Dogs can easily be classified as the most ubiquitous pets in most corners of this planet. While majority of owners love their pets to the core, only love is not enough. Even the most loving and caring owners tend to make some basic mistakes when it comes to looking after their dogs.
Having no clue why flooring is important
It has been observed that a number of people often have no idea that the type of flooring that they have at home should probably be the foremost reason for deciding on the size of dog they bring home. People bring dogs without having a clue that surfaces like wood, marble and even (slippery) tiles are extremely bad for bigger breeds in the longer run.
This sort of flooring ensures that the hind legs start to split (move towards the West and East) and in the long run, there are high possibilities of the hips failing or falling. Another plausible scenario is that the dog breaks his leg while running and slipping on such surfaces. People with wood and marble should not buy big or heavy dogs. An example for weight/size limitation for such flooring would be the beagle. Houses with mosaic flooring are generally the best and can usually cater to dogs of all sizes and weight.
Buying it as a live toy for their children
There are certain types of people who buy dogs just to get their children off their backs for a while. Such people have no idea about the actual nitty-gritty of bringing up a dog and are content that their children are happily involved in their latest source of entertainment. Like the parents, the children are also clueless and think that their ‘toy’ can be picked up by the hind legs or thrown in the air etc. What is worse is that the dog is not taken care off in terms of vet visits, proper food habits, toilet training and other such routine things.
Sending dogs for walks with uneducated people who are not bothered and not taught
Many a time, the dog owner may not be in a position to take their dogs out for regular walks and will appoint their domestic help to do the same. The worst categories of dog owners are the ones who think that it is beneath their dignity to be seen walking their own dogs on the streets or wherever. More often than not, their servants also have a similar attitude and would rather look at their phones than take the dog out properly. 20 minutes of chatting or looking into the phone and ‘babu/maalkin’ think that they are doing a wonderful job with the dog. In the end, it is the dog which suffers.
Not being aware of the actual size of the dog
This can be classified as the most frustrating as well as most hilarious mistake that some dog owners end up making. There are cases where people end up regretting their decision to get a dog as soon as the dog starts growing and try to return it by saying they had no idea the dog would grow. Just like how their children grow up and not remain babies forever, the same logic should also apply to dogs but somehow it does not. They think that a St. Bernard pup will end up as the same size an adult Spitz. The perfect thing for these people to buy would be a bonsai plant.
Thinking it will automatically gain social skills with other dogs
Another common mistake that a lot of dog owners make is to think that their dogs will exhibit the same levels of comfort with other dogs as they do with other humans. What they do not realise is that the other dog may not be at all comfortable with another dog approaching them in a wild frenzy- even if the dog is not approaching in an aggressive manner. They should wait at a distance and see how both dogs react with each other before bringing them into any sort of contact as all it takes is one wrong move to get a bite or for a fight to start.
Not giving them enough exercise
Just bringing a dog home and feeding it and providing a place to sleep is not enough. It is extremely vital that the dog gets an adequate amount of exercise to remain in a healthy state. Otherwise the most common problems which can occur is obesity while a range of complex problems could occur on the insides and not be detected till it is too late maybe. Keeping a dog well exercised also means that its joints are in optimum condition and the dog will always be in a better shape.
Choosing the wrong vet
This is a tricky one as all dog owners are at the mercy of vets. While there are (hopefully) no rogue vets around, they all look to maximise the amount of medicines which can be sold out of their clinics. A common example is not telling the dog owner that their dog is overweight or being fed too much but instead giving them expensive medicines to help with their digestion. Another frequent trick is to prescribe medicines for things like extra shiny coat, good breath etc. when there is no actual need for such things.
Not removing the stool in public areas
This is a mistake which can lead to a number of harmful implications. While it may not happen when the stool is fresh(ish) over the next couple of days, all the signs of danger arrive when it starts decaying and turning white and hard. By this time a number of insects have infested that area and this could lead to a number of diseases for the dog without mentioning the fact that it is disgusting for other people to walk around it and at times, into it. This could harm other dogs as well.