16 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting A Dog

I often hear people speak about reaching that pure bliss state during meditation, the closest I have come to this is when I am Sitting between my dogs petting them both, and I get in a state of absolute happiness. Having a dog can be one of the most rewarding relationships in your life. They offer unwavering love and companionship.

I love my dogs and wouldn’t trade them for all of Jeff Bezos’s money, but having a dog is not all rainbows and butterflies. We always see the best pictures and stories of dogs on social media. Like everything else in life, there is a lot of work behind the scenes that is required to care for your pet. It’s a responsibility you have to be ready and willing to undertake.

16 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting A Dog:

1. Dog Hair…Everywhere

Duh…when you get a dog there is going to be dog hair in your house dummy. I know this seems obvious, but I didn’t understand the true extent of where dog hair would end up. My Rottweiler mix Morgan has medium-length black hair. Her hair has a mind of its own. I find it in my backpack, in my shoes, in my mouth when I wake up, everywhere.

Dogs have a natural shedding pattern. They shed in the spring and fall so their new coats can fill in. During this period hair is everywhere, literally. Throughout the rest of the year, both dogs still shed, but not as bad as during those 2 periods. I have become accustomed to dog hair. New technology like the Roomba’s and other auto vacuum cleaners are fantastic for helping clean dog hair from the floors.

2. Financial Responsibility

Your dog will become a member of your family. Just like having kids, having a dog cost money. The basic financial responsibility of having a dog can range from 300$-1000$ in initial cost, with annual costs expected.

One-Time Expenses:

• Adoption fee: $50 – $200
• Spaying or neutering: $200
• Training: $100 – $150
• Initial Veterinary Exam: $70
• Leash: $20
• Crate/cage: $60 – $120 (depending on size)

Total: $500-$760

Annual Expenses:

• Food: $120 – $200 (depending on size)
• Immunizations/Medical checkups: $250
• License: $15
• Bones/Toys: $35 – $50
• Miscellaneous: $50

Total: $470-$565 

Optional Expenses:

• Pet Health Insurance: $200 – $240 annually
• Pet Life Insurance: $10 – $100 monthly
• Boarding (if you travel): $25 – $75 per day

Total: $235-$415

3. Dogs Have Various Personality Types

You may be an introvert, I’m an extrovert. I prefer to be out and about socializing as much as I can. Every dog has a unique personality just like us. My pitbull mix Gemma loves to cuddle and curl upright in my arms at night, while Morgan my Rottweiler Mix prefers to have her own space at the bottom of the bed. Dogs have emotions, likes, and dislikes. I never knew how prevalent these personality traits would be before I got a dog.

It’s important to understand and research these differences before you get a dog. Huskies have been bred to be sled dogs for generations, they are very energetic. They tend to have a very upbeat somewhat rambunctious personality. If you live in a city in a one-bedroom apartment, a dog with energetic tendencies is probably not a good fit. I recommend meeting any potential dogs at the shelter before you adopt them. I truly believe all dogs can overcome any abuse they have suffered. If you do not have the knowledge and patience to work with a rescue dog that probably has a timid personality, get an older calmer dog.

4. It’s A Time Commitment

I would be lying if I said there weren’t moments when I just want to lay in bed instead of taking the dog for a walk during a 15° snowstorm, but they have to go out. I love spending as much time as I can with my pups. Not everyone views their dogs this way. Many people view taking care of their dogs as a chore. Sure some of the things you have to do for your dog are going to be like a chore (cleaning, feeding, etc) but this is the same with a child or elderly family member.

When I leave work at 4 pm everyday I usually go to the gym and an AA meeting. On certain days if no one else is able to stop home, I have to stop home first to let the dogs out. This can delay my plans by an hour or so, but it has to be done. Before you get a dog, be prepared to change your schedule around. Dogs can’t just be left at home for 12-14 hours and then when you do come home you sit right on the couch. They need stimulation, love, and exercise.

5. Accidents Will Happen

Just last week Gemma our Pitbull mix left us a nice present on the floor in the basement. We have had Gemma for 8 years and during that time she has gone to the bathroom in the house less than 5 times. With that being said accidents still happen. Dogs get sick just like us, they have upset stomachs just like us. Be prepared to clean up messes. If you get a puppy this will be more prevalent during potty training.

 I’m embarrassed to admit this but I’ve had accidents in my own pants during my addiction days. You can’t get upset when accidents happen. I get mad when I find a log on the floor, but I also understand my dogs are living creatures that make mistakes just like us.

6. Life Span

My family is all animal lovers. A lot of families share this trait as well. Your dog will become part of the family. I worry more about my dogs than I worry about my parents sometimes. Sorry, Mom. The sad reality is that dogs’ lifespans are typically 10-14 years depending on the breed. My Rotty Morgan is 14yrs old right now. Whenever we have to bring her to the vet I’m a freaking basket case, thinking about the worst-case scenario. Live and enjoy every day with your dogs! Like everything else in the world, they will not be around forever. Here is a chart from PetMD that shows each breed and their average lifespan: Dogs Lifespan By Breed. 

7. It takes A lot of Patience

Your patience will be tested. I know mine sure has been. I have come home to find my brand new pair of shoes chewed to shreds. My father has woken up and his first step was into a nice brown pile of diarrhea. Having a dog will train you to deal with problems better. When something like either of these scenarios happens, yelling and screaming doesn’t help the situation. Patience is the key. Be patient and remember your dog doesn’t know those are new shoes, or that scratching the new couch is bad. You have to train them, and be patient with them.

