3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting a Dog | Pupford

If your Instagram feed is full of cute puppies and you are thinking about becoming a pet parent, you MUST understand these 3 things first…

If you don’t understand these things, you may end up regretting getting a dog! These are the 3 things I wish I knew before getting a dog!

#1- Dogs are expensive
#2- Dogs take a lot of time
#3- You will form an amazing bond with your dog

LISTEN TO PODCAST ABOUT THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE GETTING A DOG

Want to hear more podcasts like this? Please click here.

WATCH VIDEO

Want to see more videos like this? Please click here.

OVERVIEW OF THREE THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE GETTING A DOG

As with most things in life, your experience may vary when getting a dog or puppy. And we're not even going to dive into questions like choosing a dog breed, pet insurance 101, etc., etc...

But it's a good idea to have some honest feedback about the challenges you may face!

🐶 Don't miss out, sign up for the free New Dog Starter Course. Get started here!

1. DOGS ARE EXPENSIVE

Between one time expenses, reocurring ones, and unexpected costs, raising a dog can be really expensive.

Here is a rough estimate of monthly costs if you have a 30 lb dog:

• Food, treats, and chews - $60/m
• Toys, poop bags, accessories - $15-40/m
• Vet bills, insurance, medication - $30-150
• Teeth cleanings - $300-$1,000 (PS- learn how to keep a dog's teeth clean here)
• To get started $40-250 (dog bed, crate, etc)

And for some instances, you'll need to also factor in a dog walker, surprise health problems, and extra cleaning materials for all that dog hair. You get the idea!

Related Reading: 31 Vital Things to Know Before Getting a Dog

2. DOGS TAKE A LOT OF TIME

If extra time isn't something you have a lot of, it will be hard finding the time necessary to train your dog, exercise them, and give them the attention they need and deserve. Before getting a dog, think about if you have the time to raise them.

Here is a rough estimate of the daily time you will need to dedicate to your dog:

• Feed and walk your dog in the morning - 30-60 minutes
• Obedience training, playtime, grooming tasks - 15-45 minutes
• Feed and walk your dog in the evening - 30-60 minutes
• You can plan on around 3-4 hours a day dedicated to your dog (if you have a puppy, that number could be even higher)

And then you have vacations.

What do you do? Who do you have watch them? How much will you have to pay a sitter? Do you try to take your dog on the vacation?

Leaving home when you have a dog becomes a little more tricky.

Do you have a friend or family member watch them, dog sitter, or take them to a boarder? Etc.

One last note here:

Between time, money, effort, training, dealing with problem behaviors, and more, raising a dog is HARD WORK! Things can get really stressful and hectic. Sometimes we can lose our patience with our dogs, but if you're able to be consistent with your training, and work on your relationship with your dog, something great will happen... which brings us to point #3.

Related Reading: How to Deal With the Puppy Blues

🐶 Don't miss out, sign up for the free New Dog Starter Course. Get started here!

3. YOU WILL FORM AN AMAZING BOND WITH YOUR DOG

Sure, your dog may drive you crazy from time to time, but they will be there for you through it all. They will love you no matter what.

Whether you had a long or stressful day, week, month, or even year, your dog can comfort you, and be there for you when we need them, and the relationship you can cultivate makes all those hard moments worth it!

The bond you can share with your dog is unlike any other relationship. They are near your side throughout so much!

Being a pet parent truly is an amazing experience!

Related Reading: How to Bond With Your Dog

WHAT OTHER PUP PARENTS WISH THEY KNEW BEFORE GETTING A DOG

From patience to enrichment, puppy teeth, pet insurance, and so much more... here are some things pup parents wish they knew before getting a dog.

Is there anything else you wish you would have known before getting a dog? Let us know in the comments!

And if you're thinking of getting a dog, be sure to sign up for the 100% free New Dog Starter Course. It'll walk you through the first 24 hours, what you need to prepare and so much more. Sign up for free here!

🐶 Don't miss out, sign up for the free New Dog Starter Course. Get started here!