When you bring a new puppy home, it’s always an exciting time! However, it can also be stressful and overwhelming. There’s so much to learn about your new dog and how to take care of them. This is why it’s helpful to be aware of common mistakes made with a new puppy. Here are a few common mistakes new puppy parents make:

• Mistake #1 – Skipping preventative care.
• Mistake #2 – Not properly socializing your puppy.
• Mistake #3 – Not giving your puppy enough exercise.
• Mistake #4 – Feeding your puppy too much or not enough.
• Mistake #5 – Not giving your puppy enough mental stimulation.
• Mistake #6 – Not budgeting for health emergencies.
• Mistake #7 – Not taking training seriously.
• Mistake #8 – Not being prepared for potty training.
• Mistake #9 – Getting a puppy before you’re ready.
• Mistake #10 – Ignoring your puppy’s dental health.
• Mistake #11 – Not giving your puppy enough attention.

Mistake #1 – Skipping Preventative Care

It’s extremely important to make sure that your dog has good veterinary care, including preventative care, and it should be a part of your new puppy checklist. Having a vet you trust is essential, especially when bringing a new puppy home. They can help set your puppy up for success and offer advice as you begin to train your new dog.

Make sure that your dog gets up-to-date on their vaccinations and any wellness exams. Staying consistent with vaccinations and wellness exams can be helpful in preventing some health problems by identifying and taking care of certain risk factors. Not having this care in place is a common mistake people make when bringing a new dog home.

Preventative care also includes providing flea, tick, and heartworm treatments. These parasites can be detrimental to your puppy’s health and can carry serious health risks, so it’s important to protect your dog from them. Thankfully, with the right preventative treatment, you can keep your dog safe. Make sure you discuss this with your vet first so they can advise you on the best treatment and at what age to start your dog on these treatments.

Mistake #2 – Not Socializing Your Dog

Proper socialization is essential to helping your dog learn how to interact with the world around them and how to get along with other people and animals. There are a few ways to socialize a puppy, and puppies have a critical socialization period between 3 and 16 weeks. However, proper socialization shouldn’t end after this window. Dogs need to keep practicing socialization well into adulthood.

There are plenty of ways to socialize your dog. One of the best ways to help a puppy become socialized is to enroll them in puppy training classes. Learning how to interact with other dogs and humans is one of the biggest benefits of puppy training classes.

If your dog seems to be adjusting well in puppy classes, you can also try scheduling some doggy play dates. Sometimes, puppies do well with older dogs because they can learn behaviors from them. However, make sure you know the dog and their owner well. Choose an even-tempered dog who has been well-trained. Otherwise, your dog may learn some bad habits rather than getting properly socialized.

Other activities that can help your dog become socialized include walks, where you may run into other people and dogs, observing activities from a distance, and visiting dog-friendly establishments. However, don’t visit a dog-friendly establishment until you have a better sense of how your dog behaves and reacts in public. Besides, if your puppy is really young, it might overwhelm them too much, potentially causing anxiety.

Mistake #3 – Not Giving Your Puppy Enough Exercise

Puppies notoriously tend to have a lot of energy. Making sure they get enough exercise can help release some of that energy. However, it’s really important not to over-exercise a puppy, especially a puppy that will grow into a large dog. Exercising them too heavily, too young, can damage developing bones and joints and cause joint issues like elbow dysplasia in dogs.

The amount of exercise your puppy needs will depend on age, breed, and size. However, going on at least a short walk or two a day is a good place to start. For puppies, experts recommend short bursts of exercise rather than longer periods. Start with a 5-minute walk and slowly increase the time as they age until they’re fully grown. This helps protect their joints and bones from any damage. If you have any questions about your puppy’s development, don’t hesitate to talk to your veterinarian.

Playtime is also a good way to exercise your puppy. Again, short bursts are recommended rather than playing for too long. Rolling a ball a short distance across the floor, so your dog can chase it, is a great way to get a little bit of exercise that isn’t too strenuous.

Mistake #4 – Feeding Your Puppy Too Much or Not Enough

It might be a little bit confusing knowing how often to feed a puppy or how much to feed them. This is why it’s a common mistake to not feed your puppy based on their breed, size, and age. If you have a large breed puppy, make sure you’re choosing food and serving portions geared towards that breed size.

You also need to make sure you are feeding your puppy food formulated for puppies rather than adult dogs. Because puppy food has a higher fat content, it’s designed to support their growth and development.

If you have any questions about how much your puppy should be eating and how much to give them, don’t hesitate to talk to your veterinarian. They can help you figure out a feeding schedule and any other nutritional and dietary needs your dog might have. They can also provide recommendations to help you choose the best dog food for your puppy.

Mistake #5 – Not Giving Your Puppy Enough Mental Stimulation

Puppies have a lot of energy, and a great way to help manage this is to provide plenty of mental stimulation. Providing enough mental stimulation is one of the basic needs of a puppy because it helps mitigate any unwanted behaviors, such as chewing things they’re not supposed to, as well as digging in your yard. It may also help control excessive barking.

Exercise can provide a good amount of mental stimulation, but other activities can also help. Activities that provide lots of mental stimulation include interactive puzzles or toys, as well as indoor scent games. It’s also important to have chew toys so your dog can satisfy their urge to chew healthily. These activities not only provide plenty of mental stimulation, but teach your puppy many useful skills!

