What did/would you do differently raising a dog the second time around?
What about it?
I got my first dog when I was 22, and lost her a few days after my 38th birthday this year. I’m not quite ready to get a new dog yet, but I know I will eventually. I’ve been thinking a lot about the things I would do differently this time.
At 22 I wasn’t well versed on how to raise a healthy, well-rounded doggo. Don’t get me wrong, my girl was perfect to me, but I really could’ve done more to set her up for success. She was well behaved and I loved her more than anything on the planet but she was an anxious/attached dog. I should’ve socialized her more when she was small, gotten her used to some things that she ended up being terrified of (ex: nail clippings), gotten pet insurance before everything became a pre-existing condition, went to some form of training, etc.
What did you consciously choose to do differently after your first dog? Or what will you do differently in the future? I really want to do better this time. Dogs deserve the best.