7 Things I Regret as a First-Time Dog Owner

And what I’ll do differently next time

When I adopted Jayce, I threw myself headfirst into dog ownership. Like most new dog parents, I read the blogs, followed the advice (or tried to), and did everything I could to make sure he was happy and healthy.

Looking back, I’m genuinely proud of the big things — like using evidence-based, force-free training and focusing on dog welfare above all else.

But there are still things I’d do differently if I had the chance to start over.

Here are 7 things I regret as a first-time dog owner — shared in the hope that they help you avoid the same mistakes.

1. I Never Taught Him to Toilet on the Balcony

We live in an apartment, and I focused only on outdoor toilet training. It worked… until it poured rain or I was unwell.

I’ve tried to go back and teach balcony toileting, but Jayce is too set in his ways. It’s much harder to train later, so if you're raising an apartment dog, I highly recommend giving them a backup toileting option from the start.

2. I Didn’t Capture His “Firsts”

The first time he saw himself in a mirror. His confused reaction to a TV. His first time trying a croissant.

I’d love to be able to look back and re-live his joy and curiosity at discovering the world.

3. I Bought Cheap Dog Beds (Over and Over)

Trying to save money, I bought affordable dog beds that didn’t last. The stuffing flattened, the seams tore — and eventually, I bought the expensive bed anyway.

Investing in one high-quality bed from the beginning would’ve saved money and waste. This is one of those first-time dog mistakes that adds up quickly.

4. I Didn’t Recognise Resource Guarding

Jayce would stiffen or growl when I got too close to his food or chews. At first, I panicked. I reacted in ways that may have made it worse.

Eventually, I learned this was resource guarding — a completely natural behaviour that needs to be managed with positive reinforcement, not punishment. I wish I’d understood that sooner.

5. I Fell Into the “Kibble Will Kill Your Dog” Rabbit Hole

Early on, I got swept up in the crunchy dog mum narrative — the idea that commercial food is dangerous, and if you really loved your dog, you’d be feeding raw or home-cooked and even perpetuated the fear mongering myself.

Don’t worry, I escaped and now advocate for people to make educated choices after speaking to qualified professionals.

6. I Bought So Many Toys He Never Touched

And puzzle feeders he used once and never again. I wanted to give him enrichment, but I didn’t pause to observe what he actually enjoyed.

Now I pay more attention to his preferences and rotate the toys he does like to keep them novel. (Enrichment isn’t one-size-fits-all!)

7. I Wasn’t Intentional About Alone Time

We got incredibly lucky — Jayce has zero separation anxiety. But that was chance, not planning.

Looking back, I know how easily this could’ve gone the other way. These days I always recommend intentional home-alone training from day one, especially for rescue dogs or velcro breeds.

Final Thoughts

Being a first-time dog owner is a beautiful, messy, ever-evolving experience. Mistakes are part of the process — but sharing them helps others avoid the same missteps.

If you’re in your early days of dog parenting, I hope this helped you feel seen and supported.

What’s your biggest new dog owner regret? I’d love to hear — comment below or send me a DM on Instagram