I get asked a lot of pet questions and I wanted to structure a few guidelines to help prospective new dog owners plan the acquisition of their new pet.
- Breed compatibility: When researching breed compatibility; it’s important to identify the lifestyle factors such as nutrition and physical activity required to support optimal heath for your new pet. Once breed preference has been established, it becomes easier to decide whether adoption is an option. Having small children; we wanted puppies because it was important for our family that our dogs first relationship with a child was with one of our children. We didn’t want to risk adopting a dog with inherit trauma and having to potentially rehome the dog if things didn’t work out. That is a real possibility you have to consider when introducing a seasoned dog into an environment with children. It is absolutely possible to adopt a puppy, just be prepared to wait a little bit longer than if you were purchasing from a breeder.
- Cost of food: After establishing whether you’re going to adopt or purchase from a breeder; consider the cost of food. How much is purchasing dog food going to increase your monthly expenses? Knowing where to shop can save you a lot of money. We currently purchase our dog food from a subscribe and delivery service through Petco. In addition to saving 35% on the first bag of dog food we initially ordered, we save a percentage on every order and every eighth bag of dog food is free. Plan these expenses and factor them into your budget prior to owning a dog. Also leave room in your budget to flex up if needed. We found out over time that introducing raw food to our dog’s diet was beneficial but significantly more expensive. Allowing room in the budget to flex up allows you to make diet changes and modifications as needed.
- Dedicated pet space: Dedicate a space in your home especially for your dog. It can be a room, a closet or a crate but it should be somewhere close to you (non-isolating) where your dog can retreat and feels safe. Plan where the dog is going to sleep, eat and where you’ll store supplies like food, shampoo, flea medicine, toys and brushes.
- Get familiar with dog behavior: Establishing a relationship with the vet can be tricky post CoVid. Our dogs haven’t required any vet visits outside of vaccinations and neutering but on all occasions; we were unable to actually meet the veterinarian. The dog is picked up from the parking lot by a staff member then returned to the car after the appointment. Being intuitive and aware of normal vs abnormal dog behavior will alert you to abnormal behavioral changes in your dog, which makes the vets job easier in identifying possible causes and treatment for whatever symptoms your pet has going on. PetMD is a free and reputable resource for unbiased pet health content from real veterinarians. I encourage all new dog owners to get familiar with the resource and use it.
- Consider the impact of travelling; in addition to present and future living arrangements (5 year minimum): Dogs are natural pack animals. Leaving them for extended periods of time can be stressful, lonely and contribute to undesirable behavior. Consider getting a dog when travelling will be low on the priority list or you’re in a position to travel with your new companion. Are you renting or do you own your home? If you are a renter- it’s very important to discuss with your landlord and read your lease in its entirety so that you know the policy and cost associated with dog ownership. Do you need to pay pet rent or an additional deposit? If you are a homeowner and live in a HOA community for example, confirm if any and what are the potential breed restrictions in your community. Homeowners, backyard upgrades like fencing and landscaping or the removal or moving of harmful plants may be necessary for the dog’s safety- know what these things are going to cost in advance because they really will impact the quality of life for you and your dog.
I say five years is a good time frame to keep these considerations in mind with respect to travel and moving because after five years, most and I stress most because all dogs are different- but I would imagine it’s much easier to transition a mature dog into a new environment than it is a puppy. We travel with our dogs, and I’m always impressed by their adaptability in new settings. They look forward to their road trips very much these days!
I encourage anyone considering getting a dog to consider all of the above prior to dog ownership. Being prepared will prevent you from having to rehome your dog in the future. Once you’ve established “the first 5 fundamentals of pet ownership”, as I like to call them; then you can move on to the fun stuff like training.
Love, Daley.