Dog Ownership Isn’t Always A “Walk In The Park” (But it is worth it!)

Having my pug, Sonny, in my life has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Dogs are incredible animals. Even if you’ve never owned one before, you probably know that. Simply seeing cute pictures of cuddly canines on social media is enough to make you realise that dogs are wonderful creatures. Of course, falling in love with an adorable golden retriever on Instagram doesn’t mean that you should rush to the pet store and buy your own. You should do some research before committing to dog ownership. It’s a demanding job, and you have to make sure that you’re prepared for such a big responsibility. Obviously, having a beautiful and friendly companion makes the hard work worth it, but you need to plan ahead. Dog ownership isn’t always a walk in the park, but it’s always worth it. The following pieces of advice will prove incredibly valuable if you’re thinking about getting a puppy.

You need a loving household

Make sure your home is ready for a dog. Your household might suit the needs of you and your family, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ready for a puppy. Remember, you’re going to be introducing your new pet to an environment that they don’t recognise. They need to feel as comfortable as possible if they’re going to get properly settled in their new home. You need to make sure that you and your family members welcome the dog into a clean household with a lot of space for them to enjoy.

It’s important to remember that dogs don’t like being in a small and cluttered environment; they need to be able to move around, as will be discussed in the next point. You might want to check out these dog beds. It’s so important that your puppy has a cosy and comfortable bed. They need to feel welcome in your home, and having their own space is a crucial part of that. Of course, they’ll probably view the entire house as their own space, after a few weeks, but that’s a good thing; it’ll mean that they’ve become settled.

Your dog’s physical and mental wellbeing must be maintained

Being a good dog owner is also about maintaining your dog’s health. That should go without saying, but it’s easy to overlook many essential things which contribute to the wellbeing of a dog. Remember that this is a complex creature with physical and emotional needs which are very similar to ours. They need regular exercise, firstly; unlike humans, they don’t want to sit still for too long. That’s a good thing, of course. Taking your dog for regular walks will help you to lead a more physically active lifestyle, as well. This will benefit your puppy’s physical state and their emotional state.

They need social time

On the topic of your dog’s health, socialising is very important to them. If you want to keep your puppy happy and healthy, then you need to make sure that you give them a lot of attention. They shouldn’t be left alone in the house for too long, so you might need to change your routine in order to accommodate your dog and their needs. Dog walks can be very beneficial if you take them to public parks because they’ll love to meet other people and other dogs. So, make sure you think about the importance of social time for your canine pal.