If you don’t know anything about me, there are two things you must know: 1. I love Drake, and 2. I love corgis. For the longest time, I have been mildly (okay, excessively) obsessed with corgis. Corgis are a breed of dog that are characterized by their stumpy, short bodies, extra fluffy butt and MASSIVE ears. They are cute and hop like bunnies but have one of the greatest personalities across all dog breeds. What I didn’t know prior to getting Charlie the Corgi was just that – I didn’t know I was getting Charlie. My family and a group of my closest friends decided to surprise me with the puppy of my dreams! Crazy, I know. Charlie has been the greatest thing to happen to me so far in my 21 years of life. But, if you are like me and had no idea what you are getting yourself into with bringing a puppy home, fear not, as I have learned all there is to know – in one month.
Expectation 1: Buying the crate
After finding out I was going to be the proud owner of my pup, I knew I had to do a ton of research. I read up on crating and its importance when it came to training your dog. A crate was a dog’s sanctuary – a place to go to when they wanted to relax or sleep. Given that I didn’t have Charlie while I was looking at possible crate options… I had no idea how big (or little, in this case) he was. So, I bought the second largest crate Amazon Prime offered and hoped my corgi would enjoy his soon-to-be hangout spot. Needless to say, the whole “go big or go home” mentality didn’t work so well as I discovered that my pup was literally just that: a tiny pup. Luckily, my crate came with a divider which allowed me to section off a space that was just enough for Charlie’s size and I can adjust it as he grows.
Expectation 2: Toys
Puppies chew. Correction: puppies chew A LOT. I didn’t realize how badly puppies teethe until I brought Charlie home. One week prior to his homecoming, I bought three toys from my local petstore: a Kong rubber toy, a squeaky chew toy, and a tug-of-war styled toy. The Kong toy is literally the greatest invention when it came to teaching Charlie how to tolerate the crate. I filled that thing up with peanut butter and he went at it the whole night until he fell asleep. Aside from providing some sort of entertainment for your pup, chew toys really help with the teething process and you’ll be blessed to realize your dog hasn’t gone through your closet and chewed on your favorite shoes. Thank me later for learning that the hard way.
Expectation 3: Bringing Your Pup to Campus
After bringing Charlie home during Spring Break, I really wanted to introduce him to people and other environments so he can get used to social settings. There are so many things to expect when you are bringing a dog to campus. I asked my professors beforehand if I was allowed to bring my puppy, and got a unanimous “yes” from all of them. You technically don’t have to do this, but it is courteous because the last thing you need is to have your professor be allergic to dogs. You will also essentially be packing a baby bag for your puppy. Given that I am a commuter, I had to bring all of Charlie’s essentials: food, treats, toys, a blanket, and waste bags. I used a collapsible bowl (found at Target) during feeding time and generally kept him on my lap or in the empty chair beside me during class. Be aware – people will stare. Also… prepare to be stopped anywhere you walk. When I first took Charlie to campus, I was late to all of my classes that day. I was constantly stopped and asked to pet Charlie, hold Charlie, take a pic Charlie. It was nice because Charlie is such a well behaved puppy and was very eager to socialize but I didn’t take into account how long these interactions took. Factor in some time to get around campus. Your dog will gain so much Snapchat fame.
The three biggest dilemmas I had were really just trying to get used to having a tiny puppy be apart of my daily life. As a new dog owner, I can honestly say having Charlie is one of the most rewarding but sometimes the most time-consuming part of my day. If you aren’t ready to devote a few hours a day to your new pup, I would seriously recommend waiting a bit before getting your four legged friend. I am in no way a veternarian but these were just things I discovered through research and through trial and error. Best of luck to you and hopefully your new addition to your pet family!