What do you wish you knew before?

[mrose_s]

I've had dogs all my life but I've never been solely responside for raising a puppy. I'm not saying anything definite yet but hopefully within the next 6-12 months I might be int he position to take on a second dog. Buster has so many issues I just want to avoid with the next dog, I am so worried about "ruining" a pup.

I was wondering if you've had puppies that threw you curve balls in the way of allergies/behaviour/food etc and how you dealt with them? Even if you thought you knew what you were in for.
What would you change about the way you raised your current dog?

I wish I had made more effort to socialise Buster and make sure his bad experiences didn't effect him so much.

 

[JPuckett1989]

Only thing I regret not doing,was socializing sadie alot more and just getting her out more to experience things. But at the time there was very little time we had to go places between work and school to meet new people.

 

[Fran101]

Take pictures. all the time. People always forget and they look down one day and their dog is huge and they cant even remember what they looked like as a tiny pup

 

[mrose_s]

I agree Fran, I do not have a single puppy photo of Buster. I think the youngest photo I have of him is at about the age of 8 months!

 

[Maura]

My puppy was crate trained. Great. But, as soon as he stepped out of the crate he would potty, right on the new Berber carpet. Who puts real Berber carpeting in a rental? Anyway, I would have laid a cheap vinyl carpet in front of the crate. I would also have picked up the puppy and rushed outside with him. I would have taught him to pick up and hold a toy before trying to train him to retrieve so fetch would be a lot more fun for me. Now I know that dogs who are very smart don't need to be clicked for each baby step, but for what you actually want them to do.

 

[drdamian]

I wish i let my dog be around children more...he absolutely adores children but because he he doesnot realise his own size he jumps on them and topples them over..if he would have been around children more when he was a puppy he would maybe a bit more calmer

 

[Fran101]

Do not waste money on expensive toys lol puppy will most likely rather play with a sock

 

[mrose_s]

*cough*... too late. Toys are bought. I can't help myself. lol. Mac is loosing her head because there are all these new things I havn't let her play with.

One of my mates has a 3 year old who LOVES dogs and has great animal manners, I've already asked if they can spend some time together and my friends totally on board.