Welcoming Your First Dog into Your Home

Why do you want a dog? No but really, why?

I think people often breeze past truly asking themselves this question, but it’s important to interrogate the why, the what and the how into your efforts to have a dog. Why do you want a dog? No matter what your answer is to this (because they’re cute, to have a companion, to have a guard dog, to get outside more, etc), the question prompts a handful of other, very important questions and forces you to sit down and think through the commitment that is welcoming a dog into your life. What is your capacity to train this dog? What is your capacity to share a space with this dog? What do you want from the dog, and what do they get from you? How will you take care of this dog throughout its life (a lengthy, years-long commitment)?

Needless to say, having a dog is a physical, financial, and emotional responsibility, not to mention the time that owning a dog requires. Understanding information such as a dog’s temperament, energy levels, shedding, noise levels (ie. How vocal they are), and learning more about what the breed/s you are interested in were initially bred to do are all important things to consider (and we’ll get to this more at the end of this article). It is just as equally important to understand where you are coming from with your intentions of getting a dog, what sort of relationship you hope to have with this dog, and how you and this dog can fit into each other’s lives. Consider putting your thoughts down on paper, talking to a friend or partner about this, and envisioning the space that you currently live in with a dog. If you’re renting, be sure to review your lease agreement to verify if you’re even allowed to have a dog at your current residence. You may quickly realize that your studio apartment is too small to have that Doberman Pinscher you’ve wanted, or you actually don’t want a slobbery Basset Hound drooling on your boucle couch.

What’s your experience level with dogs?

Do your research about dogs, and, leading up to the big welcome and introduction of a dog into your home, try to meet as many dogs as you can in all of the ways that are readily available to you. It sounds like an obvious statement, but it’s worth meeting dogs to get exposure to what you may encounter. From spending time with a friend or family member’s dog, to more hands-on exposure via fostering and volunteer opportunities at a shelter, it is worth meeting dogs and getting that in-person interaction with dogs of varying sizes, personalities, ages and backgrounds. Consider attending an adoption fair, volunteering at your local shelter, or even going on a walk with a friend and their dog. The more experience you can build for yourself, the more confident you can be about the choices you make when you finally pick out the dog of your (well-researched) dreams.

And, while you’re building up that experience, you’re probably thinking about welcoming a puppy or a dog that’s a little older. While both require time and commitment, a puppy’s first few years of life can be rewarding and challenging. Puppies are cute, but what does it take to set them up for success so that they don’t become a menace? Caring for, socializing, training, and integrating a puppy into our homes and our worlds is no small feat, and sometimes it can take a village (ie. a training course or a partner, friends and family who can help). Between a puppy and an older dog, there are pros and cons to both that lend themselves to one’s lifestyle and plans. Maybe it’s easier meeting an adult dog and knowing what sort of personality it has from the start, vs getting to know a puppy’s personality as it grows up. If you already have a dog or pets, that can factor into this decision too.

Dig into that practical information and do your (online) research!

Alongside some self-reflection as to why you want a dog and in-person learning opportunities, doing your research and due diligence is crucial!  Something as trivial as an online breed selector or dog quiz can open new doors of information and insight into what dog breeds could work best in relation to your lifestyle and current living setup.

Try The AKC Breed Selector Tool or this  Purina Dog Breed Selector.

If you’re interested in exploring more dog breeds beyond what an online quiz might generate, there are several resources across the web and social media via YouTube, forums, training school communities, and more; this dog breed information website  includes a massive amount of information from dog owners everywhere. And, while I’ve specifically referred to “breeds”, if you’re looking to adopt a dog from the shelter, any research you can do is incredibly helpful, alongside the information that the shelter can share.

The world of dog training is another great place to find easily accessible information online, and while I won’t go into specific trainers, someone once referred me to this trainer's page a great starting point to learn more about the world of dog training and sea of information.

While I could go on about the questions listed above, I’ll wrap this up but saying, lean into that excitement and anticipatory glee of welcoming a new dog into your life! It’s such a fun milestone that doesn’t happen casually. Doing research, meeting dogs and preparing your home for a fluffy friend is a life event to celebrate! And as you do, browsing dog supplies can be a great excuse to shop and a fun way to learn more about nutrition, equipment, grooming/care and health. You may find that talking to the sales associates or information provided by brands (did we mention that Enid Blythe has a great Dog Blog?!) can be super educational. Happy planning for your fur baby!

Note: I am writing this article purely based on my opinion, and out of interest in the topic! Though I have done much research into and planning on the topic, I myself have not gone through the process of adopting or purchasing a dog! Additionally, welcoming a dog into one’s family is a highly personalized and individualized experience, no one size fits all households, families or dogs. Keeping this in mind, the above are just some personal thoughts, considerations and resources that I myself have found useful in my attempts to prepare for my own furry friend.