13 mistakes we make with dogs | big gemini kennels
The care and education of dogs inevitably involve treating them for what they are, understanding what their codes of conduct and communication are, and respecting them. Therefore, in this post, we reveal to you which are the 13 mistakes we make with dogs so that you stop making them if that were the case.
Even the most experienced guardians screw up when it comes to dog socialization, training, or grooming. So if you are still somewhat inexperienced in these matters, mistakes we make with dogs do not be discouraged and take note of what we explain below. You will discover aspects that will be of help to you. We started!
13 common mistakes in living with a dog
These bad practices share their harmful effect on the 5 freedoms of animal welfare and are related to misinformation, reluctance, and the attempt to humanize pets. And it is that welcoming a furry one at home is an act of responsibility and generosity for which you should instruct yourself and give your best.
- Neglecting your hygiene
Brushing the hair is necessary not only to keep it clean, and detangled if it is long, but it also benefits the quality of its skin. The eyes, teeth, and ears must also be cleaned regularly to prevent infection. These routines will save you more than one visit to the vet.
- Let him eat any food
Do you know that certain foods are toxic to dogs? Some of them, in addition, can be lethal at high doses, so the most prudent and healthy thing is for your pet to only eat food specific to its breed and age. If you prefer what you cook for it, make sure it does not contain salt, onion, garlic, green tomatoes, or citrus, among others.
Onion and garlic contain allicin, a substance that can lead to hemolytic anemia. Its symptoms are jaundice, the change in the color of the mucous membranes of the dog, or gastrointestinal disorders. Chocolate, coffee, and tea contain methylxanthine, which can damage your kidneys as well as the central nervous system.
Salt promotes dehydration and aggravates heart and kidney conditions. Grapes, cherries, and mushrooms are also not advisable. Allowing you to eat human food will make you gain weight. Being overweight and obese reduces your longevity, predisposing you to coronary disease, diabetes, and joint degeneration.
- Do not vaccinate or do not keep your vaccination schedule updated
It is essential to vaccinate puppies and adults who have not been vaccinated as children. Some diseases such as distemper and Parvovirus can be fatal for dogs. Once the vaccines have been received, in adulthood it will be the veterinarian who will prescribe which vaccines to administer and how often.
- Do not deworm it
It is the complement of vaccines for complete protection. Parasites, internal and external, are transmitters of multiple diseases, some of them contagious to humans. Every 3 months you should deworm your pet, although now there are pills with double protection and long-lasting effect that make it easier for us.
- Do not take him out for a walk or exercise him
Physical activity is essential, not only for the dog to keep his muscles strong, but to release stress and stimulate his mind. The physical exercise must be adapted to their age and condition, since the requirements will be different, for example, between pitbull puppies for sale and an elderly, sick, or high temperatures dog.
In this sense, taking him out for a walk allows him to exercise while exploring, doing his business, and socializing. All of them, essential facets to achieve and consolidate the well-being and balanced character of all hairy ones. In general, although there are breeds that demand less exercise, the ideal is between 2 and 3 walks a day of about 30 minutes each.
- Do not stimulate him mentally
According to the opinion of ethologists, dogs need to feel that they have earned food. Therefore, providing them with toys or interactive games in which you can also participate will help you to strengthen your bond and him to overcome challenges, to learn, to keep his brain active, and to feel worthy of food.
- Being absent for long hours
A dog should not be left alone for more than 8 hours a day. Some breeds such as, for example, the Pug, the Bobtail, or the Maltese Bichon, among others, accuse this period of time without interaction. To avoid aggressive behavior, barking, or separation anxiety, try to offer him enough toys, suitable for him and to his liking, or a partner.
- Not spending time on your education
Training, implemented using positive reinforcement and tackled from puppyhood, is the best thing you can do for your best friend. Far from caresses and rewards, what your dog expects from you are leadership and rules that facilitate the day-to-day. In this way, the coexistence will be harmonious and your pet will feel centered.
Do not succumb to his cries or reward him, for example, with sleeping with you if his behavior has not been well. Otherwise, you are reinforcing something inappropriate or undesirable and your dog will repeat it. When going outside, do not allow him to pull on the leash, he will assume that he has your consent to bite or growl at whoever he pleases.
Neither do you, as you could cause injuries to the windpipe or vision problems. In short, the education that your pet receives from you and the way in which you execute it will provide valuable information that will benefit everyone. Remember it.
- Don’t socialize it
From the fourth to the twelfth week, the so-called socialization stage takes place in which the puppies are especially receptive to interacting, investigating and trying all kinds of experiences. Do not miss this period to introduce him to other humans, animals or new situations so that he becomes familiar with those smells, noises, etc.
In this way, you will prevent him from developing behavioral disorders in adulthood. Likewise, if you have taken in an adult dog, you should socialize it as part of its adaptation process to the new home.
- Leave it alone in the car
Especially in summer, it is very dangerous to leave the dog alone in the car. The high temperature that can reach the interior of the vehicle can cause a heat stroke. If you do not receive medical assistance, it can lead to heatstroke and die. Therefore, it minimizes the time you have to stay in the car and that it is always ventilated.
- Resort to physical punishment
As we have already explained, you must establish limits and a hierarchy as part of training your dog. However, you can do this without hitting him, yelling at him, or getting mad at him. It will always be more productive for you to reward him for what he does well than to reprimand him for what he does not learn or does wrong.
If you yell at or hit him, his attention will plummet as will his trust in you. The stress that you will put him through will cause you to regress what he learned and create an unpleasant precedent for him. You just have to come closer, look him in the eye and tell him not to do it again with a firm tone and a serious demeanor. He will understand for sure.
- Exposing you to tobacco smoke
To say that forcing your dog to breathe tobacco smoke is also harmful to him. In fact, it has been proven that it can trigger respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, chronic sinusitis or cardiomyopathies. Do not smoke in their presence.
You may also interested to read what are the symptoms of Rabies after dog bite?
- Not understanding canine language
Sometimes out of ignorance and other times, because we try to humanize pets, we do not pay attention to their body language and this can impair communication. Our advice is that you treat it for what it is, that you know it, and that if you have doubts, go to the experts or review specialized publications based on scientific studies.
