Five common mistakes new dog owners make.

To you, who dream of the loyal dog with his head in your lap at the fireplace, I want to tell you, it's a great dream. I love those moments with Harry, but there's a flipside to having a dog. Dogs don't come perfect out of the package, and raising a dog, whether you bring it home as a puppy or an adult, is much like raising a child. Below I'd like to share five common mistakes new dog owners make.

The family around the block got a new Jack Russell puppy. I’ve been jogging my Border Collie mix past their house for over a year now, and we usually see their spaniel mix tied out in the backyard. When I saw the new puppy tied to the tree out front it was the first time I saw the two boys that the dogs belong to. They had longish hair, and washed-out blue eyes. One was school-aged, ten or so, and the other about four.

When I came upon them they were playing with a stick, letting the puppy get a hold before pulling it away. The pup growled and yipped cheerfully. All seemed well. Except for one minor detail. The older boy kept yelling, “Shut up, Hope!” over his shoulder at the older dog, who watched with sad eyes, barking desperately from the backyard, where she was tied against the fence.