What To Know Before Getting A Puppy
Everyone loves puppies. If you don’t, I don’t think we can be friends! Ha! However, before getting a puppy, there’s a lot you need to know and ask yourself to make sure you’re ready for one. I compare a puppy to a toddler: they aren’t potty trained, they cry a lot, they’re super adorable and always hungry!
Within this post, I’ll share what you need to know before getting a puppy as well as additional resources that will prep you for potty training your puppy, crate training your puppy, the super fun puppy teething stages and more!
1. Initial Questions To Ask Yourself:
Puppies are a lot of work and require a lot of time and energy, so it’s super important to ask yourself a few important questions first.
- Do I have time for a puppy?
- Time to train, time to take it out numerous times for potty training, enough time at home with it to bond and take care of it?
- Can I afford a puppy?
- Vet visits (annual & periodic), training, food, toys, etc.
- Do you have room for a puppy?
- Do you have a big enough apartment or house for the full-size dog breed you want? Does it have access to a yard or park?
- Do you know that you are making a lifelong commitment and NOT a cute puppy stages commitment?
- Unfortunately many people give puppies as gifts, and once things get hard or they start getting bigger, they are often returned. Getting a puppy/dog is for 8+ years, not a few months.
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, now might not be the time to get a puppy and that’s okay! Being honest with yourself is the most important part and just because you said no now, doesn’t mean you won’t say yes later on when the time is right!
2. Pick The Right Breed For You
Finding the right dog breed that matches your lifestyle and activity level is key! If you’re a super high-energy person who’s looking for a running partner, you wouldn’t pick a Mastiff!
Knowing this information about your lifestyle/activity level will help pair you with the best partner!
- Do you have a family & need a dog that’s good with kids?
- Do you want more than one dog in the house?
Do you like small dogs or big dogs? - Are you older and want a lap dog/smaller dog?
- Do you need a working dog to help guard/protect property?
- Do you like to go hunting and are looking for the perfect partner?
- Are you looking to show and/or breed and need a registered dog with a good line?
Having those answers is the first step. From there, I recommend speaking with a vet and/or volunteer/employee at a rescue shelter as they will be able to help direct you towards the best breed option(s) for you!
3. Find The Right Veterinarian
Since we just talked about how the vet can help you find the best dog breed for you, let’s talk about how you can find the best vet for your dog! Growing up, my family was very close with our vet and my mom even worked there for a period of time! When finding the right vet, here are some key things to look for:
- How does the initial staff treat you? Are they warm and welcoming or are they on their phones not really paying you any mind?
- How does the vet speak to you? Do they talk down to you or do they welcome questions and are happy you’re wanting to learn?
- Is your vet knowledgeable about the type of dog you’re interested in getting?
Those three questions are what determines whether or not I stay with a veterinarian. My current vet is absolutely wonderful. The staff is so kind to my dogs, my vet is extremely knowledgeable with my large breed dogs and he always takes the time to answer any questions I may have! ** NOTE: As soon as you get your puppy and have a vet lined up, schedule an appointment with them as soon as possible to ensure that everything looks good with your new family member!**
4. The Cost Of A Puppy
The cost of owning a dog/puppy isn’t cheap but with proper budgeting and knowledge of what certain costs are, you can easily be prepared! Below is a quick breakdown of average costs for some of the main costs of owning a dog (with no major health issues):
- Cost of Puppy (from rescue or breeder): Dependent on breeder, rescue, and what you want to do with your dog. Unfortunately I cannot provide an exact price or average as every single location and organization varies.
- Annual Vet Visit (full exam & yearly shots): $170-$225
- Dog Food (depending on dog size & brand): $30-$60 per bag every 4-7 weeks
- Dog Training (trainers & training types vary, but basic obedience at Petsmart or with many local trainers): $100 for 4-6 week course
- Additional courses are available to expand knowledge and skills for your dog. Private trainers do cost more.
- Toys: $5-$20 per toy
- Additional equipment/items needed:
- Dog crate: $40-$180
- Heartworm & Flea Control (monthly): $10-$30 (brand & size of dog dependent, multi-packs available for purchase)
- Dog bowls: $10
- Dog leash & collar/harness): $15-$40
- Grooming: Call your local vet & groomer for prices before you get that breed.
Everything shared above is dependent on the size dog you get and where you live. One of my first puppy 101 posts I shared was 10 Things To Buy For Your New Puppy. This post has a quick list of everything you need for your new family member and my recommendations for each item!
5. Do You Have Time For A Puppy?
Aside from the costs of getting a puppy, time is equally as big a factor when determining whether or not you can get one. When you first get a puppy, you have to set aside time to potty train, crate train, obedience train, take on walks/play time, take to the vet and more!
Nothing happens overnight and you have to have the patience and understanding that everything stated above could take months (potty training, crate training, obedience).
If you want to learn more about the trainings listed above, check out these helpful blog posts that have everything you need to know!
6. Will Your Dog Fit In Your Car?
I know this one sounds silly but I couldn’t resist sharing for fun! For those who are new to my blog, my oldest dog Diesel is an extra large breed dog. We think he’s a mix of Mastiff, Great Dane, Staffy and Plott Hound! When we first got him, I was still driving my 2000 Ford Mustang (which I’ll always love!). I was wanting to get a new car and I wanted the new Mustang. Well, Diesel obviously wasn’t going to fit in that, so I upgraded to my Nissan Rogue SUV that fits our now two large dogs!
If you plan on taking your dog on trips (and I even just mean home for Christmas), make sure your car is big enough for your luggage, your dog, their items, and anyone else that might be coming. You might be getting a larger car like I did sooner than you think! Ha!
Thanks for reading my post about what you need to know before getting a puppy! These first time puppy owner tips are so important to know before getting a dog and I hope everything I shared was super helpful!
If you loved learning these helpful new puppy tips, check out some of my other posts about new puppy essentials and puppy training tips like:
- 10 Items To Buy For Your New Puppy
- 3 Stages Of Puppy Teething
- How To Potty Train A Puppy
- How To Crate Train A Puppy
- How To Puppy Proof Your Home & Yard
Plus, don’t forget to check out some of my most recent posts below:
Photography: Kate Kelley Collection & Charli Cassidy
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