We All Make Mistakes. What Matters Is That We Learn From Them.
Can we be honest with each other for a second?
Every single pet parent, no matter how much they love their dog or cat, makes mistakes. Some of us fed our dogs roti and dal for years thinking it was healthy. Some of us skipped vet visits because our pet seemed fine. Some of us let our puppies get away with biting because it was cute, until it was not cute anymore.
None of this makes you a bad pet parent. It makes you a human who was doing their best with the information they had. The problem is that in India, so much of what we are told about pet care comes from neighbours, relatives, and old habits, rather than from vets or reliable sources.
This guide is not here to make you feel guilty. It is here to give you a clear, honest picture of the mistakes that are most commonly made by Indian pet parents, why they happen, and what you can do differently starting today.
Mistake 1: Feeding Ghar Ka Khana as the Main Diet
This is probably the most common mistake Indian pet parents make, and it comes entirely from a place of love. Sharing your food with your dog feels natural, warm, and caring. It is what our parents did. It is what our neighbours do. It just feels right.
But here is the reality. Indian home cooking is high in salt, spices, oil, and onion and garlic, all of which are genuinely harmful to dogs. Even plain roti and rice, when given as the primary food, does not provide the complete protein, fat, vitamin, and mineral balance a dog needs to thrive.
The result is dogs who look okay on the outside but are actually running on nutritional deficits for years. Poor coat condition, low energy, weak immunity, and chronic digestive issues are all common signs of an unbalanced diet in Indian dogs.
The fix is not to stop loving your dog through food. It is to make sure their core nutrition comes from a complete, balanced dog food. Treats and small amounts of plain cooked food are absolutely fine on top of that.
"Still confused about what your dog should actually be eating every day? This will help: Roti, Rice or Packaged Dog Food? The Honest Truth About Dog Food"
Mistake 2: Skipping or Delaying Vet Visits
How many times have you thought, my dog seems fine; I will take them next month? And then next month became six months, and six months became a year.
In India, vet visits are still largely reactive rather than preventive. Most pet parents only go when something is visibly wrong. But by the time a dog shows clear symptoms of illness, the condition has often been developing quietly for weeks or months.
Most vets in India recommend at least one full health check-up per year for adult dogs and twice a year for senior dogs above 7 years. Regular visits also keep vaccinations up to date, allow for early detection of conditions like dental disease, kidney issues, and tick-borne fever, and give you a chance to ask questions before they become problems.
The fix is simple: put your dog's annual vet visit in your calendar the same way you would a family appointment. It is not optional. It is part of being a pet parent.
Mistake 3: Not Deworming and Vaccinating on Schedule
This one has real consequences, and yet it is incredibly common in India. Puppies who miss their vaccination schedule are vulnerable to deadly diseases like parvovirus and distemper. And adult dogs who are not dewormed regularly carry intestinal parasites that slowly affect their health, energy, and digestion.
Intestinal worms are especially prevalent in Indian dogs because of the outdoor environment, contact with street animals, and contaminated soil and water. Most vets in India recommend deworming every 3 months for adult dogs and every 2-4 weeks for puppies under 12 weeks.
The fix is to ask your vet for a vaccination and deworming schedule on your very first visit and then actually follow it. Set a reminder on your phone if you need to. These are not expensive or complicated. They are just easy to forget.
Mistake 4: Giving Dairy, Especially Milk, as a Regular Treat
Doodh pilana is deeply embedded in Indian pet culture. A bowl of milk for the dog feels like an act of love, a small daily kindness. And it is. But the body of an adult dog simply cannot process it well.
Most adult dogs are lactose intolerant, meaning they do not produce enough of the enzyme lactase needed to digest the sugar in milk. The result is loose motions, gas, and stomach discomfort after every serving. Even if your dog seems to tolerate it, the low-level digestive irritation is real.
The fix is to replace the milk ritual with something your dog can actually benefit from. A small piece of plain cooked chicken, a dog-safe treat, or even just a few extra minutes of play goes further than a bowl of milk ever could.
"And while you are at it, here are all the human foods you should never give your pet: Beware! Human Foods That Are Poisonous for Pets"
Mistake 5: Skipping Tick and Flea Prevention
India is one of the highest-risk countries in the world for tick-borne diseases in dogs. Tick fever, caused by Ehrlichia and Babesia, kills dogs every year in India and the tragic part is that it is almost entirely preventable.
And yet, a huge number of Indian pet parents only buy tick treatment after they find a tick on their dog. By that point, if the tick has been attached for more than 24-48 hours, the risk of disease transmission is already real.
Monthly spot-on treatments, tick collars, or oral tablets prescribed by your vet are the most effective prevention. They should be given consistently every single month, not just in monsoon season. Ticks are active year-round in most parts of India.
The fix is to speak to your vet about the right tick prevention for your dog's age, weight, and breed, and then treat it like a monthly routine, not an emergency response.
Mistake 6: Not Socialising Your Dog or Puppy Early Enough
Socialisation is one of the most powerful things you can do for your dog's long-term behaviour and temperament. And it is one of the most commonly missed steps by first-time pet parents in India.
The critical socialisation window for puppies is between 3 and 14 weeks of age. During this period, positive exposure to different people, animals, sounds, environments, and experiences shapes how your dog responds to the world for the rest of their life.
