What would you do better if you could start again? Great thread for new puppy owners!

[meggels]

I wish I had socialized Abbie more and brought her to puppy class much earlier. Preferably right when we got her at 4.5 months instead of waiting a few months and then deciding she was behind on socialization. I wonder if she would have turned out differently and come farther if I had been more diligent on exposing her to more things.

[IslandPaws4Raw]

I wish I had focused more on toy/tug rewards instead of treats. At one point I was using the tug with Ari for directional training, then miss Kai came into the picture. I got so focused on teaching the little cattle dog bite inhibition. That was so well ingrained in her that she will automatically give up a toy if I touch it. She has a truly confused look on her face now if I try encourage her to tug with me

[naturalfeddogs]

Crate training. If only I had done that years ago, it would saved several sofas in the den!

[catahoulamom]

Finnigan is the only dog I raised from a pup (8 weeks), so this really only pertains to him. I'm going to echo what Kelly said... I wish I hadn't neutered him at 6 months (rescue required it). I wish I would have been smarter about socializing my dogs with people and other animals. I wish I had gone with my instincts and started feeding raw the day I got him - instead of listening to my boss at PetSmart who told me to feed him Blue Buffalo Large Breed Puppy.

ETA: Oh, and I wish I had stuck with crate training. He was never a destructive puppy, he was fine being left out, but I bought a crate when he was three or four months and stuck him in there and he started SCREAMING. No, really... screaming! Have you ever heard a catahoula scream? So I gave in and took him out of the crate, tried a few more times to no avail, and gave the damn thing away. It's going to be a real mess when/if he ever has to stay in a kennel at the vets office!

[Itty bitty Kitty]

1. I would have waited to spay (I did so at six months at the vet's recommendation). Sorry if this doesn't fit but it does have some behavioral consequences.
2. I would have done more socialization. Granted, I socialized Sophie a ton but didn't prepare her for every kind of situation. More socialization is always good, anyway!
3. I would have gotten her more used to the car at a young age. She's not afraid of the car or anything but gets very excited/anxious.

In general, I don't have many regrets. Sophie was the second puppy I raised so I had learned from a few previous mistakes (mostly related to house-training, dealing with possessive behavior, and exercise needs).

I'm pretty sure the answer is somewhere in the forums or in other sites, but I've love to hear your experiences. What are the consequences/ regrets you've have for fixing your dog early? Has there been any behavioral/physical problems? Up until now, the recommended age I was told/ read ( so far, still researching) has been 6-8 months. If I wait for 2 years, will it be frustrating for my dog if they experience heat before being fixed?

I'll be getting a German Sheperd puppy next year ( most likely female). What are the most important things I should know about getting her fixed?

[Liz]

I recommend my pups not be spayed or neutered until they have reached their full growth. My own dogs are kept intact but that takes a lot of dedication and prevention. My girls are all unspayed and I have a four and half year old that has never been bred. She displays no frustrations. My boys are intact and do not mark indoors. I don't see frustration. Rescues and Pounds spay and neuter young but I believe letting your larger breed dog reach maturity is in her best interest both mentally and physically though it will take extra care and dedication on your part to avoid oops litter. JMHO

[Mondo]

1. Fed raw
2. Found a holistic vet,
3. Trained more.
4. Realized that one size does not fit all. My boys are polar opposites.
5. Understood what socialization meant. And understood when some dogs were not being sociable ..