Dog Mom's List of Mistakes She Made with Golden Retriever Puppy Is Eye-Opening

For so many reasons — endless reasons, probably — being a puppy parent is not for the weak, especially if it's your first time. No matter how much you think you know about raising a dog, there are going to be some surprises along the way, and mistakes will most certainly be made. It's okay, though, because this can be a tough stage for everyone, and it really is hard to truly grasp what puppy parenthood is like until you've done it for yourself.

Besides, whatever mistakes you make the first time around will help you do a better job the next time you decide to adopt a puppy (and let's be honest, who can resist another dog once you've got one?). One dog mom is feeling that way now that she's gotten her dog through puppyhood, and she's sharing her mistakes so the rest of us can learn from them.

In this TikTok video from @thegoldendaysoflevi , she not only shared the things she wouldn't do again with another puppy that she did with her Golden Retriever , Levi, but she also shared why, which is important to know when you're in the thick of it.

For example, she said that she would avoid unstructured walks, since that ended up turning Levi into a "puller" when they go out — something she's had to train him away from. She also said that she wouldn't let him have playtime on the bed, since it's not exactly a good idea now that Levi is 80 pounds... though I don't doubt that's a hard habit to break!

Another item on the list might end up being a controversial one. She wrote that she would avoid dog parents the next time around, since she "witnessed a lot of fights" and should have just planned playdates with dogs they were already familiar with.

Common Mistakes of First Time Puppy Parents

These are just a few of the most common mistakes that first time parents might make — there are plenty of others on the list!

According to Pumpkin.care, a lot of the mistakes start before you bring puppy home, like making sure you're actually ready for everything a puppy or dog can entail, and having a plan for potty training prepared in advance.

The site also lists not getting your dog comfortable with grooming from an early age, and not socializing them properly — tasks that can seem overwhelming and time consuming at first, but will really make a difference in your happiness and your pup's happiness.

If Levi ever becomes a big brother, at least he can show a new puppy the ropes... and his mom will be even more prepared than she was the first time around.