The other day, a friend asked me, “What are the things I should know before getting a dog?” That made me wonder what are the things I wish I knew before getting a dog and would I have done something differently had I known them?
I have grown up with a mother who is hard on the outside but still a softie at heart. I have seen her feeding strays and taking care of them when they are injured. I have grown up hearing stories of “Moti”. Her “Moti”, the adopted Indie her brother brought home one day. So it should not come as a surprise that I wanted a dog of my own. I wanted a dog to call my own. Thankfully, my brother also shared the same zeal.
Nine years ago, one fine day, right after my twelfth boards, when I was waiting for the results and , browsing through courses and colleges I wanted to apply to, my brother came home with a little four legged furry angel. He was soooo cuuuute! The way he followed my brother back home and the way he was inspecting every nook at my place made me feel as if he belonged with us.
I fed him and allowed him to stay the night with us. He made himself a house in my father’s DMS combs. Next day in the morning, he came stumbling out of it like a little fur ball and took my father by surprise. And that was the start of the whole drill. A drill that has been continuously going on for 9 whole years.
Sher has been with us for 9 years now and him being the first dog in the house has come with its own set of challenges and there are times when I wish I had known certain things beforehand. Nine years of drill has taught me a great deal of stuff and the learning curve has been steep. Here are some of the lessons that I have learned in almost a decade as a dog parent.
Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting A Dog
Be Patient
This is extremely important. If the puppy stage is a hurricane then the teenage stage is a full fledged cyclone with a speed over a hundred thousand kilometers per hour. The first few days with Sher were full of pains. Sweet pains! (Just kidding and my dog is giving me side eyes as I write this)
I shall never forget those first few days, full of midnight howls, and pee and poop everywhere. Oh yes, he pooped the entire floor of 12×12 the second day itself and well, the story of me cleaning it is a long one and should be saved for some other time. Soon after, he began to test the waters and by day five I was in tears. I was overly stressed and sleep-deprived, with a cut across my face from an unintentional play bite, wondering what the heckity heck had I gotten myself into.
From puppy to teenage era, I remember myself shouting “What are you eating?” or “Oh my God, What are you chewing?” If you are in the middle of this storm, I’m here to tell you that this too shall pass. With time and your patience, they’ll come around and learn to sleep at night and not howl. They will pick up potty-training and not shit your Kashmir carpets. Those razor sharp puppy teeth will also fall out. Eventually. I promise.
DOG HAIR …. Here, There, Everywhere
Well, if you have a hairy dog like mine, you understand the pain. I knew dog hair would be there before I got Sher, but I had no clue about the extent of dog hair I would encounter on a daily basis. You can’t sleep without dog hair in your mouth. You can’t drink your joe without it and you definitely can’t go out without a bunch of them hanging from your clothes. These dog hair I tell you. They have a mind of their own. They know exactly where to be to make you most embarrassed.
Dogs have their shedding pattern which happens once in spring and once in fall. Some dog breeds also shed only once a year. During this shedding season, you will find dog hair literally everywhere. Especially with dogs having longer coats. I have grown accustomed to the hair. The sooner you accept this fact, the better.
Some people do not allow their pups on bed or sofas because of this. Quite frankly, I am strongly against this partial behavior. If you have a dog, he has all the right to be wherever he wants to be in the house and you should not stop him. Such restrictions can have a negative psychological impact on your pup.
Get Ready To Invest Time
My father allowed us to keep Sher only on one condition – my brother and I were supposed to invest as much time required in taking care of Sher. Adopting a dog is like bringing home a forever baby. You have to give time to their needs. Vet visits, regular timely walks and exercise are all part of your time sacrifice. You have to repeatedly choose to put their needs before your own desires.
There were moments when I simply wanted to snuggle in my blanket rather than go out at 5 AM on a winter night just because my dog suddenly wanted to pee or poop. I absolutely love my dog and love spending time with him but not everyone sees their dog like that. Some view taking care of their dogs as chores. It is only when you have this mindset that resentment seeps in and you start to neglect your dog’s needs and desires.
