You have quite possibly made the best decision of your life. Bringing a dog into your personal space is not only noble but a life-changing experience altogether. But, is there more to it?
While there is a great level of serotonin business involved with pets, it begs a few caveats too. There is no doubt regarding the mood-stabilizing effects that a pet brings. At the same time, with all the mushy ideas, there are a few important things to keep in mind as well.
If you are a new dog owner, you ought to know the following things, because most people won’t tell you.
1. Expect Them to Be Distant at First
Right when you bring your pet to your home, you should ideally expect a slight deviation from normal or docile behavior. There is nothing to be afraid of, here. In fact, your dog has a great chance of being rather uneasy due to new environmental statuses—be a particularly warm person here.
You will have to ensure that your dog feels at ease. Bring out a new toy, or play a game, perhaps. Dogs need a fair amount of time to adjust to new environments, especially if they are from shelter homes. Make sure to play the part of a good parent here, and warm them up.
2. You Will Always Have to Be Equipped
There are not many differences between a pet and a little child. While both of them bring immense joy and contentment, both require you to be rather equipped in terms of inventory. Right from being able to have excreta-disposing tools, to feed-on-the-go materials—you are expected to be equipped.
The other thing to keep in mind is—extras. Always ensure that you are packing an extra of everything. Leash problems? Extra. Food scarcity? Extra. More frisbees and toys? Extra.
3. Expected to be Super Cautious
Since there is a fair chance that your dog is pretty young, there is a greater chance that your dog is restless. This is where you have to practice super cautiousness. You can expect your dog to be pretty notorious too, and that’s fine, really.
Oftentimes, restlessness in children is misunderstood—and so is the case with dogs. Is your dog wanting to play, ergo becomes restless and wants to head out? Be cautious—ensure that there are no external dangers outside. Is your dog wanting to put everything in its mouth? Be cautious—ensure that it doesn’t choke on it.
4. You are Expected to Know What to Feed Them
Granted that people and online research will tell you what to feed your dog, but there is actually a lot more to it here. Being a new dog owner, you ought to know about proportions as much as nutrition for the dog.
Ideally, you should keep a healthy balance of carbs, proteins, fats, and vitamins or minerals. The rest of your homework will spin around food your dog needs to avoid. This becomes quintessential when you are choosing the appropriate treatment for your dog. Consult your vet and ensure that you have done the right kind of stockpiling.
5. A Good Pet gets a Good Vet
Speaking of vets, you have to get in touch with a good vet. When you are having a dog at home, you can most definitely expect health breaches and health problems. Be it something as mild as a cold, to (god forbid) something more complex—a good vet is a great proponent for prolonging the lifespan of your dog.
Ideally, your vet should be available on most occasions, and should be ready to make their differentials if need be. More importantly, they should be expecting you to make regular visits and come forth with regular feedback too.
6. Expect Behavioural Problems
Much like children, dogs can be naughty too. After you have established a certain grade of warmth with your dog, you can expect them to not understand some boundaries and be a little naughty. From breaking your best showpiece to losing your favorite sock—expect such behavioral breaches.
The takeaway message here is to practice healthy and good parenting. When you see that your dog has done something worth reprimanding, ensure that you do the same. After all, it is for their own good.
Final Word
Being a responsible dog-parent requires not only regular training but a lot of other factors too. From ensuring maximum resource allocation to your dogs to arranging finances and ensuring your dog’s life through valid insurance—being a responsible parent takes a lot.
The most important thing of them all? Knowing what to expect, and being prepared for it all—especially when most people won’t be there to guide you.