Whether you’re finally getting your first dog or still contemplating the idea, let me share some of my knowledge with you. There is a lot of research and prep you can do before getting your first dog, but you can never be fully prepared. This is one of the most important things to realize: there are many pleasant and unpleasant surprises in store. Therefore, patience is crucial. But before you get there, let me help you with a few things.
The first thing I would recommend is to understand yourself: What are you looking for? What do you need? Most importantly, what can you offer? Be realistic. Whether or not you can offer a lot of time and attention to your dog is a crucial deciding factor.
Once you’ve looked a little more into yourself and your situation, decide whether you would like to adopt or buy. There are advantages and disadvantages of both. This is something you can easily learn about online as there are many readily available resources. As you are doing your research, also look for potential places you might be able to adopt or buy from.
Next is the step that takes the longest: finding the right breed. Dogs can be very different from one breed to the next, but also within a breed dogs can differ. Every dog has their own personality. Consider whether you want a small, medium, or big dog. While researching different breeds, see how well their personality and lifestyle fit yours. Compare it to the list you made in step one about yourself to see how compatible you and that breed can be. There are a lot of amazing websites that offer tons of details such as need for exercise, need for grooming and need for attention, along with things that are important to consider about your environment and living situation. For example, certain breeds may or may not be good with small children. When researching, I would suggest checking more than one website. Any one particular website may not offer all the information or the full picture.
Next, consider age. Are you looking for a puppy, a young dog, or a mature dog? It can be a unique experience raising a puppy but they require a lot more attention and training.
Once you’ve made some decisions and feel like you know what you want, check out some dogs. Go meet the dog that you feel is right for you and interact with them. This may be the moment when you realize you’ve made the right or wrong decision.
Once you’ve gotten your dog, your journey begins. Similar to living with new people, living with a new pet can be tough at first. But be patient! You both need time to adjust and become comfortable with each other. Soon enough you and your dog will have an unbreakable bond. Good luck!
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- Western Became My Home Away From Home
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