Doggy Parenthood

As a little girl, every birthday candle I blew out was a wish for a puppy. I even made lists of breeds I loved to make it easier for my parents, including another list of reasons why I needed a puppy and how responsible I’d be. As time passed, I decided to put fate into my own hands. I saved up money from the first job I ever had, and bought myself my dream dog. Three years after getting him, I got another puppy on a whim. I made my reason, “so they can be friends and keep each other company.”

What I wish I knew beforehand:

• I needed to save up way more money than I had ever thought. Having a dog is a lifetime investment and spending money of them never stops. I should’ve opened up another savings account for them so I could keep track of my spendings and budget better.
• Vet bills are not cheap! Dogs need vaccinations, neutering/spaying, regular checkups (just like people), and sometimes unplanned emergency visits. Having money saved for all of this would’ve helped me in the long run.
• Puppy training starts the day you bring your dog home. Spoiling them with love is important, but training them is for the greater good! Biting, chewing, walking on leash, correcting certain behaviour, and potty training needs to be addressed right away. The sooner your puppy masters these things, the easier your life will be!
• Socialization at an early age is really important, however when I had my first dog people (literal strangers) yelled at me for having my dog out as it could get sick and die if not properly vaccinated (which I know now). So once your pup is fully vaccinated explore with them and get them to experience new places and people.
• A little bit of exercise and play time is crucial for dogs. Even just a little bit of fresh air to run around in the backyard is really important for them! We don’t always get our walks in throughout the days (especially in the winter), so play time is the way I get the dogs to burn off their energy.

There are tons of other little things I wish I knew prior to getting a dog, but these are the main ones I wish everyone else knew too! Your dog is your best friend and your companion for life, in their eyes you are their #1 so we as their humans need to reciprocate that and give them the best quality of life we can provide!