Meet Our Newest Family Member: Things to Consider Before Buying a Family Dog

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Dutchess3Meet our Minature Goldendoodle, Remington “Remi” Lou. She is the newest member of the Evans clan. Jon and I kept this little secret from our kiddos until Christmas morning. I think it was one of the best Christmas’s I have ever experienced. Their reactions were absolutely priceless! (You can watch their reactions HERE and HERE.) <<This is probably the best part of this post, in my opinion! 😉

Now, on to the fun of my first few days as a pet owner….

The first two nights were really hard. I literally felt like we had a newborn baby back in the house. Remi cried about every 1.5-2 hours. We are crate training her so I took her out every time she woke up! Ugh! It was rough. But the last couple of nights she has really adjusted well and is only waking up once to go out. We are starting to see some of her spunky puppy personality, too, which is super fun!

Things to Consider before Buying a Dog

Sleep Deprivation

(Can you tell I like my sleep?!) Are you ready to be really tired? If so, go for it! Luckily, it only last for a couple days for us!

A Training Plan

Just like when you have a newborn baby, you get lots of unsolicited advice thrown your way. Everyone means well but, truthfully, I think having a plan and sticking to it is most likely the best way to train a pup. Trying a new technique or training method every day is a sure fail (in my semi-inexperienced opinion)! We also called our best friends in Minnesota for advice because they have raised two well-mannered pups.

Time

One thing I have noticed right away is how much time Remi needs. We haven’t really started training her to sit, walk on a leash, etc., but potty training alone takes a ton of time!

Fencing

We just finished fencing in our backyard this summer, and it is a huge blessing with a new puppy (and children, for that matter). It’s nice to let her out with the kids or by herself and not have to worry about her running into the street! I would highly recommend a fence or electric fence if you are considering a dog!

Veterinarian

The first visit at the vet was fun BUT kind of overwhelming. Their are a ton of preventative care options for your dog! I would recommend researching them before your first visit.

Food

Just like humans, dogs have a whole plethora of food choices! You can get high quality expensive food or lower quality cheap food. Some people even feed their dog a completely RAW diet—meaning raw meat, bones, and fruits and veggies. While we won’t be going the RAW route, we will probably land somewhere in the middle price range of dog food.

Cost

It can be expensive to buy your dog initially, but the cost doesn’t end there. For example, at my first vet visit we found out that Remi had an ear infection. No big deal, right? However, tack on an extra $75 to my vet visit! And the preventative care I mentioned earlier is not free, either! Also, another cost is grooming. Not all breeds need grooming but Remi will. I am hoping to learn myself, but we will see!

Overall, there is a ton to consider before you add a puppy or dog to your family! But the cuddles and excitement of a puppy make it all totally worth it! The way my kids light up after school to see their new buddy = totally worth it!

I would love to hear about your experience with a puppy! What were some of the highs and lows of your puppy experience?

2 COMMENTS

  1. Ournhouse has gone through the puppy process twice! The first thing to know is that they are expensive. Vaccines, food, carpet cleaner, etc – it will all add up. The second thing to know is that crate training is very important. Even if the pup ends up not being in the crate much, you will want the option, I promise! Third, the puppy phase doesn’t end when they are potty trained; watch out for bad behaviors like chewing up through the first 2 years. Finally, you need to commit to properly socializing your puppy before 14 weeks old. Find friends that have social dogs and visit them often. A dog that is not well socialized will more than likely require professional training later on if you want them to be well-behaved around other dogs.

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