Any tips for a first time dog dad? Things you wish you knew before adopting?

Question

Robin · Answer

Everything you allow is something you encourage: Remember that every behavior you allow is something the dog can and may interpret as behavior you encourage.

It's so cute when your pup jumps up to greet you when you come back in!  But will it be as cute when they're bigger?  Or if they do it on an elderly family member or neighbor kid?  Teaching your dog how to wait for an invitation to do a certain behavior is invaluable!

KG · Answer

Try a degreed dog behaviorist (vs a certified dog trainer): We are lucky to have Animal Insight here in the Triangle. We’ve gone through numerous trainers for various issues with our 4 dogs over the years, but working with Liz (who has a graduate degree in animal

behavior and has studied canine psychopharmacology extensively) was a game-changer in a way I didn’t see coming.

Major bonus, our pet insurance covers behaviorists (not trainers) All we had to do was get a recommendation for her from our vet. Guess the degree means it is considered more medical/legit. Wish I’d known this years ago!

KG · Answer

Minimize dog allergies (yours and theirs) by prioritizing grooming, diet, and preventive housekeeping: We had to start regularly grooming our dogs once we ended up with double-coat mutts (to prevent painful matting). They are now on a strict 4-week bath and brushout schedule. We also habit stack on bath days and a) wash all the peshtemal/fouta/sheet coverings  on our furniture on bath day, b) change the HVAC filters and bluair filters c) do a deep vacuum with The Good Vacuum (everyday vacuuming is a Dyson Stick job). We have leather furniture in our all-dogs-on-everything household. The unexpected benefit was that OUR allergies all but disappeared. If you love dogs but struggle with allergies, don’t overlook how much your dog’s skin health, grooming routine, and diet matter.

People aren’t allergic to dog hair itself but to proteins found in saliva, skin secretions, dander, and urine. Regular bathing and grooming can significantly reduce the allergens accumulating on your dog’s coat.

Also: dogs get allergies, too. Pollen, environmental allergens, and food ingredients found in subpar diets (ahem, kibble) can leave dogs itchy and uncomfortable. An itchy dog is gonna lick themselves more often, spreading allergen-containing saliva across its fur. To me it seems obvious in hindsight that increases human allergic reactions. Prioritize regular, skin-appropriate bathing and grooming, the wholesomest diet you can commit to (see my rec on real food), and veterinary care for persistent itching or licking. If food allergies are suspected, work with your vet to identify the trigger rather than experimenting with expensive specialty foods.

A fancily-bred coat isn’t the best allergy treatment out there!

KG · Answer

Feed your dog real food: We share our home with (living) dogs 3 and 4 and (across The Great Divide/on another plane) dogs 1 and 2. Dogs have tiny bodies compared to humans. They are more vulnerable to disease amd allergies, and especially to immune disorders. I am also legitimately OCD (like diagnosed, not buzzwordy), passionately love data, and have been known to volunteer for systematic reviews for fun. All to say, I do absolutely insane things like track the exact $$ amounts I spend on 10 different dog-spending categories across 10+ years. While my sample size is definitely way too small and my methods not exactly perfect, I do stand by my hypothesis that feeding your dog good food actually saves gigantic costs (I’m talking dollars alone but also things you can’t put dollar signs on). Also: How much money would you give (if you could) to spend one more year with your dog? Would it be equal to or greater than the amount you are saving by buying kibble? If your dog is on a prescription diet, you can still consult with a vet nutritionist to find a diet that works for them. Our dogs have been on Hill’s KD, hydrolyzed protein, kangaroo, Darwin’s, seriously, allll the foods.  We do love Darwin’s, but now with real food they are better off than they’ve ever been (even being recently un-diagnosed with kidney disease, which truly feels like a f-in miracle). They are eating chicken thighs, sweet potato, broccoli, and rice, plus prescribed vits/mineral blend and supplements. I’m not kidding, we batch extra for ourselves which makes meal planning some weeks that much easier! It’s overwhelming before you start and at the very first, but about 3 months in, it becomes routine in an air-you-breathe kinda way. Buying in bulk at Costco makes it even more affordable. For ppl who are rich, you can also find local food prep services (I’ve looked out of sheer curiosity and yes I mean for dog food, and we live in not-the-most-Portlandia place of all) or regionally who will ship your exact recipe to you. Our dogs can’t eat any commercial diets because of converging disorders, but there are a lot of real food companies out there that make this much easier. You do save substantial money making at home, though!

Joy Fowlkes · Answer

Crate Train Your Fur Baby: Everyone sleeps better in her own bed. I never would have done this if the adoption center hadn’t crate trained my pup for me (and asked that I sign an agreement promising I’d continue to do so), but I am so so glad they did!

Sonic loves his crate. He goes in as soon as I turn out the light. No need to shut him in. His sister (my partner’s dog who wasn’t crate trained) sleeps with us, but as soon as he climbs out in the AM, she hops right in. I think it makes both of them feel safe.

KG · Answer

Get Trupanion for your companion animal, even if they are senior: But really whatever pet insurance you choose will be better than nothing. If I could only give one rec in this life, this is the one. I’ve put it off because the issue is so central to our family and feels high stakes. I have much to say but must put it succinctly and get it right. So this is a placeholder for now! I will say I wish Trupanion did human insurance; we are legit envious of the medical care it opens up for our dogs (we are 4 dogs deep now, 2 in this realm and two in The Beyond). Plus it’s a great company (based in Seattle) with outstanding customer service. I once called with questions about claims on Christmas Eve at 8pm and they were so patient and kind x

anna · Answer

Good Owners, Great Dogs (Brian Kilcommons): This book slaps. Follow it for training and you’ll better understand how your dog thinks (clear direction and consistency) and you’ll both be happy as clams. Lots of positive reinforcement :)

Laura Messersmith · Answer

Remember the 3-3-3 Rule: I found this guideline to be so helpful when we were bringing home our rescue pup two years ago.

It takes time for a dog to adjust to their new home and the way they act in the first few hours, days, or weeks likely doesn’t reflect how they’ll be once the stress of learning a brand new environment wears off.

Have patience and help them adjust by being consistent and calm.

Geren · Answer

Consistency and socialization: Two dogs over almost(goodness I feel old) 20 years - be consistent with your energy they want and need to rely on you. You’re their everything and they’ll thrive if they know their “home” is reliable.

Set boundaries - they want and need them - I’m no enforcer but a glance or a no does get a response because we’ve always had it mean the same thing between us.

Take them out and introduce them to the world. People, places, pets, beaches, hills, hikes and all the things life brings - it works and it’s necessary to keep it up early is the most foundation building chapter  but I find regular exposure therapy year after year reminds them :)

Geren · Answer

Native Pet Omega Oil: Fynn enjoys many Native Pet supplements and we always stock up when they're on sale + free gifts. 🐶♥️

Fynn just went to the vet today and got a big compliment on her coat - the vet said better to start before you need to for all the extras so sharing incase you have a little one. Fynn's been on fish oil with her breakfast since basically day 1 (had a soul doggo for 14 years who was already setting the tone when F arrived) and Native Pet's version is a game changer, no mess, no smell, and it works. They have lots of promos and points we order in bulk a few times a year and it works out to be way less $$.

Proof of her complete lack of slowing down despite turning 7 next week.

Geren · Answer

Pupcicle = Treats on tap - and they're good for her.: Fynn is very spoiled I'll own that. BUT her favorite treats that also keep her engaged and busy are good for her too and good for the world less waste and packaging. Our freezer has a disproportionate amount of space dedicated to her my woof balls.

Geren · Answer

Nationwide Pet Insurance: Eventually Fynn's premiums will run higher than mine — they bump pets up as they age — but the peace of mind is worth the insanity.

