The reality is pet ownership is a big responsibility. It is not always easy, and our choices can significantly impact our fur baby’s overall well-being. Never fear, friends; we have done all the hard work for you and compiled a list of our top five mistakes that answer the question: are you a bad pet parent?
1. Being Inconsistent with Boundaries
Animals crave consistency in their everyday lives. If the rules are constantly changing, it can cause severe anxiety for our pets. Dogs are smart and will quickly learn what their parents like and dislike. One of the best things we can do is discipline our pets consistently. Your pet will not understand the difference between only being allowed to jump on you when you wear workout attire and not business clothes. To them, all they see is their mom or dad, and they are very excited because they love you so much.
Do yourself and your pet a favor, make straightforward rules, and stick to them. This will make things far less confusing for your pet and increase your bond since they will not be confused about why they are in trouble moving forward.
2. You’ve Created Unsafe Eating Habits
Humans love treats just as much as our pets do. If I could live a healthy life off eating ice cream every day, believe me, I would! Just like eating junk is unhealthy for us, the same goes for our pets.
We’ve all been there. You sit down to eat dinner and look at these big sad eyes begging for a taste. As hard as it may be to resist, we must!
We create several bad habits when we turn human food into a treat for our pets. Some of these include:
- We enable a practice of begging.
- We increase the likelihood of canine obesity and other common health problems.
- We confuse when treats are warranted. They become more of a given than a reward.
3. You Skip Regular Walks
While skipping the occasional walk or two will not drastically affect your pet, regularly missing walks is a sure-fire way to become a bad pet parent.
Not only is physical activity good for your pet’s overall health, but it also boasts significant mental and physiological advantages as well. When we take our pets for a walk, their constant sniffing gives them vital mental stimulation. Like how humans release endorphins when we exercise, our pets feel a surge of joy spending time outside with their humans. What may seem like a small thing to us is literally the best part of our pet’s day.
Like people, the amount of exercise for our pets will vary based on age, breed, or any medical conditions they may have. A good rule of thumb to ensure our pets are healthy is to aim for about 30 to 45 minutes of exercise per day.
4. You Didn’t Train or Socialize Your Pet
If you choose not to train or socialize your pet, you are not doing them any favors. Pets need to have a structure in their lives. Dogs are like us in that they thrive off socialization.
If you do not train your pets, you leave them open to being skittish or aggressive when around other animals or humans. Establishing rules and socializing your pet with other animals and humans is neither bad nor a chore. Doing this often and early will set your pet up for success.
Training and socializing are fun for you and your furry loved one when done correctly. Not only is this a great way to ensure your pet is family-friendly, but it is also great exercise and offers vital mental stimulation.
Do you love the thought of bringing your pet everywhere you go? If your pet is not trained or socialized, you will not be able to take them to most places. Do yourself a favor, and don’t skip this step!
5. You Skip the Vet
Do you avoid the vet unless it’s necessary? While you may have the best intentions for your pet, they can’t speak, and let us know if something is wrong. Neglecting routine vet checkups is another huge mistake that can make you a bad pet parent. While your pet may look calm and healthy on the outside, on the inside, they may be hiding any discomfort they feel. Most pets will hide any ailments from their owners unless it becomes too overwhelming to handle.
Routine visits to your veterinarian are the best way to ensure your pet is healthy. Going regularly can also identify if something is wrong early and get your pet the help it needs before it becomes severe. If your pet does end up showing signs that something is wrong, don’t ignore it or try to diagnose your pet yourself. Call your vet and make sure you get your fur baby the help they need!
If you can relate to any of the habits on this list, don’t worry, you are not alone! We all love our pets and want the best for them. All that matters now is that you recognize this impact on your pet and take steps to correct it!
