4 Things You Should Never Do As a Dog Owner

As a dog parent, it’s natural to only want what’s best for your pet. Sometimes, though, unintentionally, you might just end up doing things that aren’t good for your dog.

Whether you’re a new dog owner or you’ve had quite a few furry friends before, there are certain things you should never do if you wish to properly take care of your dog.

Here is a comprehensive list of 4 things you should never do as a dog owner.

1.  Label Your Pet as Either ‘Stubborn,’ ‘Disobedient’ or ‘Out Of Control’

As your dog’s parent and guardian, this is one of the worst things you can do. If your dog is being stubborn or disobedient and refuses to follow your instructions, this is usually because you haven’t properly trained your dog. So if your dog is behaving in a way that you disapprove of, you need to realize that this is only because they haven’t been trained to understand what ‘good’ behavior constitutes.

If, for example, your dog is exhibiting ‘bad’ behavior, such as excessive barking, jumping on furniture or on people, pulling on its leash, etc. you need to realize that this isn’t a sign of disobedience. Rather, it is happening because your pet is stressed out or frustrated.

Just like humans, dogs can often get frustrated or anxious, and this is sometimes wrongly interpreted by the dog’s owner as a sign of disobedience.

As a dog parent, it is your job to teach your pet right from wrong. The right bit of training can do the trick.

2. Tying Up Your Dog When In Public

Many dog owners are used to tying their pets to a pole or something similar when in a public place. For example, if they are in a place such as a park, a restaurant, or a store, such dog owners are likely to tie up their dog wherever they see fit.

This isn’t a good idea, though. Many dogs feel trapped when tied up in public. As a result, they may try to free themselves from the leash by chewing their way out of it. Once they’re out of the leash, they’re always in danger of getting lost, or worse, getting hit by a car.

Additionally, many dogs get anxious if you tie them up in a public place and leave them alone. As a result, they may bite possible strangers who come up to pet them, assuming that a dog tied in public will be friendly.

People even tie their dogs up at home when they’re running errands or when guests come over. However, even tying up your dog at home isn’t a foolproof plan.

Your pup can get frightened by just about anything – an unfamiliar sound, a stranger’s voice, etc. If your pup is frightened and no one is around to help, he may just attempt to dig his way through your yard back into your house. This can risk damaging your home, and your pet might get injured in the process.

Sometimes, your pet may even encounter a traumatic incident when left alone. In such cases, your dog is likely to have behavioral issues later on, owing to the trauma. Furthermore, if you tie your pup up in the yard, he’s going to be exposed to the elements. If it is really cold outside or if it is raining, your pup can get cold and sick.

Even too much sun exposure can be harmful for your pup’s health. In fact, most countries and cities now even have strict laws against tying up your dogs for extended periods of time. Along with this, your dog’s excessive barking will be really irritating for your neighbors, too.

As a dog parent, what you should ideally do is keep your dog inside your home where it is perfectly secure. You can make a separate enclosure for your pet to make sure it is protected. If this is not something that you want to do, you can always dog-proof your home to make sure that your pet doesn’t end up hurting itself.

3. Stop Giving Toys to Your Pet

Dogs love chewing on things. To allow them to chew to their heart’s content, most dog owners give their dogs chew toys. However, these toys aren’t durable and break down very quickly. As a result, pet owners just stop giving their dogs toys to chew on.

This isn’t a solution, though, as dogs use their mouths a lot and are very used to chewing. As a result, taking away their chew toys will just make them destructive. It will leave the pup susceptible to boredom, and boredom will make your pup a destructive chewer.

What you can do is get your pup puzzle toys that have treats hidden inside them. This will keep your pup entertained for sure and prevent him from becoming a destructive chewer.

Another thing you can do to meet your pup’s chewing needs is to give your pet marrow bones. Not only can your pup chew them through and through, but you can also stuff food inside them and freeze them for later.  This way, your pup’s chewing needs will be satisfied.

4. Not Taking Your Pup for an Annual Checkup and Tests

Just as humans regularly require checkups, so do animals. Neglecting your pup’s annual checkup is not at all smart. Your pup will require an annual checkup and blood tests to make sure that he is perfectly healthy.

If, for example, your dog has a disease, early detection of that disease means that your dog can get treated sooner, which will increase the chances of it recovering fully.

Regular visits to the vet and blood work are particularly important if you have a senior dog or a puppy, as dogs are more vulnerable at this age, just like humans.

As a dog parent, always keep in mind that your pet has emotions too and does require your help and guidance. Just remember these 4 things you should never do as a dog owner, and you’re good to go.


by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™

Facts About Animal Homelessness:

  1. Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.
  2. The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street.
  3. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes. Sign up for Shelter Pet PR.
  4. Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
  5. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners.
  6. 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
  7. About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.
  8. It’s impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States. Estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
  9. Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
  10. Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
  11. According to The Humane Society, there are about 3,500 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US and 10,000 rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America.

Here are a some adoptions for consideration:  puccicafe.com/adoptions