, you should never allow them out of their kennel because if they do, they are more likely to be attacked by other animals and become lost.
Also, if your dog has a propensity of fleeing when they see people approaching, it is always advisable that you lock the door when you leave the house so that no one can open it and take your dog or so that your dog cannot escape if he ever escapes from his kennel. If your dog is mature enough to go outdoors, you don’t need to be concerned about allowing them out.
4. Not giving them enough water to drink every day
One of the first-time dog owner mistakes is not noticing dehydration of their dog. It can occur if your pup does not receive enough water. When a dog is dehydrated, his body begins to shut down, and if not treated soon enough, he may go into shock. To avoid this from happening in the first place, make sure your pet has access to fresh water on a daily basis, which you can accomplish by placing a dish next to its bed or during feeding time.
What to do when your dog is suffering from dehydration?
If your dog is very dehydrated, you must act quickly since the dog may die within an hour or two. Excessive thirst as well as a lack of appetite and decreased activity level, are the most typical signs of dehydration.
However, if your pet has been suffering from mild dehydration for some time, you should seek veterinarian assistance right away to ensure that the illness does not progress and become fatal for your pet.
5. Feeding your dog human food (yes, this can cause toxic to dogs)
Human foods should not be fed to your dog. Obesity will develop in your dog if you feed him foods high in sugar, carbs, and processed proteins. In addition, this will induce intestinal issues, which might be dangerous in the long term. Furthermore, if you give your dog human foods, they may struggle to acclimatise to the shift in diet and may become unwell as a result of consuming too much human food.
Human foods that are toxic to dogs
Another common first-time dog owner mistakes is failing to recognise which foods are toxic to their canine companion.The digestive system of a dog differs from that of a human being. Dogs are often poisoned by chemicals found in human food. Raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, almonds, onions, and garlic, among other foods, are toxic to dogs.
Although they will benefit from foods such as beef liver, canned pumpkin and carrots, or sweet potatoes. However, do not feed your pet any sugary foods; if the sugar content is too high, it might induce diarrhoea and weight loss.
Dog treats such as cookies and biscuits should only be given once a week or less because they might promote dental decay in your pet’s mouth, which can lead to cavities in their teeth. Feeding them dry cereal like biscuits can help maintain their teeth healthy and prevent dental problems later in life.
6. Ignoring signs that they need veterinary attention
Injuries, behavioural concerns, and sickness are all symptoms that your dog is sick. You must act now, before it is too late. If you see any dog indications, consult a veterinarian right away. This can help prevent serious or even fatal health problems. Weight loss, skin problems, behavioural changes, and illness in dogs all necessitate prompt treatment to maintain your pet’s health.
If these dog signs are ignored they may lead to serious health problems which can become life threatening or even fatal if left untreated for too long. So you should definitely consider getting them checked out by a vet right away!.
Weight loss of over 5% within a week’s time is also an indication that your dog needs veterinary attention because it could indicate an underlying health problem such as kidney failure, infection, or other serious disease such as cancer. If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog but there are no health problems then make sure you don’t overlook this signal because it can be very dangerous for your dog! You can ignore dog signs that they need veterinary attention if they are healthy.
Signs that your dog requires veterinary assistance.
As a responsible pet owner, you should take them to the vet as soon as possible when you notice any of these signs:
-Redness around the eye or nose area.
-Excessive tearing and/or mucous discharge from the eyes or nose.
-Discharge from an eye which may be pink, red, brown or yellow in color.
-Frequent use of their rear legs to urinate or defecate while standing.
The key thing about dogs is that they love human company and affection as much as we do! They crave our love and attention in the same way we would desire it from them.
7. Being cruel to your dog
If you are cruel to dogs, you may be charged with a felony and face repercussions. Cruelty to animals is met with harsh penalties and fines since it is viewed as a serious offence. The level of your cruelty, however, is determined by the animal species you have harmed.
Animal cruelty laws range from broad prohibitions against inflicting needless pain on animals to detailed listings of particular criminal acts. These laws usually ban one or more of the following forms of abuse:
-needlessly or brutally hurting, beating, or murdering an animal
-horses or other labor animals are overworked or overburdened
-Leaving dogs in automobiles in hazardous situations (often when it’s too hot or cold)
-mutilating, maiming, or tormenting an animal
-abandoning a pet that you have cared for
-abusive or rash transportation or confinement of animals, and
-without legal authorization or the owner’s agreement, killing, hurting, or poisoning another person’s animal
Different laws apply to different countries
In Australia for instance, Animal cruelty is outlawed, with a maximum penalty of $20,000 or a sentence of up to two years in jail. The maximum penalty is a fine of up to $50 000 or a term of up to 4 years in jail if a person intends or is irresponsible about whether their bad treatment causes serious harm to, or the death of, an animal.
In June 2021, the UK introduced tougher prison sentences for animal cruelty with a maximum prison sentence of up to five years.
In America, The PACT Act (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture) was signed into law in November 2019. It prohibits some of the most heinous forms of animal cruelty, such as crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling, sexual exploitation, or other significant harm to “living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians. Violations of the statute can result in a fine, a prison sentence of up to seven years, or both.
To wrap things up!
This article contains some great tips for first-time pet owners, but it’s important to note that the suggestions are not necessarily applicable to all animals. Some of these items may be fine for your dog, but could be dangerous for other pets. It’s best to follow the advice of a vet or an animal professional before applying any of these methods to your own pet. If you found this article helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends. Thank you for reading.
Are you interested in reading more about our furry pal in our blogs? Please see the following links for prior posts:
German Shepherd Price: How much do they cost?
150 Unique Doberman Names You’ll Love.
A Quick Guide To Cleaning Dog Poop From Your Carpet
How To Take Your Dog To The Beach And Keep It Safe.
How To Choose The Best Dog Bed For Your Pet: An Infographic
Dog Training Guide: A Beginner’s Guide To Train Your Dog.
Labradors: Know the Benefits and Downsides of Owning This Dog
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