3 Things to Know about Dogs Before You Buy One

For many of us growing up, some of our fondest memories were attached to our canine pals, and the joyful days we used to spend running around the garden together.

Humans and dogs have been sharing in each other’s company for aeons, since time immemorial, and all around the world. Suffice to say, dogs have come to play a fundamental role in our lives and societies, and without us, dogs would be at a loss, too.

Not too long ago, it could be a real struggle trying to identify responsible breeders to buy a new puppy from. Luckily, in recent years, plenty of websites such as https://www.prideandprejudoodles.com/ have sprung up, in order to help you ensure that you’re getting your dog from a trustworthy source.

Of course, buying a dog is still a major life commitment, and there are various things you should know before you go ahead with the decision – some related to basic logistics, and some to dog psychology.

Here are a few things to know about dogs before you buy one.

• Dogs are pack animals, and need strong (but fair) leadership

As we all know, dogs are pack animals. That means that not only do they naturally exist in a deeply social context, but they also expect, and understand, social hierarchies and reciprocal relationships.

Your dog, in other words, needs you to be a “leader” to them, and a strong leader, too. Of course, the other side of that coin is that you need to be “fair” and not act in an arbitrary or vindictive manner.

If, however, you fail to be firm enough in the training and care of your dog, and don’t set down firm enough “ground rules,” your dog will try to take control and become “pack leader.”

It’s better to treat your dog as a child that needs structure and upbringing, than to treat your dog as just a fluffy companion to play around with.

• Your dog will, to a significant degree, be a mirror of you

It’s a pretty well-established fact that people and their pets tend to mirror each other over time in some fairly significant, and often quite hilarious ways.

It’s useful to know that your dog will typically reflect the kind of emotional energy you give off, and will be “moulded” to a significant degree by the way you treat them.

In this sense, raising a dog to the best of your ability is also largely a matter of getting your own ducks in a row and being your “best self.”

• Your dog will go to the ends of the earth for you, and will place a lot of trust in you – don’t betray that trust

Dogs are inherently trusting of their owners, for the most part, and there are many heartwarming stories out there of dogs going to the ends of the earth (sometimes literally) for their owners.

As the saying goes – “be the person your dog thinks you are.”

With a dog, you have the chance to forge a truly deep and meaningful connection. But that involves being worthy of the trust they place in you, and being mindful of your duty to be a good and ethical owner.