Having a dog means you’re ready to take on new responsibilities and add them to your routine. However, there are a lot of mistakes that first-time dog owners make, and you’re here not to commit them again as they might cause unwanted accidents or, worse, death. Here are 12 deadly mistakes that dog owners make every day that you need to take note of.
12. Ignoring a New Dog’s Personality/Needs
So, you want a dog? It’s important to take a look at your place and lifestyle before selecting or adopting the perfect dog breed for you. One common mistake of new dog owners is selecting a dog that does not fit with their lifestyle. For example, they may select a Siberian Husky, yet they live in a place with more scorching hot weather and live in a small apartment.
In the long run, this might harm the dog and their health because of their environment. They won’t live that long under such circumstances.
What to do: Research the breed of the dog that you want to select/adopt and try to create a space for him or update your routine according to their personality and needs. But if the changes are too heavy and costly, you might want to consider another breed, one that will fit your lifestyle.
11. Overlooking the importance of exercise
We get it; many of us are busy at work. However, it doesn’t mean that we should neglect our dog’s morning and evening walks outside. You should know that in the wild, dogs are animals that run free, and neglecting their freedom for walks is forming something negative both in their physical and mental health.
Accidents are just around the corner, so they might release this pent-up energy at your home, resulting in severe damage and possible accidents. In the long run, this might also harm your dog’s health as they might encounter obesity, difficulty breathing, and increased risks of cancer.
What to do: During weeks or months that you’ll be busy, you can hire a dog walker or ask someone in the family to walk the dog. But then again, it all boils down to the lifestyle you’re living; if you think you have no time to walk a dog, then don’t get one.
10. Feeding dogs human food
This is a deadly mistake that most dog owners are guilty of. The worst part is everyone knows this, yet they ignore this rule since the effects wouldn’t really show in the early years of a dog’s life. It is important to understand that dogs need proper nutrition to live long and happy lives. People’s food tends to be high in fat and carbohydrates, which isn’t ideally fitting for a dog and, in the long run, might cause diseases.
What to do: Never feed them human food, as they might not eat dog food again. If ever they don’t want to eat their dog food, you should consult the vet to guide you for meal preparations or recommend a new dog food based on.
9. Relying on groomers to handle hygiene
Yes, groomers are expensive, so we let them do the services they can to make the most of our money. But we only see them once in two months or one month, so it’s not really ideal to wait until we bring our dogs back. Our dogs accumulate dirt daily that could harm them in the long run. For instance, not wiping their paws could make these dogs lick them as they try to clean them, which could harm their health.
What to do: Stick to a routine in which you take turns cleaning for your dog. Every day, you should clean the paws of your dog using wipes that are meant for pets. You can also wipe your dog’s body with bath towel wipes that you can get in pet shops. To maintain your dog’s hygiene, make sure to bring them to the groomer for at least four to six weeks.
8. Ignoring dental hygiene
Have you ever experienced playing with your dog and smelling that foul scent from their mouth? Aside from bad breath, it’s a sign of dental disease. When this is not attended to immediately, it will cause the build-up of tartar, tooth loss, or infections that can even spread to their vital organs.
What to do: As for dental hygiene, you can purchase dental cleaning treats from pet shops as well as clean your dog’s teeth gently using a dog specialized toothbrush and toothpaste at least three times a week. Don’t wait for groomers or veterinarians to handle your dog’s dental health for you, as you alone should attend to it.
7. Not using a proper collar or harness
It’s a well-known fact that not using a proper collar or harness can injure your dog as it can cause neck strain, irritation, or, worse, breathing difficulties. While dog owners prevent collars or harnesses from being lose, sometimes they become too hard that it injures their dog. An owner should be aware of this, and one thing that they can do to test it out is to fit their two fingers in the leash/harness. If you’re having a hard time inserting your fingers or if you feel that it’s too tight, then your dog is having a hard time. Improperly fitted harnesses may possibly lead to joint strain, causing musculoskeletal issues.
