Undoubtedly, bringing a new puppy into your home will lead to great excitement and joy. However, the new family member will have its own needs. It is good to know in advance the specifics of raising a pet to consider whether you will be able to manage. If you answer positively, then you have every chance to feel love and strong bond for life. However, if you hesitate, give yourself more time to think, because the relationship with the animal must be healthy and stress-free.
Several things are essential.
- Do you have the time?
- Do you have the patience?
- Can your budget handle the costs of owning a pet?
Find specific information about these factors below:
First, examine the traits of the breed you liked
Consider your choice of pet according to these characteristics. It can save you lots of headaches in future and make your life easier. Different dog breeds have different temperament, stamina, energy and social behavior. If they don’t match up with your life rhythm and potential as well as your own temperament, that would cause serious long-term problems. Dogs with high energy and stamina need longer walks and extended playtime to burn their energy off. That implies time commitment and endurance of dog owners. Choose a dog breed based on your free time, living space, physical activity and personality.
What can a veterinarian help with?
Before you bring the puppy into your home you should choose a trustworthy veterinarian. He will answer your questions regarding preventive care, essential vaccinations and deworming – when and at what interval. Those details would require your time and financial resources so you need to consider them in advance. The veterinarian can also provide information on other things you are concerned about. Like “How often should I wash my dog?”, “How much should I feed it?”, “How do I brush my dog’s teeth and clean its ears?”, “What are the warning signs of illness?”, etc.
The vet is the most reliable source from which you can get answers to these questions. He will also give you information about the dog registration procedure and getting a pet passport.
How do I set hygiene habits for my puppy?
If you have never considered that question before, you will certainly consider it soon after your new buddy arrives.
Make sure all vaccinations are set before you let your puppy out of the house and socialize with other animals (that’s the period around the end of the second month).
The puppy will need a designated place at home where a dog toilet or training pads can be placed for relieving its needs. Do not expect that your puppy will come with well-trained hygiene habits. Arm yourself with a lot of patience and a certain amount of cleaning products. Special dog diapers could also be useful as well as a spray that attracts dogs to pee just where you applied it. If your puppy fails to go to a proper potty spot, do not scold it. You should rather encourage your pet with a treat or praise it every time it manages to go to the designated place. This is a much more effective method. Learn to recognize the warning signs so that you could guide your dog in time – anxiety, ground sniffing, whimpering. It all takes time and patience. It is important for you to be aware of this information in advance and accept it.
Dog socialization
Dogs are social animals and they need socialization, attention and playtime. Certain breeds require much more while others are less demanding. Keep that into consideration when choosing a breed. Do not surround the puppy with attention more than necessary to prevent it from getting used to a wrong pattern. But give your pet what it needs, communicate and take care of it so that it develops fully and well-balanced.
It is very important to consider the fact that at first a member of your household should be able to stay home with the puppy until it gets used of being left alone. In the beginning leave the dog alone only for short periods of time, gradually increasing the duration until it gets completely trained. Thus you will avoid the stress of feeling lonely and abandoned that some animals could experience. That is applicable to certain breeds in particular. Contact your veterinarian in advance. He might be able to give you valuable clues as to how to facilitate the process.
At the start be ready to spend most of your time with your new household member.
Costs of owning a dog
Get informed about the costs that come with raising the dog breed you have chosen to figure out if it fits into your family budget. It is no coincidence that we mention breed. A number of things depend on the breed such as the type and amount of food used, the need to visit grooming salons and how often, cosmetics used, trainings, etc.
We have created a list of the main things you will need to raise a dog:
- Preventive exams by a veterinarian and when needed;
- Vaccinations according to the vaccination calendar;
- External and internal deworming – regularly administered schedule as prevention and when needed;
- Feeding – Dogs should be given food appropriate for their breed and age. Get informed about the amount of food eaten on daily and weekly basis in different age periods. Study in advance which food brands are suitable for your future dog. Consider the fact that good food is the basis of your pet’s good health. By offering your dog healthy and balanced food with essential nutrients, you avoid visits to the vet which saves you worry and money;
- Food and water bowls;
- Dog bed – The dog should have its own place to rest, feel comfortable and safe. Provide a warm and cozy bed and a dog house if it lives in a yard;
- Toys for dogs – Consider their regular replacement, because when the dog chews on toys, they start getting damaged and a danger of swallowing small parts occurs. If you don’t provide any, your dog will most likely start using furniture as a toy;
- Leashes and collars;
- Clothes and shoes – In case of extreme weather conditions it is good to have some;
- Hygiene products – Training pads, diapers, wet wipes, towels, etc.;
- Cosmetics and brushing items, products for cleaning teeth, ears and eyes;
- Grooming – Some breeds require grooming on a regular basis, sometimes every month or two;
Gather all information in advance and ask yourself the necessary questions. Giving honest answers will guarantee a happy cohabitation between you and your new friend.
If you have further questions and hesitate, our experts are here to help you!