In India, many puppies spend their first few months entirely at home, away from the world, because their owners are worried about diseases before vaccination is complete. While this caution is understandable, complete isolation during the socialisation window creates anxious, reactive, and sometimes aggressive adult dogs.
The fix is to find a balance. Ask your vet about safe socialisation before the full vaccination course is complete. Carrying your puppy to new environments, having vaccinated friends' dogs visit, and controlled exposure to sounds and people all count as socialisation without the infection risk of public spaces.
Mistake 7: Using Punishment-Based Training
Shouting at your dog when they do something wrong. Hitting them on the nose. Rubbing their face in their accident. These training methods are still common in India, passed down through generations, and they genuinely do not work.
Dogs do not understand punishment the way we think they do. When you shout at a dog minutes after they had an accident, they do not connect your anger to what they did. They just feel scared and confused. And a scared dog is not a better-behaved dog. It is an anxious dog who may become more fearful, more reactive, or more aggressive over time.
The science on this is very clear. Positive reinforcement, rewarding the behaviour you want with treats, praise, and play, produces faster learning, better retention, and a dog who actually enjoys training.
The fix is to catch your dog doing something right and reward it immediately. When they go to the bathroom outside, when they sit on command, when they walk nicely on the leash, make it a celebration. That is how dogs learn best.
Mistake 8: Not Giving Enough Exercise and Mental Stimulation
A lot of Indian pet parents underestimate how much exercise their dog actually needs. A 10-minute walk around the building twice a day is simply not enough for most breeds.
Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Beagles, and even many Indie dogs need at least 45-90 minutes of exercise daily. Without it, they find their own ways to burn energy, usually involving your furniture, your shoes, or your nerves.
Mental stimulation matters just as much. Puzzle feeders, training sessions, sniff walks, and interactive toys all tire a dog's brain out in ways that a simple walk cannot. A dog who is mentally and physically satisfied is a calm, well-behaved dog.
The fix is to be honest about your dog's actual exercise needs before you bring them home and to build daily activity into your routine rather than treating it as optional.
"Not sure where to start with your dog's exercise routine? This will give you everything you need: Unleash the Fun: Best Exercises to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy"
A Note From Lickicious: We Have Seen These Mistakes Too
At Lickicious, we talk to hundreds of Indian pet parents every month. And the mistakes in this blog are not rare exceptions. They are the norm. Not because Indian pet parents do not care, but because reliable, India-specific pet care information is genuinely hard to find.
That is why we started Lickicious the way we did. With a simple belief that Indian pets deserve food and care that is designed for them specifically, not adapted from Western standards that do not account for our climate, our breeds, or our food culture.
Our food is preservative-free, nutritionally complete, and made for Indian dogs. But more than that, we want to be a resource Indian pet parents can actually trust. Because the more you know, the better your pet's life will be.
"If you are just starting out, this checklist will make sure you have everything your dog needs: A Paw-some Parent's Guide: Must-Haves for Your Furry Friend"
FAQs
What are the most common pet parenting mistakes in India?
The most common mistakes include feeding ghar ka khana as the primary diet, skipping vet visits, not deworming on schedule, giving milk regularly, missing tick prevention, not socialising puppies early enough, using punishment-based training, and not providing enough exercise and mental stimulation.
Is it okay to feed my dog roti and rice in India?
Small amounts of plain roti or rice as an occasional addition to a balanced diet are generally okay. But feeding them as the primary diet is not recommended. Indian home cooking is high in salt, spices, and oil, and does not provide the complete nutritional balance dogs need for long-term health.
How often should I take my dog to the vet in India?
Most vets in India recommend at least one full health check-up per year for adult dogs and twice a year for senior dogs over 7 years. Puppies need more frequent visits for their vaccination schedule. Do not wait for visible illness before seeing a vet.
Can I give my dog milk in India?
It is not recommended as a regular treat. Most adult dogs are lactose intolerant and cannot properly digest milk. It commonly causes loose motions, gas, and stomach discomfort. Replace the milk habit with a dog-safe treat or a small amount of plain cooked chicken instead.
Why is tick prevention so important for dogs in India?
India has a very high incidence of tick-borne diseases like tick fever, which can be fatal. Ticks are active year-round in most Indian states. Monthly spot-on treatments, tick collars, or oral tablets prescribed by your vet are the most effective prevention and should never be skipped.
What is the right age to socialise a puppy in India?
The critical socialisation window is between 3 and 14 weeks of age. During this period, positive exposure to people, animals, sounds, and environments shapes your dog's temperament for life. Ask your vet about safe socialisation before the full vaccination course is complete.
Does punishment-based training work for dogs in India?
No. Punishment-based training like shouting, hitting, or rubbing a dog's face in accidents creates fear and anxiety without teaching the dog what you actually want. Positive reinforcement, rewarding correct behaviour immediately with treats and praise, is faster, more effective, and builds a happier dog.
How much exercise does a dog need in India?
Most medium to large breeds like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds need 45-90 minutes of exercise daily. Small breeds need 20-30 minutes. Mental stimulation through puzzle feeders and training is equally important. A 10-minute building walk twice a day is not enough for most dogs.