There’s a particular kind of confidence that exists in everyone before they’ve ever owned a dog. The image of dogs lounging on the couch, or bounding over to greet you home after a long day is all part of the dream most dog owners fantasize about. Yet few people envision the 6am zoomies, the destroyed skirting boards in the house, or the admin that comes with owning a dog. Looking back, though, there are a few things I would have wished someone had told me before I brought my dog home.
The First Few Weeks Are Genuinely Hard
Every dog owner I know has experienced the “I made a huge mistake” thought during the first fortnight of sharing their home with a puppy. Puppies are chaos on four legs. They do not sleep through the night, they cry when you leave the room, and their toilet training is apparently a challenge that will never have a resolution. Adult rescue dogs can take several weeks to settle in and show you who they are. Nobody warns you about the honeymoon period. If you knew it was normal for a puppy ownership experience, you would give yourself more grace in the early days of puppy ownership.
The Cost Goes Well Beyond Food and Vet Bills
You budgeted for kibble and vet visits, right? What about pet insurance, flea and worming treatments, chew toys that can survive the forces of a puppy with an explorer’s drive to investigate everything in sight, obedience classes and travel expenses, not to mention the constant cost of replacing the items that are inevitably destroyed by your canine companion on their exploratory adventures! The cost of owning a dog is usually higher than first time owners realize and it is important to have a budget in place prior to the arrival of your new pup!
There’s More Paperwork Than You’d Think
This one caught me out. Getting a dog involves some official admin! Your dog will need to be microchipped and registered with your local council within a certain window of getting them (which is typically when they are puppies turning three months of age, or shortly after adoption of an older dog). I didn’t know this was a necessity until one of my friends informed me that she’s been fined for not registering her dog with the council. If you’re located in one of these areas, registering your dog with Frankston Council will save you money and headaches – it’s a relatively easy task to complete up front rather than dealing with the panic and expense of attempting to find and reunite your dog with you if they ever become lost.
Training Is a Marathon, Not a Weekend Project
I thought a few YouTube videos and a bag of treats would have my dog walking beautifully on a lead within a week. In reality, training is ongoing — it doesn’t stop after puppy school, and it looks different at every life stage. Consistency matters more than any single technique, and so does patience. The dogs who seem effortlessly well-behaved usually belong to owners who’ve quietly put in months, sometimes years, of small daily reinforcement.
Your Lifestyle Will Change More Than You Expect
Spontaneous weekends away, long days out, even just sleeping in — all of it shifts once there’s a dog depending on you. It’s not a bad trade, but it is a real one. Before getting a dog, it’s worth being honest with yourself about how much flexibility you’re willing to give up, and who can help out on the days you can’t be there.
They’re Worth It Anyway
None of this is meant to talk anyone out of getting a dog – I’ve got a pup myself who enjoys (mostly) chewing on skirting boards. But having realistic expectations about the cost, the admin and the chaos of the beginning will make it all smoother for you. Before you go and get yourself a dog, do the boring groundwork to ensure your future self is grateful for your decision. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself when you do.
Have you brought a new dog home recently? I’d love to hear what surprised you most — drop a comment below.