Mistake #6 – Not Budgeting For Health Emergencies

Before you bring your puppy home, you need to make sure you have budgeted and accounted for any healthcare as well as health emergencies. Veterinarian emergency visits tend to be quite expensive, so it’s important to be prepared.

For some pet parents, utilizing pet insurance can be a helpful way to cover the unexpected emergencies or just regular veterinarian visits. If you’re unsure about pet insurance, you can always talk to your veterinarian. They can connect you with a reputable company for more information.

Mistake #7 – Not Taking Training Seriously

Training is important for any dog, and the earlier you start, the better. This can help your dog develop good behavior habits by the time they reach maturity. Enrolling in puppy training classes is not only helpful for socialization, but they can be really helpful when it comes to beginning the training process.

Typical things that puppies need to learn include basic commands every dog should know, such as “sit”, “stay”, and “drop it”. They also need to be taught how to walk on a leash properly. When you’re training your puppy, make sure you stay consistent. You need to stay consistent in a schedule, and you also need to stay consistent with your commands.

Not using the same command is one of the ways you may be confusing your dog because they’re not sure exactly what you mean. Making sure training is consistent and clearly communicated is a great way to set your puppy up for success!

Mistake #8 – Not Being Prepared For Potty Training

Not being well prepared for potty training is another common mistake new puppy parents make. It can feel like an overwhelming task, but it’s really important to make sure your dog is well potty trained.

One of the most important housetraining tips to help potty train your puppy is to stick to a consistent schedule. Dogs and puppies thrive on a good routine, and not sticking to a consistent schedule may lead to more accidents. Do the best you can to stick to taking your dog outside around the same time every day. Make sure you give your dog lots of praise each time. This will help them associate going to the bathroom outside as a good thing.

If your puppy is awake and active, try taking a potty break outside about every 20 to 30 minutes. This will help avoid accidents inside and will help your dog learn that it’s only acceptable to go to the bathroom outside. Once you’ve had a few days in a row without any accidents inside, you can increase the time in between outdoor trips. However, if your dog has an accident inside, you might need to go more frequently again.

While it’s incredibly frustrating when your dog has an accident inside, be extremely careful about how you react. Never punish your dog for having an accident inside. If you react angrily, your dog will pick up on those emotions and can become fearful or anxious. Do your best to stay calm, take your dog outside for a bathroom break, and clean up the mess quickly.

You also want to thoroughly clean dog poop from carpet. For best results, use an enzymatic cleaner for messes. Some cleaners will remove the stain, but not the scent. If there’s any scent left over, your puppy might tend to keep using that spot. And enzymatic cleaners break down the chemical component of urine so that dogs don’t keep marking or urinating in the same spots.

Mistake #9 – Getting a Puppy Before You’re Ready

Bringing home a new puppy is a lot of work, so it’s important you only get a puppy when you’re ready. Having a dog is a big responsibility and comes with a long-term commitment as long as your dog is alive. Getting a dog before you’re ready can be stressful for both you and your dog and often is a cause of puppy blues.

There are a few things to consider before you bring home a new puppy. You need to make sure that your dog will fit into your lifestyle and your home. If you work a lot and like to travel, a dog might not be the best fit for you. You need plenty of time to train and bond with your new puppy, and an overly busy schedule makes that much harder to accomplish.

You should also think through how a dog fits into your home and may affect other members of your household. If you have a family or housemates, you need to make sure that everyone is on board with bringing a dog into the home, and you need to discuss any involvement they might have in your dog’s life. These can all be signs that getting a puppy is the right decision.

If you decide raising a puppy will be a family or household effort to raise this puppy, you need to delegate responsibilities and have backup plans if someone isn’t home. Creating a support system for your dog can help manage these responsibilities!

Mistake #10 – Ignoring Your Puppy’s Dental Health

Much like humans, proper dental health is really important for dogs, especially puppies. Asking your vet about your puppy’s gums and teeth should be one of the questions to ask at your first vet visit.

You also need to be prepared for puppy teething. For most puppies, teething begins around 12-16 weeks, takes about 3-4 months, and ends sometime by the time your dog is about 6-8 months old. To help your dog deal with teething, make sure to have some teething toys available to help alleviate pain and discomfort. If you have any concerns, don’t be afraid to talk to your veterinarian.

In order to get your dog used to having their teeth brushed or cleaned, it’s important to start a dental care routine as young as possible. This can go a long way in desensitizing your dog to toothbrushing. While they may never truly love the experience, a dog that tolerates toothbrushing is a lot easier to manage than a dog that actively fights against it.

Mistake #11 – Not Giving Your Puppy Enough Attention

One of the biggest mistakes new dog owners can make is not giving your dog enough attention. As puppies grow, they need a lot of attention and extra care. Spending lots of time together is just one way to build a better bond with your dog.

You also want to avoid leaving your new puppy totally alone during the day. If you have a job that takes you away from your home, you may want to consider taking a few days off right after you bring your dog home. This can help your dog adjust better and gives you more time to bond.

As your dog grows, they must have regular attention, especially if you work long hours away from home. If this is the case, make sure that you have at least someone you trust who’s able to check in on your puppy and spend time with them.

You may also want to look into hiring a dog walker or dog sitter. Another great option is doggy daycare. Not only does this ensure your dog will have plenty of human interaction, but they will also have opportunities to socialize and play with other dogs.

These are just a few common mistakes new puppy parents make. Bringing a new puppy home can be overwhelming, but being aware of common mistakes can help make the transition easier for all of you!