At the end of the day, they are living beings. They need stimulation, exercise and most importantly, love. You have to be ready to come back home from a long day and take your pup out in heatstroke, snowstorm or hail. You have to care for them like a child or an elderly family member. They can’t be left alone at home for 12-14 hours straight.
Be Ready To Spend Money
Dogs are expensive. My parents warned us against it but we were so blind in love that we were just ready to part with Sher. The cost of your furry friend will not stop at purchasing good and nutritious food, or even at flea and tick prevention. With all the additional vet visits, deworm medications and other regular shots and accidents, the cost can rise up exponentially.
Even with a thick bank account, nothing can prepare you for all the accidents that can happen over time. My puppy got caught in a bee swarm once. He barely survived, but my sturdy lad touched death and came back alive. And this bore a big hole in my pockets.
Other expenses that I failed to anticipate? Pet sitting and daycare. With the increase in post-pandemic back-to-work mandates, you may need to consider hiring a dog walker or daycare to keep your pet active while you’re at work. If you enjoy traveling, make sure to include kennel or pet sitter costs in your budget.
Dogs Have Their Own Personality
This is one of the things I wish I knew before getting a dog. You may have likes and dislikes. You may be social and an extrovert or an introvert. Just like us, dogs have their own personality traits. Before I got Sher, I never knew how prevalent these traits can be. I have seen Sher develop a personality of his own. From the funny, scared pup he grew into a vivacious and jolly teenager and finally into a smart, energetic and vigilant adult. With age, he has become calmer and gentler.
Sher comes from a family of Himalayan mastiffs. They are basically bred as sheep dogs. Hyper energetic and super smart. In the early months, we did not even know his breed or what he was capable of -as we technically adopted him from the streets- until we saw him herd a bunch of stray cows.
Based on their personality type and breed, the dog would require as much stimulation and exercise. For example, huskies are bred to be sled dogs and are hyperactive. They won’t be a good match for a small bedroom flat in a multistorey building. They need pen ground to run free.
Training Never Ends
This is another one of the important things I wish I knew before getting a dog. Dogs are smart learners. If you want them trained well, start early. However, I do not recommend harsh training. There are several good trainers out there who employ gentler methods. It would be even better if you choose to train your dog yourself. It will take time, but trust me will be totally worth it, in terms of experience as well as expenses.
Plus, the training literally never ends. You cannot expect that a six months training will last a lifetime. You will have to adapt to the new changes in yours as well as in your pup’s life. Dogs, like people, are constantly changing as a result of their experiences. Their care should evolve in tandem with their personality.
Your dog may develop a new quirk, sustain a life-changing accident, or encounter something that alters their entire demeanor. It is your responsibility as a pet parent to recognize these indications and respond appropriately. Though the training plan may change, it never stops, and the more your dog learns and matures, the more you can teach him.
Your Life Will Change Forever
Trust me when I say this, that your life will never be the same. I had read somewhere that, “Loving an animal changes you as a person.” I never understood this statement until Sher came into our lives. Only twice have I felt my life divide into before and after and getting Sher was one of those moments.
I am utterly grateful for this nine year long roller coaster ride Sher has given me. In this while he has helped ease my anxiety, taught me the true meaning of love and also helped me gain confidence. He has been the biggest source of my motivation and also my biggest cuddle partner.
Getting a dog is a lifelong commitment. I have seen people getting dogs when things are convenient but as soon as the tides turn, they abandon them. Dogs, like people, have thoughts and feelings. They should not be left or abandoned when they grow old or develop a disease and start to require extra care. And that concludes all the 7 things I wish I knew before getting a dog.
So, if you are planning to get a dog, prepare yourself for a lifelong commitment. Prepare to experience everything: joy, tension, anxiety, annoyance, adoration, protectiveness, and, most importantly (as corny as it sounds), unconditional love. You’ll laugh a little more, smile a little more, and appreciate the little things that would otherwise pass you by, like a morning cuddle or an after-work greeting. In short, you’ll learn to live! You’ll learn to live a little better!
Also read : Baby
Last modified: December 4, 2023
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Thanks for this beautifully written piece, was much needed ❤️