It’s always so exciting when you decide to add a doggy to your family. After all, they can give your family years of fun and happiness. And they become a real part of the family when you do get a pooch. After all, the kids love them to bits! But when you do get a puppy to add to the family, you need to make sure you take care of it and train the pooch properly from the start. After all, you will be surprised how many people end up regretting not being more thorough at the very beginning! Here are some common errors to avoid when you get a new puppy.
Not getting them to the vets early
Wherever you decide to get your beloved new pet, you need to check straight away if they have been to the vets yet. After all, they will need to have some initial checks when they are a few weeks old. And you need to check if they have been yet for the appointment. If they haven’t, it’s so important to get them to the vets as soon as possible. After all, they will check things like your puppy’s eyes and ears to make sure they are well and healthy. And they will discuss other things you need to do in the next few months including vaccines and neutering. In fact, a lot of vets do starter packs where you pay one amount and get everything included. And while it might be expensive (don’t get a dog if you’re struggling for money), it will ensure your dog gets everything they need. Therefore, take them to the vets a week or so after taking your pooch home so you can ensure they are a healthy and happy pup.
Not getting them chipped
A lot of people forget about the fact their beloved doggy needs to be microchipped. In fact, after they have had their initial vaccines, pet owners don’t take them back again for their chip. But you don’t want to live with regret if they get lost or stolen and have no form of ID. After all, it will make it much harder for them to be traced to you and your family. In fact, someone else might take them in as their own pet as they think they are homeless. Therefore, to ensure you protect your pet’s future, you need to make sure they are microchipped via the vet. And make sure you keep your address and phone number updated. That way, they will be able to contact you if they find your pet. And for extra safety, you could always attach a little ID to their collar. You can put your name and address on there so that people can get in touch if they find your beloved pooch.
Not teaching them obedience and discipline
In the first few months of owning your pet, a lot of the time will be spent playing with your pooch. And getting to know your new family member who the kids will adore. But to ensure you have a well-behaved dog in the future, you need to start teaching them obedience and discipline as early as possible. After all, a lot of dog owners look back in regret that they weren’t stricter with their pooch when they were a puppy. And they have to deal with the consequences of a naughty pet as they get older. Therefore, it’s time to take them to some obedience classes to ensure they learn how to be well-behaved. And make sure you implement discipline if they are naughty at home. You might want to shut them out of certain rooms to limit playing when they have been bad. And you could even opt for a bark collar which you can read about in this article which can help them to behave. Ensuring they learn now what is good and bad will ensure you have a good mannered and well-behaved pooch in the future!
Not setting some no-go areas
A lot of people let their puppy go all around the house when they first get them. After all, they feel bad restricting certain rooms. But if your dog does have full run of the home, it might mean they can cause trouble in rooms you would love to keep in good condition. And then you might look back in the future with regret that they damaged the furniture or chewed the carpet. Therefore, it’s a good idea to restrict the rooms they can go in at the beginning. In fact, you might want to use a dog cage to show them which areas they should be in. It can help to ensure they know where to sleep at night so that they don’t end up on the kid’s bed! And whichever rooms you do allow your pooch to go in, make sure you hide your belongings. After all, you don’t want to find they have had a good chewing session on your favorite socks.
Not getting pet insurance
Pet insurance is another bill people can do without. Therefore, a lot of pet owners don’t opt to pay for it for their dog. But they might live to regret this in years to come if their pet runs into a health problem. And then you don’t have the funds to pay out for your pet. After all, it might mean you have to say goodbye earlier than you have to. Or even resort to loans to pay out for treatment for your pet. Therefore, as soon as you get your pet, you should opt to get pet insurance. And the younger they are, the less it will cost, so you should do it when they are a puppy!
And make sure you remember that puppies will grow up into fully formed dogs. It might sound obvious, but a lot of people forget when they get a cute, cuddly puppy for their family. But do ensure you have space and time for a big doggy too before you commit to adding one to your family. In fact, make sure you read up about the breed first before you go to the shelter, so you don’t make an error.
