Eight things every first-time dog owner should do (and one that they shouldn’t)

From how to find the right breed for you, to making sure you have a healthy relationship with your dog, here are eight tips for every new dog owner.

I’ve lived with dogs for most of my life, and I’m still amazed at their capacity for affection and loyalty, even though we often don’t deserve it. I believe that, if you let them, dogs can enrich your life immeasurably, and lend it a sense of fulfilment and security that probably won’t find anywhere else. But, like everything good in life, this doesn’t come for free.

I don’t claim to be an ‘expert’ on dogs, and on their behaviour and psychology. But I’ve lived with them for over 30 years, and I have a fair idea of what makes them tick. I’ve made my share of mistakes with them, too, and learned a lot in return. But people who want to get their first dog don’t usually have that benefit. So, based on my experiences, here are eight things I believe every first-time dog owner (or, indeed, any dog owner) should do.

Also read: Nine basics everyone should know about dog body language

Before you get your dog

1. Think hard about your reasons for getting a dog

Before you get your dog, think long and hard about why you want to do so. Do you want the love and companionship, the security and loyalty, or the sense of fulfilment (or all of the above) that a dog can give you? Being clear about your expectations from your dog will help you prepare yourself. Some people have dogs—especially big dogs—to enhance their social status. Some have one because someone gave them one as a gift. Or some have one because their friends have dogs and it looked like fun. In my experience, this doesn’t work out very well. Because it can be difficult for both dog and owner to stay committed to each other’s needs when the going gets a little tough. And it does get tough.

2. Decide whether it’s worth it or not

Owning a dog is no walk in the park (no pun intended). While the rewards can be incredible, they don’t come automatically. Having a dog involves a lot of time, energy and commitment from you. And it’s not cheap either. First, there’s the upfront cost of getting and registering your dog. You will also need to reckon with the cost of food, and regular vet check-ups (even if they’re not sick). And—just like us—as dogs grow older, they tend to need more attention paid to their health. Overall, owning a dog is a big responsibility, and involves physical, emotional and financial investment. You need to decide whether the rewards outweigh the costs. But if you’re a first-time owner, this can be difficult to do.

3. Do your research

Without first-hand experience, it can be difficult to figure out everything that goes into owning and taking care of a dog. Luckily, we have the internet! All the information you need is out there, all you have to do is find it. Also, speak to friends, family, or even just acquaintances who have dogs, and ask them for their experiences. Find out the basics of dog behaviour, how they think, and how to go about training them. It’s also important to decide what kind of dog is best for you. Each individual dog will have its own personality, and different breeds have different sets of shared characteristics.

(Note: Please consider adopting a dog instead of buying one from a breeder or pet shop. Dogs used for breeding are kept in horrible conditions, treated like machines instead of living beings, and discarded once they’re not ‘productive’ anymore. Every puppy bought from a breeder—whether they’re registered or just a backyard breeder looking to make a quick buck—encourages this inhumane treatment. There are a plenty of dogs, both purebred and mixed-breed, that can be adopted from shelters. Adopting a dog is also significantly cheaper than buying one. If you’re in India and looking to adopt, you could get in touch with your local chapter of People for Animals.)

The best kind of dog for you will depend on your basic reason for having a dog, on your lifestyle, and on the climate where you live. For example, if you live in an apartment, a big dog like a Labrador or German shepherd is probably not the best idea. If you need to leave your dog alone for hours while you go to work, a dog that is bred to work alone—like a Labrador—would do better than a dog that is bred to work in a pack—like a beagle. If you prefer to spend your free time at home in front of the TV, then a high-energy dog like a terrier would drive you crazy. And if you live in a hot country like India, getting a dog that’s bred for snow—like a husky or St. Bernard—is condemning it to a slow, painful death.

More, some dogs need more grooming than others, some are more prone to certain kinds of disease, and some don’t do very well with children. The bottom line is: get a decent idea of what you’re getting into, if you do decide to get a dog. Remember that your dog will change your life, and be prepared.

Once you get your dog

4. Tank up on patience

Like I said before, having a dog is no walk in the park. At the risk of incurring the wrath of parents around the world, I believe dogs are like children. They can be cute and cuddly, but still need to be brought up properly. They are born only with instinct; everything else needs to be taught to them, and with patience. And like with a child, expecting a dog to miraculously behave perfectly and know all the right things without being taught is unrealistic. Without patient training, a dog’s instincts will assert themselves in ways that you probably wouldn’t want: the protective instincts of German shepherds can turn into aggression towards strangers; the retrieving instincts of Labradors can make them bring dead animals into the house; and so on.

Once you get your pup, he or she will need to be potty trained, which most dogs learn quite quickly. Something that is harder to do is stop them from chewing up your shoes and furniture. Chewing is a way for them to relieve the itch of their teeth growing through their gums. Be warned, every pup will go through this phase to some degree. Buy some sturdy chew toys, keep your favourite shoes out of reach, and cover up those chewed up sofa legs as best you can later.

Pups also tend to bite playfully. They don’t know that your skin can be damaged by their sharp little teeth. They need to be taught to stop doing this, but it needs to be done gently. And be prepared: pups can take up to three years to grow out of their rowdy and unruly behaviour. Have patience.

You might want to consider adopting an adult dog instead of a pup. Lots of shelters house both pure-bred and mixed breed dogs that have gotten lost or have been abandoned by their owners. These may come with some emotional baggage, but they’ll probably not need to be potty trained and will have outgrown their chewing phase. Also, adopting a rescue dog will be significantly cheaper than buying a pup from a breeder. If you want to adopt an adult dog, get in touch with your local pet shelters.

5. Be firm, but gentle

An important part of training your dog is to show him or her what’s allowed and what isn’t. I’ve seen that rewarding dogs for good behaviour is more likely to show lasting results than punishing bad behaviour. Usually, all that’s needed is a sharp ‘no!’ when your dog’s out of line. That snaps him or her out of the state of mind that’s causing the behaviour. And rewarding your dog with affection and a treat when they do something right will go a long way to making sure they do it again.

That being said, if you think you have no choice but to smack your dog (and I admit, I’ve been there on a few occasions), use a rolled-up newspaper for a smart rap on the back or thigh. The sound, more than the pain, is what acts as a deterrent. Never hit your dog around the head, beat them continuously or inflict significant pain on him or her. Not only is it cruel, it can make your dog fearful. And A fearful dog is more likely to bite in self-defence. If your dog constantly does things that you don’t want despite your best efforts, consider that he or she might just be bored and frustrated. Which brings me to my next point.

6. Get ready to get active

Every dog needs exercise. Without exercise, your dog won’t just be unhealthy, he or she might get bored and destructive. In my experience, most bad behaviour in dogs is because they’re not getting enough exercise. Imagine how frustrated you would be if you had to sit around all day with nothing to do! I recommend that you take your dog for a walk for at least 15 minutes every day. But the good news is that you can give your dog just as much exercise inside the house. A good game of ‘fetch’ will have him or her tired and happy in no time. And you can come up with your own games at home to keep your dog physically and mentally stimulated. You’ll be getting in some healthy exercise yourself, too.

Many dog owners leave it to the house help to take care of the exercise bit. I believe that they’re missing out on a huge opportunity to build a better relationship with their dog. After all, why would a dog do what you want if it doesn’t really know you?

7. Get family and friends involved

Bringing a dog into your home is like suddenly having a new member of the family. Just like a family member, they’ll share your home, your time and your resources. To make sure you integrate your dog properly, involve the rest of the family, too. If it’s only you who feeds, grooms, trains and otherwise cares for your dog, he or she will treat other family members differently. Your dog might not see them as part of its ‘pack’. Instead, get everyone in the immediate family involved in training and caring for him or her. That way, your dog will love and protect everyone equally. Remember, though, that everyone needs to train and correct the same way, or your dog will get confused.

Sometimes, a dog that isn’t used to seeing other people in the home can be fearful or aggressive. A great way to get your dog comfortable with other people is to regularly get friends and other family members to meet him or her, both inside the home and outside. And if you can get your dog to meet other dogs in neutral settings like parks, that will keep him or her from becoming fearful or aggressive towards other dogs as well.

8. Prepare for a wandering dog

Most dogs are naturally independent, and might be tempted to run away at every opportunity. This isn’t because they aren’t loyal to you. It’s just their instinct to investigate unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells. Leave your gate open, or take your eye off your dog while walking him or her without a leash, and you run the risk of your dog wandering away without even noticing. If you’re lucky, he or she will find their way back. Many dog owners aren’t.

Every dog owner will probably experience this at least once, so it pays to be prepared. Make sure that, if your dog does wander away, you’ve done everything you can beforehand to help you get him or her back. Put a tag with your name and phone number on your dog’s collar. Consider buying a GPS tag like Wagr for your dog. And think about microchipping your dog, though not many vets in India have the needed facilities. Another good idea is to take your dog for regular walks through the immediate neighborhood. That way, your neighbours will see you together and can tell you if they see your dog wandering alone.

9. Lastly, NEVER abandon your dog

The number of dogs abandoned at shelters or simply left the street is increasing every year. Not only do most house dogs not survive on their own, the ones that do then contribute to the growing number of strays on the streets, especially in countries like India. Most shelters are overburdened and underfunded, and are forced to euthanize many dogs for lack of space and resources.

This is extremely cruel and unfair to animals that, from birth, put their trust in humans to care for them. You may have a completely valid reason for having to give up your dog. Maybe you can’t take care of him or her anymore, or you never wanted one but someone gave you one as a gift. Whatever the reason, you accepted responsibility when you accepted the dog. And if you can’t handle it, then it’s also your responsibility to try and find your dog another home; one where he or she could have a full life with a family that loves them. Dogs are living, breathing creatures with personalities and feelings, just like us. And just like us, they have the right to a good life.

Also read: Nine basics everyone should know about dog body language

Every dog has a right to a good life