8. Training Never Ends

If you want your dog to be well-behaved training must start ASAP. The sooner you start training your dog the easier it will be. I assumed that training my dog for a month or two would be it… Nope. Dogs are incredibly intelligent, but require maintenance in regards to their training throughout their lives. Every time I feed Gemma I have her sit, shake, and stay in front of the bowl of food until I say ok. This originally took about 2 weeks to teach her, and now takes 10 seconds a day to keep up.

There are tons of great trainers out there that will help train your dog. Also, major stores like Petco and Petsmart offer training courses. When I first got Morgan I took her to an 8-week training course at Petsmart. I liked how there were other dogs in the class as well so she had to learn to listen to me with distractions and other dogs around.

9. If It Smells Or Looks Yummy, The Dog Will Try To Eat It

Try to picture this… A long strand of dental floss coming out the back end of Gemma, I start pulling on it and it keeps coming and coming out. Finally, a nice 4-foot long piece of dental floss is out ” O THATS NASTY“. Dogs will eat anything that looks or smells good. As pet owners, we have to be diligent about what we leave lying around the house. In my house, if a plate of food is left on the dinner table near the edge, I better pay attention because food has disappeared real quick.

10. Fleas And Ticks SUCK, Literally

Those little bloodsuckers can be a dog’s worst enemy. In the dog training course I took at Petsmart they taught us to give our dogs a whole body rub every night to feel if anything is out of the ordinary. When you do this, if you feel a little bump, almost like a big pimple, check it. It could be a tick. I have found dozens of ticks on my dogs. Even though we use tick and flea protection they still sneak in.

If you find a tick on your dog, use a pair of tweezers to pull it out. Grab the tick as close as you can to your dog’s skin without hurting your dog. Pull straight out, do not twist the tweezers. Ticks dig into your dog’s skin, if you twist the tweezers, often times the ticks’ front claws will still remain in your dog’s skin. You can save the tick and bring it to your vet to test for Lyme disease of other infectious diseases. Once you remove the tick clean the infected bite and kill the tick by soaking it in rubbing alcohol, then dispose of them properly. Don’t just throw the tick out or flush it, the tick can easily crawl back out of the garbage.

11. Quality Nutrition Is Essential

What you put in is what you get out. Dogs are just like us. When I eat fast food all day I can notice my energy levels at the gym go down. This is the same with dogs. If you buy the cheapest dog food you can find, you’re feeding your dog all the leftover animal parts mixed with preservatives and junk. This will be reflected in your dog’s energy levels, bowel movements, and overall lifespan. You wouldn’t feed your kid knockoff baby formula with who knows what in it, so don’t do it to your dog. Do your research and check around for quality dog food brands many of which are very reasonably priced.

12. Trimming Their Nails Is A Pain

Dogs’ nails grow fairly fast. The nails can be back to normal size in as little as 2-3 weeks. This varies depending on breed. If your dog’s nails get too long it can cause major problems. Morgan my rotty has a rogue nail that grows out almost parallel with the ground. She got it caught on something 2 years ago and we had to have minor surgery at the vet to repair the nail and get stitches in her skin where she ripped the nail and skin out. Some dogs will sit and let you trim their nails, others hate it.

I choose to pay the 18$ once a month and take my dogs to the vet to get it done. If you can’t afford to take your dogs to the vet every month to have their nails trimmed, there are some wonderful products that make the process easier for both you and your dog.

13. They Need Baths Too

We all get dirty and stinky. Dogs love to get dirty. We live near Irondequoit Bay, Gemma loves to roll around on top of dead fish…It’s Nasty!!! Imagine your dog jumping in bed with you curling up on your blanket and you get an overwhelming smell of rotting fish. Needless to say, dogs need baths too. Canine Journal advises to bathe your dog at least once every 3 months and as often as twice a month.

14. Dogs Get Cold Too

At this moment as I’m writing this article, it’s 18° here in Rochester NY. I can’t bear to think about all the dogs left outside. A common misconception many people have is that they believe dogs don’t get cold, or at least don’t get as cold as humans do. I’ll admit I was very naive on the subject before I had a dog of my own. Just because dogs are from the wolf family and have a coat of fur doesn’t mean they don’t get cold.

Whenever its 25° or less out I notice about 12-15 minutes into a walk that Gemma starts to hobble because her paws are so cold. If your dogs spend a lot of time outside please please please make sure they have an insulated or heated area (dog house, Garage) to go into.

15. Dogs Don’t Sweat Like Humans

Dogs don’t have sweat glands on their skin as we do, only on their paws. In order to cool down dogs pant to circulate air and bring down their body temperature. Their fur acts like a coat, imagine running around on an 85° day with a coat on. That’s how dogs feel. Make sure you provide them with plenty of water and shade to cool down. They need to keep their mouths moist and hydrated to allow the panting process to work.

16. HOW FUFFILING AND LOVING DOGS REALLY ARE

Whenever I would go to a house that had a dog I would be on the ground playing with the dog before saying Hi to the people. I always knew I was different when it came to animals, but I had no idea how much pure unconditional love and bliss my furry friends would bring me. Morgan my 14 yr old Rotty Mix has been a part of our family for 11 years. I got Morgan in my 2nd year of college at the animal shelter in Rochester NY. A common phrase people say is “I didn’t rescue my dog, my dog rescued me”. Well, my dogs definitely rescued me, they help keep me sober every single day!!!