What to do: When buying a collar or harness for your dog, make sure to bring them with you so they can test it out and see what works for them best. You can also apply the two-finger test rule to check if their collar or harness is too tight.
6. Exposing dogs to secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke isn’t just harmful to humans; it can also cause health problems among dogs. If their owner is a smoker, then most likely, dogs get exposed to tobacco. Like in humans, secondhand smoke can also cause chronic coughing and nasal discharge. Additionally, a study from Colorado State University shows that a dog with short nasal passages is at higher risk of lung cancer. On the other hand, breeds with long nasal passages, like Collies and German Shepherds, are likely to have nasal cancer as the particles coming from smoke infiltrate their nasal passages.
What to do: You must strictly create no smoke zones, and your house is the best example for that since your dog lives there and it is hard to get rid of smoke particles. As for the clothes, it is best to wash them immediately and not let them get near your dog or lying around the house.
5. Leaving dogs in hot cars
Many owners tend to leave dogs in their cars when they’re out running errands, but this is dangerous as temperatures inside a car can rise, especially on hot weather days. Temperatures can climb high in the car in just 10 minutes, and on a hotter day, it can exceed to much higher level within minutes, even with the windows cracked. This can expose dogs to heatstroke, which is a life-threatening emergency.
What to do: Simply don’t leave your dogs inside a car. If you’re running to the store, bring them with you. If they aren’t allowed, then wait before they’re dropped off at home.
RELATED: 12 Dog Toys That Could Be Putting Your Dog’s Life At Risk
4. Overfeeding
Sure, dogs love eating anything and everything. They would give you these sad-looking puppy eyes, and you’d fall for it anytime, causing you to fill up their plate with much food. Why? We have this thinking that a full tummy is a happy tummy. But this is simply wrong, as a dog’s diet will be uniquely based on their size and health. Overfeeding them will lead to obesity and, eventually, high blood pressure or heart attack.
What to do: Consult your vet on what the proper diet is for your dog. Also include the schedule of eating if you really want them to have a balanced lifestyle.
3. Giving human medication without a vet’s discretion
Yes, not every medicine has a doggy counterpart for it, so veterinarians prescribe human medicine to dogs. However, this should not be a pass for dog owners to do the same without a vet’s discretion, as this is dangerous. In fact, over-the-counter human medicines are listed at the Animal Poison Center as number 2 on the top list of toxins.
What to do: It’s simple: don’t give any human medications to your dog. Consult with your vet on the proper medications to give.
2. Using harsh cleaning products
Another common thing for dog owners is using harsh cleaning products when cleaning their houses. Cleaning products that have bleach, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and chemical products with phenol on them are hazardous for dogs. Also, dogs tend to walk a lot, so they will absorb the cleaning products on the floor and later on lick them. This might cause chemical burns, irritation, or worse, poisoning, which is a silent killer.
What to do: Avoid using commercialized cleaning products now that you’ve got a dog at home. Instead, try switching to pet-safe cleaners, which are non-toxic products that are labeled safe for animals. You can also check out DIY natural cleaners made with ingredients that you can only see in the kitchen.
RELATED: 10 Deadly Dog Diseases You Might Be Ignoring Until It’s Too Late
1. Allowing dogs to hang their heads on car windows
If you scroll along TikTok of Instagram Reels, chances are, you’ll see owners taking a video of their dogs sightseeing on the car window. While these videos look harmless at first, this is unsafe as they are prone to accidents caused by running cars, falling debris, or losing their balance.
What to do: Dogs feel excitement at the rush of wind from the car window. While it is unsafe, you can make this fun activity safer by supervising your dog and not letting them put their entire body and head out. Make sure to hold the body of your dog as you open the car window and just let them feel the air on their face.
RELATED: 10 Deadly Household Plants That Could Poison Your Dog
From The Club
Admittedly, I’m guilty of doing some of these things on the list when I was a new dog owner. Now that I know better as I progress to being a better owner, I’ve noted a lot of these things on the list. Thankfully, my dogs are thriving in care now that I know better.