7 Things to Know Before Getting a Dog

A furry friend can fill our lives with happiness, be the cure for overcoming loneliness and help us develop commitment. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a great fan of a certain breed or just want any dog that you’ll like, it is highly likely that the following question has already crossed your mind about what you should know before adopting a dog. Let’s find out what you will face up upon inviting a new pet into your home.

1 Dog-Friendly Environment

If you’re welcoming a puppy into your home, you need to understand its needs and offer a relaxed and positive environment for it. But before adopting a dog, think which breed which suit your personality and lifestyle best. Dogs are active animals and it is important for them to go for a walk outside and have enough space for playing inside. It’s great if you live in your own house with a backyard or if there is a dog run near your block of flats as you should walk your dog at least 2-3 times a day allowing it to spend time in the fresh air and communicate with other dogs and their owners.

Black and white dog running after the ball

It’s a good idea to hide all dangerous and expensive items and pieces of art at home that a playful puppy might want to play with. Your dog will need its own safe toys for daily entertainment.

2 Finances

While thinking over the idea of adopting a dog, make sure you’ll have enough money to keep it. You’ll have to spend money on dog’s food, grooming, and visits to a vet, also pet clothes for winter, toys and accessories for the dog’s comfort. You’ll need to provide your pup with a dog bed or a dog house outside, stick to a diet, give your pet vitamins and buy it a comfortable lead, a portable drinking bowl and many other indispensable accessories. Sometimes dogs get ill and need special treatment, and you will have to be able to pay for it.

Black and white dog with a bow on the neck and a yellow toy on a pink background

Becoming a dog parent, you take the responsibility to provide its comfort and safety so that you could connect with it on a deeper level. Your furry friend becomes a true member of your family, gives your love and protection and you give it everything it needs for a good life in return.

3 Health

You need to look after your canine friend. Go for a check-up at a vet on a regular basis as your dog can’t tell you that it’s not feeling well. During a warm season you need to prevent the dog from getting infected with parasites. Having baths more often and taking preventive medication prescribed by a vet can help with that.

Akita Inu in a pink shower cap and a pink toothbrush in his mouth

You also need to take care about your dog’s appearance and bathe, comb its fur, cut claws, clean teeth, eyes and ears in accordance with experts’ advice on a regularly basis. You can carry out grooming procedures by yourself or take your pet to a grooming salon. Moreover, you need to train your dog and deal with its unpredictable bursts of energy.

4 Training and Managing Dog Behavior

It’s a great idea to train a little puppy or an adult dog taken from a dog shelter with the help of a positive reward. There’s no need to scare your pet with yelling and punishments as it may lead to aggression, lack of trust and disobedience. Reward your furry friend with treats and love, train it regularly, find fun new things to teach your dog, but occasionally revisit the old basics. Your canine friend is never truly finished training. Ideally, you will always be training your dog, even as it ages. Ongoing training can help keep your dog's skills sharp. Also, training sessions are fun for your dog and a great way for the two of you to bond.

A dog in a yellow cap gives a paw to a girl

5 Real Responsibility

If you have become a dog owner, it means that you have adopted full responsibility for your four-legged friend. You’ll have to teach it not to make noise at night and not to disturb other people’s comfort. You’ll have to clean after your dog during walks and to put up with some mess at home as your pup will want to discover this world and play. Try to introduce your puppy to your friends and neighbors so that you could put your dog in kennels while you’re away. Otherwise, your dog may start panicking and missing you too much during your absence.

6 Communication

Dogs need socializing and communication. This is why it is essential to spend some quality time with your furry friend playing and giving it love and attention. Introduce your animal companion to other people and animals. Vast experience will develop dog’s intellectual abilities and make it more stable emotionally.

A woman and a man lie on a blanket on the grass, a woman hugs a dog

7 Cute Trifles

Your new member of the family brings in not only responsibilities but also lots of positive emotions and cuteness so treat yourself and your dog to some cute accessories. Order a stylish lead and a collar with a name badge and info about the pet, buy couple vests for dog walking. Or go even further and create a unique pet portrait that will add beauty and humor to your home décor and will bring your family joy for years to come: