5 Essential Tips for Getting Your First Dog (& Why You Should)

Getting a dog is a step countless people want to take every year. There are more than a few reasons why, and your furry friend will become family in no time.

When you’re getting your first dog, though, you’ll need to make sure you’re prepared for it. There are more than a few steps you’ll have to take to get there, both before and after you get your dog. Quite a few things could be overlooked when you’re doing this.

That doesn’t have to mean it’ll be complicated, though. Instead, there are more than a few ways to make it easier for yourself.

Focusing on a few tips from the start makes sure that’s the case. Not only will they make sure you’re prepared for your dog when you bring them home, but they’ll make sure you can actually look after them. It’s worth diving into some of the more notable of them.

Why Get a Dog?

Before diving in, it’s worth looking at why you should get a dog in the first place. The most obvious reason is because you and your family want one. Outside of that, there are more than a few benefits, and these are worth diving into.

These might be enough to persuade you to actually take the plunge on getting your first dog. Some of the more notable of these are:

*Countless studies have shown that dogs can be great for dealing with stress. They let you destress and actually relax.

*Dogs need to be taken for walks and be exercised, which encourages you to get more active.

*When you’re taking your dog to a dog park so they can exercise, you’ll meet other dog owners and be more sociable.

These can all be more than enough to convince you to get a dog. If it’s your first time getting one, though, you’ll have to make sure you’re prepared for it.

That means spending a little time figuring out what you need to do. Taking a few steps and using a few tips can help with this more than you’d think. Some of these stand out more than others, and it’s worth diving into five of the more essential of these.

Getting Your First Dog: 5 Essential Tips

1. Pick Up Some Supplies

One of the first things you should get done, even before bringing your dog home, is to pick up some supplies. You’ll need to make sure they’re there before the dog is.

That way, you avoid the need to run around getting them once your pet dog is finally home. There are more than a few of these you’ll need to pick up, like food and bedding. Make a list of what you think you’ll need, and go out to get them.

You’ll end up being much more organized by the time you bring your dog home.

2. Pet-Proof the Home

Speaking of getting prepared for bringing your dog home, make sure your home is pet-proof. It’ll make sure your house is actually safe for them to be in.

Remember that dogs can often have accidents, especially when they’re in a new home. You’ll want to make sure your dog doesn’t hurt themselves when this happens. Keep anything that could hurt them out of each, including any chemical products that could hurt them.

It’s also worth making sure you set up a safe area for them to relax and sleep when you’re doing this. Thankfully, it shouldn’t take you too long.

3. Pick a Great Name

One of the first things you’ll need to consider when you’re getting your first dog is their name. This can sometimes be trickier than you would’ve thought.

Take the time to figure out what you and your family would prefer to call your dog. Make sure you’re all in agreement before making the decision. Thankfully, there are more than a few names for a Jack Russell Terrier and other breeds you can find online.

You shouldn’t have much of a problem actually finding a name you’ll like. Just make sure it suits your dog.

4. Give Your Dog Time to Adjust

At some point or another, you’ll need to bring your new dog home. It’ll be one of the more exciting parts of getting them.

Don’t rush through it, though. You’ll need to give them time to adjust. Let them adjust to you as a person and family, as well as to the home itself. Put some time and effort into this to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible, and don’t try to pressure yourself or your dog with it.

Plan to bring your dog home on a day when you’re not working so you can help them adjust to their new home.

5. Start Training

Once you have your dog in your home, it’ll be time to start training them. The earlier you start, the better off you could be.

Proper training makes sure they obey your commands as they get older, and it’ll help to avoid them going potty around the home. There could even be several other teething issues that proper training can help with going forward. At a minimum, you should make sure there aren’t any behavioral issues to worry about.

Hire a professional to help you with this to make sure the training is as great as possible. You’ve no reason not to.

Getting Your First Dog: Wrapping Up

There are more than a few reasons to get a dog, and you could’ve already decided to do it. That doesn’t mean just jumping straight into it.

Before getting your first dog, you’ll need to make sure you’re actually prepared for it. That means taking a few steps beforehand, as well as using a few tips, too. They’ll make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible, and they’ll even make it a little less stressful.

You shouldn’t have to have any problems. With the benefits getting a dog offers, there’s no reason not to while making it all easier for yourself.