7 things to know if you are thinking of getting a dog for the first time

Dogs only need food, water, and a place to sleep, said someone who has never had a dog.

Having a dog involves much more than just covering their basic needs; it means investing time in educating them, going for walks, spending time with them, adapting your routine, and above all, understanding that it won’t be perfect, and things won’t always go well from the start.

A few years ago, when we decided to bring Bella into our lives, we did research on what having a dog entails and what things we should consider. But nothing compares to experiencing it firsthand to form our opinion.

So, without much more to say, here’s a list of 7 things to consider before getting a dog:

1. You’ll need commitment and sacrifice

Bringing a dog into your life means being there for them throughout their life. This means any short, medium, or even long-term plans must include your future dog. For example, if you plan to move to a different city or country, your dog should be able to come with you.

Owning a dog will also change your current routine and require some sacrifices. If you’re thinking about buying new furniture, it may not be the best moment for that 😅.

Going to a more extreme example, your dog will change the way you organize your life, the way you invite other people to your home, the interaction with your family and friends, and even your lifestyle.

2. Financial Costs

I imagine that everyone reading this article has already thought about this, but it’s worth mentioning: owning a dog comes with various expenses, including food, veterinary bills (monthly and occasional), grooming, toys, accessories, and more.

On average, the monthly cost of having a dog ranges from $150 to $200, but it depends on the breed and how much you’re willing to invest in their well-being.

There are other one-time or occasional expenses such as adoption fees, purchase price, veterinary expenses, neutering, insurance, walker, dog hotels… So think carefully if you have the appropriate budget to cover these expenses.

3. Don’t get a dog if you don’t have time

Dogs need daily walks (I’d say 3–4 times a day, but we’ll leave that for another article), eating, playing and socializing. All of that takes time! On the other hand, dogs are routine animals, which means they get used to doing all those tasks at specific times of the day and in a specific order.

But in addition to their daily routine, you will have to invest a lot of time in teaching your dog the basics of behavior, and you will probably want to teach it some tricks.

The first 8–10 months are perhaps the hardest, so you will have to think carefully if you will have enough time to dedicate to your future best friend.

4. Dogs need love and attention

It’s no use having everything else if you’re not going to give your dog the attention and love it deserves. From the day the little furry one arrives home, it becomes one more member of the family, who will be there unconditionally for whatever you need.

As long as you can give it all the basic stuff, your dog will see you as the most important thing in his/her life, regardless of your health, your age, if you are rich or poor, or whatever.

That unconditionality should be reciprocated, and you should treat him the same way. This is probably the key factor and the most significant thing to take into account when owning a dog.

5. You have to be physically able to take care of it

As I mentioned before, dogs need to walk several times a day, in order to exercise, relieve themselves, socialize and get to know their environment.

If you have some kind of physical handicap, you should at least make sure that you have the means for someone else to do this part. And this is also key to thinking about what type of dog is right for you, which brings us to the next point.

6. All dogs are different

There are hundreds of breeds, sizes and colors, but also each dog is unique unto itself. Their personality is based on the behaviors acquired in their first days and weeks of life, experiences, the environment that surrounds them, and probably there is a component of randomness.

No doubt, there are some things that will help you decide what kind of dog you will want. For example, big dogs are more complicated to handle at the beginning, because of their strength and size, but small dogs tend to have much more energy and character, so there is no easy answer to this.

The breed (or ancestry) of the dog also defines unique aspects of its behavior and way of life, so you should consider what kind of things you can expect from your future dog. Some breeds are more likely to want to play all the time, some are more lazy, some tend to have resource guarding behaviors, etc.

The climate where you live, and even the size of your home, should also help you make a decision. Some breeds instinctively need a large place to thrive, while other dogs don’t need much more than a comfortable place to sleep.

In my humble opinion, this last point is debatable. Bella, my Golden Retriever, loves to go to the park to play with her ball, and we go for walks about three or four times a day (two short walks and one or two long walks). But when we are at home, she usually sleeps half the day, and the rest of the time she is by our side begging for cuddles or food. We live in a 60 m2 apartment, that should be enough to conclude 😂.

7. Patience will be your greatest ally

Having a dog is not an easy task, especially at the beginning, so you will need a lot of patience and be aware that, it may not be fast, but everything will be fine.

Teaching your puppy the basics takes many tries and effort. Potty training takes 4 to 6 months. Learning to respond to his name can take up to 1 month, and the same goes for other basic commands he should know.

That said, don’t expect them to learn everything and behave wonderfully overnight, and don’t give up if you don’t see progress in one, two or three weeks. Constancy and dedication will be key for the development and learning of your future pet.

As you can see, having a dog is more than meeting its basic needs and giving it love, you have to take into account many things to make this huge decision. And contrary to what you might think after reading this, if you manage to accept these things, getting a dog will be the best decision of your life!

Thanks for reading, I would love to know your opinion, and if you have any doubt, don’t hesitate to leave a comment and I will be glad to help you 💪.