In this video, we will talk about 12 common mistakes dog owners unknowingly make when they are caring for their canine companions.
Not trimming their nails
Clipping your dog's nails is more than a cosmetic chore.
In the wild, dogs and wolves run and walk on hard, rough surfaces on a daily basis and this will slowly and continuously wear down their nails and keep them short.
Long nails are a hazard to your dog because they can curl into the skin and cause your dog great pain. In some cases, the nails can also split down to the quick, a blood vessel and nerve found in the nail.
Longer dog nails also make it harder for dogs to walk around comfortably. When your dog’s nails hit the floor constantly as they walk, it can put more pressure on the nail bed. This pressure can force your dog to distribute their weight differently while they walk, which can affect the way their toe and paw joints are aligned.
Yanking on leash or using a choke collar
Regularly yanking on their leash can result in a neck fracture.
Never yank on a dog’s leash for discipline. Canines have a hyoid bone near the base of their tongue that can be fractured. These fractures can cause a multitude of health problems. In fact, high rates of thyroid issues have been observed in large dogs that frequently pull on the leash.
Reports show an average of 26,000 dogs every year are injured in a collar related accident.
Using a choke collar, which constricts when the dog pulls away, is also dangerous.
Teasing your dog
Young children and even some adults can be especially guilty of teasing a dog. Barking back at them behind a fence, riding a big dog, pulling on tails or ears, or even wrestling with an unwilling dog are certainly annoying and can make dogs upset or even aggressive.
Having access to your bathroom
Dogs should be kept out of the bathroom and away from the toilet.
Toilet bowls do not contain clean water that is appropriate for your pet to consume. Keep the lid down so your dog cannot access the bowl.
In addition to housing dirty water, many bathrooms contain cleaning chemicals and personal-care products that may be toxic to canines.
Giving your dog ice to eat or play with.
In hot summer days, many dog owners pass their dog an ice cube to play with, or fill their water bowls with ice.
However, it isn't good for dogs to chomp on ice.
Ice is a common culprit in broken dog teeth. These broken teeth are painful and can easily become infected, requiring either tooth extraction or root canal. Cold water, or frozen dog-safe fruits like apples or carrots are a better choice for warm-weather dog treats.
Leaving a dog alone in the yard
All dogs should have access to the outdoors. But never leave your dog in your yard in the hot sun, or during the cold winter months.
In hot weather, dogs can quickly become dehydrated and overheat.
In cold weather, dogs can suffer from frostbite, which can cause permanent damage to the skin and tissues.
Not taking breaks during playtime
Just like people, dogs often need a break from even the most fun activities. Pushing your four-legged friend to play for long periods of time can lead to exhaustion.
When your dog becomes tired, they are more likely to hurt themselves and also feel soreness in the following days/
Most dogs love chasing and fetching a ball, but constant, repetitive ball chasing can have consequences to your dog's physical health.
Likewise, choose the best time of the day to play with your dog. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. Pushing them too hard or exercising in the extreme heat can be taxing on the animals’ body.
Playing with your dog on a humid day
Just as exercising a dog on a 90-degree day can lead to heatstroke, playing outside when it's 80 degrees with 80% humidity can also can also cause heat sickness.
When the humidity rises, even relatively low summer temperatures can be too hot for outdoor playtime.
Dogs pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly
Punishing Fearful Behavior
Cowering, tucked tail, flattened ears, and growling are all signs that your pup is not comfortable in a particular situation. What they need at these times is to be calmly and quietly removed from the upsetting stimulus. Yelling and over-assertiveness on your part will only escalate the situation.
Some people believe that comforting a frightened dog reinforces their fear. But this isn’t true. You can’t reinforce emotions such as fear the same way you reinforce a behavior.
During stressful situations such as fireworks and thunderstorm, remain calm and soothe your dog with toys and calming music.
