PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH OWNING A DOG
- Bills!!Puppies need to have immunizations starting at 6 to 8 weeks of age, and they require booster shots until they are about 16 weeks of age. The basic immunizations cover diseases like distemper, parvovirus and rabies, but there are a lot of other issues that puppies can have, including worms (often contracted from their mother), hernias (which sometimes need surgery to fix), retained baby teeth, demodectic mange and other issues.
- Housebreaking and crate training Everyone wants a dog that is housebroken, so potty training is a top priority for a new puppy owner. Depending on the dog, housebreaking can be a super easy task, or could take months of diligent effort, patience and plenty of carpet spot remover.
- General Destruction Gnawing, digging, shredding, scratching, puppies create havoc everywhere they go with their boundless energy, curiosity and desire to test the durability and edibility of practically everything in their environment.
- Separation anxiety and developmental fear periods. Nipping, barking, leash training, basics for sit, stay, lie down and recall, reigning in the prey drive, getting enough exercise, learning to interact appropriately with other dogs including reading and responding to social cues and not getting into fights or being reactive.
- Getting the whole family on the same page with training. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be getting every member of the household to follow the same rules and routines with a puppy. The only way dogs really learn rules is through consist It is easy for a puppy to never quite get the training down when different family members treat the puppy differently.
- Adopt, don't shop. Unfortunately, some pets, like dogs, also come with some pretty terrifying health risks. Though rare, a scratch, bite, or innocent kiss from your pup could result in an infection. Here are health risks dog owners should be aware of.