Bringing a furry friend home can feel like a wonderful new life milestone, particularly if they complete a family unit or provide you some companionship as you live alone. That said, the first time we own a pet can feel relatively daunting. Of course, you may have had practice such as with plenty of exposure to dogs as a young child, or perhaps we may have lived on in a rural setting where farmyard animals were no uncommon sight. 

Regardless, there can be a big difference between living with and loving certain animals, and being responsible for their care in all things. As they say, a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. Don’t worry, however, as having those concerns only shows that you care about the pet you’re bringing into your home, and wish to perform a worthwhile job caring for them. That’s a fantastic sign. So, in this post, we hope to help you manage those first-time pet owner feelings, and perhaps help you feel a little more excited about the entire affair:

Join A Dog Ownership Forum

Joining a dog’s ownership forum is a good place to start. It might be that this forum has a dedicated website or may be a public forum such as on Reddit, but either way, talking to others, asking questions, reading their experiences and even sharing photos of your loving pups can be a good way to start.

Of course, just be careful about what you read on the internet and anecdotal reports outside of official veterinarian advice from qualified sources. Someone may swear by the fact that they feed chocolate to their dog, but this isn’t ever acceptable, and it’s worth reporting to the site moderator.

Still, a large degree of user experiences on there can be enjoyed anonymously and may lend you some insight into the best local trainers, how to doggy proof your home, and how to help your growing dog deal with their separation anxiety.

Consider A Well-Written Pet Resource

Following a regular doggy blog, or better yet a dog magazine, can provide you with constant updates and posts about all manner of dog ownership - such as how to care for their coats, what to do if your dog finds itself in an altercation with another walker’s pet, and how to prepare for a long hike with your energetic pup.

A steady stream of information like this is not only a healthy means of curating your social media timeline, but will no doubt remain interesting for you as you grow, develop and ultimately become thoroughly experienced as a dog owner. In the end, information like this helps you build up all kind of tangential knowledge that may, and probably will, come in useful one day.

Head To A Local Trainer

It’s heavily encouraged for new pet owners to bring their dogs to a trainer. It might seem as though this is the right place to learn doggy tricks, but that’s just a supplemental technique you may or may not learn.

The real value a trainer offers you is learning how to handle your dog, how to present your authority and set boundaries, and how to grow the bond with your pet so they trust you. This will mean that in a range of situations, private and public, you can enact better and healtheir control over your dog.

This will also serve the additional purpose of making sure your dog is comfortable around other dogs and owners, and this may be their first true exposure outside of their breeder’s environment. A local trainer will also help give you specific advice and work on your weaknesses so you, as a pet owner, become more capable and informed too.

Make Certain You Have The Right Documentation

Of course, in order to take care of your dog you need to know its history and medical records, and any official or licensed breeder will be able to show you this, including their full vaccination status, and perhaps where they might fall in their immediate family tree should they be of pedigree breed.

On top of that, a registration certificate, veterinarian documents, and a contract of sale should all be yours to verify the legitimate purchase of your dog. You should be able to get most of this information when rescuing a dog also. Of course, not all breeders are registered, and not all of them will come from verified spaces. It’s best to always go legitimate so that you don’t support the continual operation of unhealthy puppy farms.

If buying from a friend or relative, or if being given a pet in this way, they should be able to give you the correct documentation should you ask for it.

If In Doubt, Head To The Vet

While it’s true that many people have been caught out by particularly theatrical animals time and time again, it’s always a good idea to head to your vet service should your dog display strange behaviors and especially physical symptoms you may not recognize.

If you’re in doubt, then heading to that vet can provide you peace of mind, worthwhile guidance, and necessary treatment so you feel more experienced and informed in caring for your pet. Sure, vet bills can rack up, but providing for our animal is the reason we brought them into our homes to begin with.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask

It’s okay to admit you're not sure of what to do, and so Googling, asking dog owners in your life, and asking forums like Reddit for how to properly care for a pet in a given situation (should you allow them to continue sleeping on your sofa, for instance,) will make a big difference to how much you learn and how comfortable as an owner you become over time.

With this advice, you’re certain to feel the most informed as a first-time dog owner. Perhaps one day you’ll be the person giving advice to a friend or relative going through the same journey you are now!