Here's why I'm a believer: my soul pup Quinn. I insured her on a whim in 2008, and for years it felt like money down the drain. Then in 2021 we found a small mass in her lung, and suddenly all those unused premiums were the smartest thing I'd ever done — two years of every kind of care, and I never once had to think about cost. Because she'd been with the same company (ASPCA) since she was 12 weeks old, nothing counted as "preexisting."

Fynn's on Nationwide Pet. We hit the deductible every year on vaccines alone; after that, all meds, dental, torn dewclaws — and heaven forbid anything bigger — covered at 90%, no limit.

The catch: you have to commit to one company to dodge the preexisting-condition games. Which is why I don't chase the cheaper new options I'm not sure will still be around when Fynn turns 100. (She's making it to 100.)

If you can swing it this is a worthwhile spend: 18 years, two dogs, and it's paid off both ways — financially and in peace of mind.

Lizbeth · Answer

play your way to good manners: This book is written for city dogs, but works on my country hound. It's very clearly written and helps you bond with the dog. I love it and used it to help my beagle pass his Canine Good Citizen.

Katharina · Answer

Kong Chew Toys: Having a designated chew toy(s) means they will learn to use it and not your shoes or something else. We have always had power chewers and these Kong toys are the only ones that last. Because we've never had a dog who was able to chew them up, (observe your dog first) we can leave these out so that they can chew even if we're gone.

They have different shapes, and our current dog hated this classic shape, but he loves the bone-shaped one. You have to get a size your dog can get their mouth around. You can put treats in them or not. But often that's a good way to get them interested in the first place.

Eva Schipper · Answer

Pet Insurance, Boundaries, Vet the Situation: Pet Insurance

We got insurance after we made the mistake of not having insurance, an expensive and dumb mistake when she ate a bunch of a sheepskin rug from ikea. We have Lemonade and they have paid out tons of stuff for us and shes not even three yet.

Boundaries and a Crate

We wish we never let her on the bed or couch but hard to undo once you've said yes. Our biggest one is that we crate trained her and she sleeps there every night but also enjoys hanging out on there, she goes there to be fed, and she goes there when guests enter the house because then she receives a BIG TREAT. Bonus points because people are impressed when she goes in it happily and its saved us a ton of headaches.

Rescue from a Foster Situation

If you are getting a rescue (highly recommend!) I suggest finding a dog who has been in the same foster situation for a few weeks or even better, a few months. The foster family will know their quirks better than any Shelter ever could, and you’ll save yourself a lot of guessing and finding out surprises later. Our first dog was incredibly sweet out of the shelter, but turned out to have a lifelong mission to murder other dogs. Our second had been in foster since she was six weeks old and everything that is wrong with her was clear to us up front (THING EATER). This is especially crtitical if you want a dog who does not secretly hate other dogs or men or children or insert whatever is hanging around in your life.

Pictured: the thing eater herself.

Lisa · Answer

A tired dog is a well behaved dog: Double or triple your estimates on the amount of exercise you think your new dog needs. Figure out ways to make walks enriching (sniff walks, new trails, etc). Keep a schedule. Make it fun for you too!

Lily · Answer

Firm Boundaries Build A Well-Adjusted Dog: Begin with firm boundaries: good leash skills (at your hip, no pulling), basic obedience, no human food (therefore no begging), no going on furniture (I love a crate-trained dog!). A good routine with lots of exercise makes for a calm and fulfilled dog. You can always relax your rules once you have a good foundation, but starting with firm rules really helps in your training. Look up the the 3-3-3 rule for rescues. Best decision ever and congrats!

Ali · Answer

Don’t sleep on pet insurance: Does it cover a lot? No. However, it can save you THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of dollars for emergencies, hospitalizations, end-of-life care, and major disease treatment. My dog’s insurance shots are even covered. All you need is one emergency trip to the pet hospital and being quoted $5.5k for one night of care for you to thank the pet insurance gods.