Look at the cute pictures and videos of puppies and you might find it hard to resist going out and getting one. Have you thought of all that comes with having a dog? There is a lot to think about before you get a puppy. It isn’t all belly rubs and cuteness. There is a big time and money commitment. Let’s not forget about the patience commitment too. I would guess that is the largest reason people abandon pets to a shelter. You have to put in the time, money and patience to get the best companion. If you skip any of this you could end up with a handful that you resent. After 4 months of living with little Olive, I can tell you it was the best decision we ever made. After a month though we weren’t sure we had done the right thing at all. There are some serious things to consider before you get a dog. Don’t let this cute face fool you she was a handful just days after this photo was taken.
the time
I was unprepared for just how much time the walks, the bathroom breaks and the attention she would demand would take out of my day. I had a “how hard can this be” idea of getting a puppy. Her constant need for something was overwhelming at first. I found it took me 3 times as long to make dinner because I was constantly playing, redirecting or wrangling the puppy.
Getting ok with her being in a crate or getting an X-pen will save you hours of frustration. It took me weeks of frustration before I realized this was the best answer. The puppy will entertain herself, but if you are an option as a play thing you will likely be the first choice. If you aren’t the first choice your favorite piece of furniture or the blanket your Nanna knitted you might be her go to.
The crate isn’t mean when you consider a puppy sleeps more hours than they are awake in a day. Olive was a true toddler. She would fight being tired, but 10 minutes after walking in the crate she would be passed out and snoring. That is her space now and she loves it. Doesn’t even whine when she goes in and I can get dinner on the table at a reasonable hour. The older she gets and the more house-trained she gets the less time she is in the crate
the money
There are the obvious costs of food and toys, but have you thought about the vet and training? We were a little unprepared for the number of vet visits in the first 4 months. Your cute little puppy is going to need quite a few shots to make sure they stay healthy and those shots aren’t cheap. Plus puppies get into weird things and finding out you have a worm and need antibiotics, like we did last week, can add other costs.
The most expensive, and the best thing we did, was to get started training our puppy immediately, but it comes at a price. We took classes at the humane society which were a great foundation. They taught us how to speak dog, at least just enough to understand when she need something and when she just wanted to play. Even an evening a weeknight class will be very beneficial for you and your dog.
After that, we took the jump to a 3-week puppy class. Most extensive training classes offered are boarding situations. You pay them a large sum of money and they board and train your dog for 3 or more weeks. At the end of that time you pick up your dog, learn the commands and head home. That format probably works really well, but we didn’t want to be without our little puppy for that long. We found a day class that we dropped her at each morning and picked her up at night. 3 days a week they trained us on how to train her. It cost about $40 a day. Not cheap. Best money I have spent so far. After graduating from puppy school she is so much easier to work with. By no means perfect, but it is such a difference we will do it with any puppy we get in the future. If you are in Indianapolis I highly recommend Bark Tutor. Their program is amazing and we couldn’t be happier with how much Olive learned.
the patience
Since I don’t speak dog Olive and I frequently have some trouble talking to each other. I am usually the one that loses my patience first. The training has certainly helped, but when I need to leave for work and she doesn’t want to come inside from a potty break it gets a little harried.
Practice your deep breaths now. Your puppy will in one moment be the sweetest thing and then drive you completely crazy. If you keep putting in the time and effort she will turn back into the cutest thing ever in no time.
Dogs do not come trained and their personalities and habits develop over the first 3 years of their life so you have to keep putting in the patience and the time to train and make your new part of the family the best they can be. This is likely a commitment you will make for 12-15 years so making sure you can get along with your new family member is imperative. The sooner you start the more rewarding your relationship will be. It is worth all the time and money but you will need the patience to get there.
the fun, the cuteness and the laughter
Those are probably the things you already considered when you have thought about getting a puppy. I can assure you every one of these three offsets the above three. Olive has been the best addition to our house. It would seem empty without her now. She keeps me relaxed and happy and I look forward to seeing just what she will get into each day.
Do you have a dog? What is your best tip for someone who is thinking about getting a puppy?
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