We are the proud owners of 3 beautiful dogs. A Poochon named Biscuit, Blue, our Cavapoo and now one of their puppies, Castiel. Before owning our first, second and even third dog there were a multitude of factors to consider. Owning a dog is for life – not just for Christmas as the old saying goes. While it’s an overused saying, it is very true. The average dog’s life could be anywhere from 8-15 years, with some exceeding that life expectancy.
That’s a good chunk of your life spent with a dog and so it’s important that when you come to make a decision to get a dog, you’re doing so with the intent of being able to provide them a fulfilled life.
If there’s any hesitation that you might not be able to fulfil their needs, now or in the future, you might want to reconsider getting a dog. With that being said, here are all the basics you’ll need to know when it comes to owning a dog in 2023.
Do research on the breed you’ve got or getting
Every breed is different, so it’s important to know what you’re dealing with when you come to make a decision like buying a dog. Hopefully, you’ll have a brief knowledge of the dog breed you want and if that’s the case, then it’s encouraged to learn as much as you can about them.
The reason for this is that each breed is vastly different in their eating habits their preferences when it comes to household types. Some dogs are recommended for quieter households without children, whereas other dogs will thrive in a household where there’s a lot going on.
Doing your research on the breed is important and it’s knowledge that will come in handy when it comes to those early days of training your dog. You don’t want to be in a position where you buy or adopt a dog breed that you have very little knowledge of. Particularly in cases where it might be a crossbreed of two or more different dog breeds.
Before choosing our dogs, we did extensive research into the breeds and then made an informed decision.
Understand the life-long costs involved
A dog is a costly expense on your household bills. There’s a lot that a dog needs in order to thrive in the home, just like the average human needs when it comes to their living arrangements.
Take the puppy stages for example, you will want all the toys and accessories needed to keep them entertained. You may wish to crate-train them or at least have gates that separate them from other areas of the home, to begin with. There’s monthly medication they’ll need to keep happy and healthy from fleas, ticks, and worms.
As they grow older, you’ll be feeding them a certain amount as they age and that amount of food and cost can certainly become more expensive over time. With that being said, think about the cost of the dog, while also considering how that might be influenced by the size and average lifespan. The cost of a dog can suddenly become much more expensive.
Adoption or buying from a breeder can vary the cost you pay upfront so it’s good to know what to expect here as well.
Know what’s toxic to dogs in general
When it comes to questions about your pet, the most common one is what is toxic for dogs. If there’s one thing that all dog breeds have in common is that there are certain foods and plants that are toxic to them.
As a first-time dog owner, you might not have a clue about what’s toxic or not. With that being said, there are certainly some topics to brush up on before getting a dog and that includes anything and everything that could harm your pet.
Ensure you can meet their exercise needs
Every dog is different when it comes to how much exercise they need daily. For some dogs, they might need one walk a day that’s around twenty minutes. For others, it might be two walks a day that is around an hour or two in length.
With that being said, think about how you can meet the exercise needs of the dog. It might be that the dog breed you were intending to buy or adopt, needs more than you can provide. You may find that your working hours or lifestyle, might not be catered to a dog who needs hours of walking. Instead, you might be more suited to one who needs an hour or less.
Never leave your dog around children
It’s a rule that should be the case for any dog owner and those who have children living with them and the dogs themselves. Never leave your dog around children, especially when they’re of an age where they don’t quite understand their own strengths or reactions towards a dog.
Once they’ve reached their teenage years, it’s safe to say they’ll be safe with the dog in your home. However, small children, toddlers, and babies should never be left with the dog.
No matter how well-behaved or how trustworthy you are of your dog, you can never predict a dog’s reaction when interacting with a small child. Even if you don’t have children it is worth considering whether you intend to expand your family before owning a dog. Also consider the children your dog my come into contact with, e.g. wider family and friends.
This is a collaborative post. However, as always, all opinions are my own.
