Getting a dog is exciting and rewarding but at the same time, challenging and often tiring, especially for first time pet owners. After all, caring for a pup of your own takes a lot of time, research and responsibility.

To get you started, let’s take a look at the 5 things you need to know before owning a dog!

1. Check Your Pup's Health

Before you get a pup, do some research and find a suitable veterinarian in your area for regular consults and health checkups in the future.

Whether you’re adopting from a shelter or from a licensed breeder, the first thing you should do is to confirm your pup’s health condition. There are several typical procedures your dog should get done, such as their vaccinations, neutering/spaying, de-worming and heartworm prevention.

Some dog pounds and breeders do vaccinate and microchip their dogs before sending them to their forever home, so it’s a good idea to confirm this with them. If they haven’t, get them done as soon as you can to prevent your pup from falling ill. You may also want to send your new pup for a health checkup at your chosen vet.

2. Pick The Right Diet

Different dogs have different dietary requirements so it’s important to choose theright kind of dog food for pets. 

For instance, if you’re adopting a puppy, make sure to get suitable puppy food. While they may not seem that different, puppy food contains a much higher fat content than normal dog food. This is great for growing puppies and helps ensure they grow up into healthy pups.

If you’re adopting an adult dog, research on the kind of diet and commercial dog food that their particular age and breed requires. Dry food is one of the most common types of dog food, but freeze dried dog food, raw dog food and wet dog food are some options that may suit your pup. 

Picky dogs may also require more pungent foods like Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Venison Blend Dinner Patties. The best dog food caters to your pup’s needs! 

It’s also a good idea to get some dog treats and dog supplements ready for your pup to snack on. Tasty bites like Grandma Lucy’s Organic Oven Baked Honey Lemon Dog Treats make great training treats as well.

3. Set Up Their Doggy Haven

Setting up a corner for your dog to rest and play in can be extra important, especially for adult dogs. Your new pup will feel scared and disoriented in their new environment, so they need somewhere they can call their own.

Get a nice, comfortable dog bed and cordone off a quiet area in your house for them using baby gates or a playpen. Make sure to leave plenty of fresh water in bowls for dogs.

Most importantly, every dog haven needs a few toys! If you’re getting a puppy, getting a range of interactive and chewing toys can help engage your dog. KONG’s AirDog Squeakair Balls Balls is a fun and durable option.

4. Learn How To Groom Your Pup

Occasional trips to the groomers can help tame your dog’s fur. But day to day dog grooming is just as critical to preventing mats and maintaining their coat.

Before bringing your new pup home, get a few dog grooming tools. For baths, you’ll need a good dog shampoo and conditioner. Washbar’s Natural Manuka Soap is a great supplementary tool to have for flea and tick prevention. Consider getting a blow dryer to after-bath care more manageable. 

Depending on  your dog’s breed, you’ll also need to get a few different brushes, combs and deshedding tools to maintain your dog’s fur.

5. Change Your Routine

Once you get a dog, expect your daily routine to change a lot as you’ll be spending a lot of time caring and loving your pup!

Aside from the regular grooming sessions and mealtimes, you should also set aside at least 30 minutes a day to walk your dog. Other than a sturdy collar or harness and a leash, your pup will also need some handy poop bags likeZee Dog’s Poop Bag Dispensers.

Plenty of play for dogs is also really important and can involve anything from a few games of fetch and tug of war, to obedience training and even to a simple cuddle session before bed. After a good play time session, treat your pup to a delicious treat like Dear’s Deer Shank Bone Dog Treats.

At the end of the day, while some aspects of caring for a new pup can be tough, the unconditional love that our pups give to us is absolutely worth it. Furthermore, thorough research and early preparation can make the transition to dog owner much easier. Take the time to get to know your pup and before long, you’ll have found a new best friend!

Tammi writes articles about anything from data analytics to animal health, and loves doing the occasional craft. But most importantly, she loves hanging out and doing photo-shoots with her dog.