It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that as soon as you get your puppy, everything’s going to be hunky dory. After all, just look at their little face! Your life is going to be immeasurably better once you’ve got your canine companion by your side. However, this line of thinking is a little incorrect — it assumes that your enthusiasm will be all it takes to create a happy life for yourself and your new dog. This is not the case! You’ll need to actively work towards it. Below, we take a look at a few tried and tested methods to ensure that this comes to pass.
Source: Pexels.com
All In
It’s easy to want to a dog for all the positive attributes it brings, but what about the less positive side? When you get a puppy, you can’t just commit to, you know, long walks on sunny mornings and cozy evenings spent watching a movie with him or her by your side. You’ll also need to think about going for walks through the rain, or the limitations of having a dog — such as reduced travel freedom and so on. Once you commit to ALL aspects of dog ownership, it’ll be more straightforward.
Ironing Out the Kinks
Your puppy might look like an adorable teddy bear, but you’ll need to remember that hey, it’s actually a living creature, and they’re not going to naturally fit in with the human way of life without a little help. Everything will run a lot smoother for everyone if you and your pet participate in puppy training lessons. Inside the house and out in public, you’ll need to be able to communicate with your canine buddy — and it’s much easier to do so if they’ve received training.
Dedicating Time
Your dog isn’t one aspect of your life. Your dog is your life, from which you take breaks every now and again, such as when you go to work. Owning a pet isn’t about only doing the bare minimum; it’s about dedicating your time towards making sure that they’re living their best life. That means going for extra long walks at the weekend (or when you have time), as opposed to just doing the minimum, which would be two short walks a day. Spend time getting to know what your pet likes!
Get Into a Routine
Dogs are a bit like children — while they like special surprises, their day to day life should remain essentially the same. When you get a puppy, you’ll want to spend a few weeks trialing different ways of being until you stumble upon a routine that seems to work for everyone.
Part of the Family
Finally, remember to make your puppy part of the family as soon as they’re in your house! They like to live in a pack; you are now that pack. They’ll feel at ease and happy if they know they have trusted people around them. It’s good for you too — dogs give back all the love they receive and more.
Recent Comments