Bringing a puppy into your home and family's life can be exciting. Unfortunately, most people are not prepared for the puppy's physical and emotional needs. Even if you think you know how to care for a puppy, you may be surprised to learn you are making a few problematic mistakes. With this guide, you will learn how to avoid a few common mistakes made when adding a new puppy to your life.

Not Realizing the Time Commitment

Most people will be surprised to learn how much time is needed to properly care for their puppy. In some cases, you can compare your puppy's care to caring for a newborn baby.

Not only will your puppy need time for training that includes potty training and feeding, but you also need to spend quality time with your puppy, ensuring he/she acclimates to your home, family, and the outside world well.

There may be times when you need more time for your puppy to use the bathroom. Or, you may be late to work or need to take a day off here and there to schedule a wellness check, vaccination, or sick visit.

By knowing the time commitment upfront, you can reduce stress on yourself and your puppy.

Not Exercising Your Puppy Enough

Exercise is important for you and your health, but it is also essential for your puppy's health. In addition, sufficient exercise will ensure your puppy grows, develops, and learns to socialize properly.

Exercise to teach your dog how to walk on a leash and interact with people and other animals in public places. Exercising will also help reduce your dog's risk of obesity, which will help protect them from a variety of medical conditions, such as arthritis and cardiovascular disease.

Finally, sufficient exercise will help your dog burn energy. This is not only beneficial to their health, but also for reducing any excessive hyperactivity in the home. With the right amount of exercise, you can prevent your dog from chewing, digging, scratching, running, and jumping inside the house.

Forgetting About Their Vaccination Schedule

Your puppy will require vaccinations and animal care hospital services to keep them healthy, but many people do struggle to keep up with their new puppy's vaccination schedule because it can be somewhat overwhelming.

Your best option is to schedule the vaccination visits ahead of time so the veterinarian can remind you of these appointments. You can also rely on online charts to help you remember these important vaccinations.

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