What to do when getting a puppy,
I know, I know… you’re probably SUPER excited to welcome your new puppy into your home or maybe you already have your puppy with you. And now that SCARY feeling creeps in when you think to yourself “what have I done! Can I take care of this puppy? Do I have enough time for a dog?”
If you’re feeling like this, believe me I understand! I have had dogs all my life and I always knew the responsibility it means to be a dog owner, but for some reason I was terrified when I adopted my dog Renzo. It was as if as I signed the adoption papers from the local shelter (One Tail At A Time— btw I totally recommend them if you’re in the Chicago area), all the responsibility of owning that cute doggo was in my shoulders now. Granted, as a millennial who didn’t have any other big responsibilities at the time, this was a huge step for me. So I immediately started educating myself on how to be THE PERFECT DOG MOM so after endless YouTube videos and reading blogs I’m here to share what I learned during Renzo’s puppyhood…
Here are my 3 tips if you are a first time dog owner:
- Puppies are adorable and one of the best stages of being a dog mom, this is when you both start to get to know each other. The first few months were definitely the hardest for me while we both got into a daily routine. Being patient and setting your puppy for success will help make this transition easy on them and on you as well. Always remember that you wouldn’t expect a 2 month baby to walk, so set your puppy for success by asking small things from them and only moving into the next one when they master the first thing. Once they get the rhythm, you will both feel comfy & at home. Remember, most puppies have never been at a home before, they don’t know your rules so be gentle and teach them with love.
- Potty Training - The biggest issue for most pet parents is usually potty training. For me it was a slow transition from teaching Renzo to go potty in the pee pads and at the same time taking him out once a day to potty outside. This was my technique since I lived in an apartment at the time and he was going to be left alone while I was at work. I needed him to be able to have a designated place to go inside but also didn’t wanted him to ONLY go in the pads since I knew I wanted to eventually fully transition to the outdoors. I watched many training videos on how to potty train your puppy and honestly the Zack George videos saved my life and my rugs. Just see what’s best for you and remember that puppies can only hold it for small amounts of time until they grow. Consistency is key here!
- Bonding time was huge for me and Renzo. Even-though I had a walker come during lunch time to check on Renzo and play, I made sure to have our own time together. Some days it was an hour of play and training, other was just a walk to our neighborhood park. At the end it doesn’t matter what you do, is always good to try new things and soon enough you’ll find what you both enjoy the most. Dogs bond with their humans by spending time together, being fed by their humans and play time. The stronger your bond is, the happier your dog will be to do things for you like learning new tricks and being obedient.
