One Year Update on being a Dog Parent

If you have been following me for a while then you know that I got a puppy last year.  For most people, who have always had dogs in their lives, getting a puppy/dog is no big deal. However, for my husband and me, it was a huge deal.  Neither one of us has grown up with dogs so we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.  In addition, we had to teach ourselves so much about how to care for a little furry baby.  Therefore, since you all love my initial post about my puppy, I wanted to give an update on how things were going.

Before I begin, I want to give a little background on my furry baby.  He is a Yorkshire Terrier and his name is Riley Singh.  We got him when he was only 7 weeks old and he is our little 7 lb. fur ball that we love so much.  He is the first dog on both sides of our families in over 40 years so he is quite special to us.  Without further ado, I’ll be giving the tips that I’ve gathered over the past year, as a first-time puppy/dog owner.

Tip #1:  Keep your vet on speed dial

I may be a bit dramatic by saying to keep your vet on speed dial but, do keep your vet close.  The amount of times we have freaked out and gone to the vet over any little thing is hilarious.  However, (after a nice hefty bill) our vet and vet tech always tells us that our little Riley is doing just fine.

Also, make sure you have a vet that you trust.  If you feel like your vet is not taking care of your furry baby then you can always switch to another vet.  You need to feel confident that your pet’s health is being taken care of by medical professionals that you trust.

Tip #2:  Be Patient

As a first-time dog-owner, especially a puppy, you will almost want to lose your temper because your furry one is not listening to you.  However, you have to remember that dogs do not speak the same language as you.  Instead, they understand more body language and tone of voice.  So, make sure not to lose your temper and yell at your furry baby, as it won’t resolve anything (especially a yappy Yorkie like mine).  Instead, try to walk about, be cool and calm and approach your furry one with a stern voice.  A stern voice asserts dominance and shows your furry baby that you are the Alpha- not him/her.

Tip #3:  Have a routine

I have mentioned this in my puppy post but will give an update in this post.  As mentioned in that post, dogs are creatures of habit.  They like to have a routine and are most happy when you have the same routine day in and day out.  Make sure to have a morning and night schedule with your dog. 

For instance, my dog only needs a 30-minute walk daily so that he will not tear the house apart.  Therefore, I will walk him 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes after I come home from work.  His walks also make him super hungry so he will eat his food as well (something we have struggled with in the past).

In the beginning, I used to take him on one 30-minute walk in the evenings.  However, I noticed that he got antsy and naughty if he did not let out his energy.  I thought I had a routine down for him but I completely changed it since I have learned my dog’s habits.  Be open to being flexible with your dog’s routine, based on his/her habits. 

I hope you enjoyed my one-year update on being a Paw-rent (no pun intended).  What’s one tip you have as a dog parent?  Let me know in the comments below!

Much Love,