You might have seen OneMind Dogs team member Maija and her Sheltie Lysti flying through agility courses in our socials. Now Maija would like to share her experience with raising Lysti, to inspire other first-time dog owners. Keep reading to discover the valuable lessons she’s learned and what she would do differently with the knowledge she has now.
Two years ago, I welcomed my first puppy. Although I grew up with dogs in my family, this was my first time raising a puppy on my own.
I quickly realized that raising a puppy can be challenging. I was overwhelmed by the energy of this little fur ball and often felt clueless about what I was doing. This uncertainty motivated me to study dog training, and sometimes I wish I could go back in time armed with all the knowledge I’ve gained. Here are five things I’d do differently.
Calm down and trust the training process
I felt a lot of pressure to raise a well-behaved and balanced puppy. I stressed about doing everything right and would quickly change my strategy if training didn’t show immediate results. Later, I learned that patience is key—trust the process and take small steps.
Puppy socializing: Quality over quantity
I misunderstood the concept of socializing a puppy. Instead of thinking more is better, I should have focused on ensuring each new experience was positive. I pushed my puppy into situations where she felt unsure or scared, which may have contributed to her current suspicion of new things, especially strangers.
Ensure the puppy gets enough rest
It took me a while to realize that when my puppy acted wild (biting, zoomies, etc.), it wasn’t due to excess energy but because she was overtired. My mistake was trying to tire her out more. Sometimes puppies need a reminder to calm down and take a nap. Which leads me into the next point.
Puppy training must-have: Puppy pen
Despite thinking I had puppy-proofed my home, it felt like a full-time job to keep her from chewing, stealing, and peeing where she shouldn’t. Instead of constantly controlling the puppy, controlling the environment by limiting her reach would have saved my nerves and made it easier for her to make good choices. A puppy pen would have also helped her understand when to calm down.
Focus your puppy training on just a few things at a time
I was excited about training and wanted my puppy to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible. This resulted in a dog that knew many tricks and skills but none of them well in different situations and environments. I’ve learned that training is a lifelong journey, not a quick bootcamp to learn everything at once.
Raising a puppy can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. OneMind Dogs offers an online puppy program designed to take the guesswork out of raising a puppy, making the process less stressful and more enjoyable. The program provides clear, step-by-step guidance to help you and your puppy build a strong foundation together. From socialization and training tips to managing everyday challenges, it’s got you covered.
