First Time Dog Owner: A Field Guide
If you’re like almost 90 million Americans, you’ve decided a dog is the pet to help turn your house into a home. They’re protective, loving, and pack-like in nature making them exceptional companions — but there’s more to being a dog parent than often meets the eye. So if you’re about to become a first time dog owner, keep reading.
Matching personalities and preferences
It’s easy to fall for a floppy-haired dog bouncing around gleefully. But before you take the plunge and get the first dog that tugs your heartstrings, take a moment to think about your the breed that’s right for you based on your preferences and activity levels.
Working dogs
If you want a dog that learns quickly, you may want to think about getting yourself a working dog. They tend to be intelligent dogs and have a desire to be useful. But that means they also need to be exercised and kept busy, and if they aren’t, they can get a bit naughty and rambunctious. So if you aren’t a terribly active individual who wants to spend time teaching your dog tricks, this may not be the dog for you.
Lazy dogs
If these dogs could speak human, they’d probably tell you they prefer “low energy” to “lazy”. However you refer to them, these dogs probably aren’t for you if you want to take your dog on high energy activities like long runs or cattle herding. These dogs appreciate taking life in stride and prefer activities like cuddling you and lounging around to doing tricks and exerting physical energy.
A few other questions you may want to ask yourself before deciding on a dog or breed:
- How much space do you have?
- How much time do you have?
- Do you care if your dog sheds?
- Are you ok with a stubborn dog, or do you need a compliant one?
While they may seem basic, not being well-matched with your pooch can take a toll in the long run. Instead, by taking a little time to reflect realistically about your own preferences, you can ensure and your dog’s compatibility in the long run.
Puppy or grown dog?
Another thing to consider is whether to get a puppy or an adult dog. Puppies are cute, and the idea that you can train them from an early age means that you’re more likely to minimize bad behaviors. The reality is that training takes discipline, almost more so for you than your dog.
“People say I train dogs, but in many ways I train people.”
– Cesar Millan
Puppies also require potty training, which takes a lot of patience and dedication. It’s important to make sure you’re up for the task.
Adult dogs are often a little less work — they’re more mellow, less likely to chew up your favorite tennis shoes, and are typically already house trained. But they may also have bad habits already ingrained, and breaking those can be difficult. Either way, it’s a good idea to sign up for dog training before you bring your new little buddy home.
Starting off on the right paw
Signing up for professional training before you bring your dog home can set you up for a lifetime of success. You and your dog learn how to communicate better with each other and learn what the other expects. You have some choices when it comes to training:
Home-based training
This is a great option for dogs with unique issues to your environment — like scratching your door, jumping on your furniture, or misbehaving with neighbor dogs. It’s convenient, but it also tends to cost a bit more than site-based training.
Site-based training
A lot of pet stores now offer training classes. These are more affordable and start with basic commands and then move to more advanced ones. You’re less likely to get the 1:1 attention with a home-based trainer, but if your dog is fairly well behaved or a puppy just needing to learn to sit and stay, this is a great option.
Both types of training can work really well for helping you learn to read your dog’s signals — like what different growls mean, if your dog is playing or fighting, or how to know if your pup is in pain.
Meeting your dog’s needs — beyond the basics
Making sure you’re adequately supplying food, water, and shelter is important, but those are just the basics. To truly meet your dog’s needs, you also need to consider things like exercise, nutrition, and social interaction. Regardless of temperament, all dogs need activities and social interaction. Taking them on a few long walks a day is enough to help tire most dogs, which helps reduce anxiety and add behaviors. Because dogs are pack animals, they tend to be social, so it’s good to take them to doggie daycare or a dog park on occasion.
Finding a veterinarian
The most important part of finding a veterinarian is making sure your dog and the vet have a good rapport. That will help reduce anxiety and make any necessary treatments go smoother. This is yet another task to take care of proactively because you don’t want to wait for an emergency to have your new dog to meet his or her vet.
If you have a puppy, the spay/neuter is the time to decide whether or not you’ll want to do stem cell banking. By collecting and banking stem cells at the time of the spay/neuter, these incredible cells will stay perfectly preserved for vital care through regenerative medicine when it is needed most.
Remembering the paperwork
You’ll also want to make sure to get any key paperwork in order.
Breeding
If your dog is a purebred, you’ll want to register her with the American Kennel Register Club.
Local municipalities
You’ll also want to check to see if your pooch needs to be registered with your local city or state. Pet registration laws vary from state to state, so you’ll need to check in your area to be sure.
Medical records
It’s always a good idea to keep up-to-date medical and vaccination records on hand; always ask for a copy at each vet visit because most kennels, groomers, and trainers require them.
Expecting the unexpected
Lastly, keep in mind that there often overlooked expenses that pop up from time to time. It’s not a bad idea to have a small fund set aside for things like an unexpected trip to the kennel or vet.
Preparing to fall head over tails in love
Despite the responsibilities that come with owning a dog, few relationships are as rewarding. Dogs are considered mans’ best friend for good reason. They’ll nuzzle you after a long, hard day, they are fiercely loyal, and they’ll love you no matter what. They’ll get you outdoors more often for fresh air; they help you learn to live in the moment and find joy in the everyday. Becoming a dog owner will change your life in so many wonderful ways — but that’s not something a blog can ever prepare you for.
