5 Things You Learn When You Become a Dog Parent

Every parent knows that there is lots to learn when raising a child and the same applies to raising a pet. Dogs need to be taught how to behave appropriately, be taken care of and loved, and provided with a safe and comforting environment to grow up in. These are a few things that lots of pet-parents have learned from owning a dog:

Routine is Important

Most people already have some kind of daily routine, like getting up at a certain time in the morning and making yourself a cup of coffee before you get ready for work. Once you get a dog, you will soon learn that an alarm clock is obsolete because you will be getting up when your dog wants you to. People who don’t like early mornings might struggle a bit here, but when your dog is desperate for their morning walk, taking them on their toilet trip is somehow more important than the ‘just a few more minutes’ in bed. If you struggle with mornings, maybe a dog is the perfect solution; it’s hard to say no to those puppy dog eyes after all. If nothing else gets you out of bed in the morning, maybe a dog can?

Less-than-Perfect is OK

It can be easy to envy those who have every aspect of their life together, including their flawless and immaculate house. Mess and disorganization can make some of us feel stressed-out but owning a pet means learning to accept a bit of mess and disarray. Perfectionism is hard to overcome, but having a dog comes with accepting the little bits of mess in your home. Dogs come with muddy paw-prints, hair getting everywhere, and their chew toys are strewn across your living-room floor. It might be a constant battle to clean up after their messes, but the chaos they create is just a reminder of their existence and you will soon learn to accept the unavoidable mess. 

They Help You Enjoy More

Nobody is immune to the ups and downs of life but having a companion can help those trickier days be a little bit easier. Pets are proven to decrease stress, providing a source of love and comfort that we can all appreciate. Your dog will always be there for you and won’t judge you for anything. They are loyal and forgiving creatures and their wagging tails, funny behavior, and adorable faces are enough to bring a smile to anyone. Watching a dog being so content with the simple things can help us to appreciate the smaller things in life too. 

Communication

Communication is such a valuable skill to have so that we can better understand one another, and it’s a little trickier if you don’t speak the same language. Luckily for us, dogs are great learners, so teaching them a trick or two can be achieved with practice. Dog training is an essential part of being a pet-owner so that your dog can be taught how to behave appropriately around other people and animals. If you need a little help in communicating with your canine friends, dog trainers can be super helpful to help you engage successfully with your dog. Being able to recognize their body language and behaviors can help you to understand their wants and needs, so there is lots to learn when it comes to understanding your pet.

There is a Dog-Friendly Version of That

Dogs are such a huge part of many people’s lives that dog-friendly options are almost always available. Society has certainly grown to be more accommodating to people’s needs, and that includes the fact that lots of people own dogs. So, if you are celebrating your dog’s birthday and want to buy your dog a birthday cake, you can absolutely buy a dog-friendly one. And If you are re-decorating your yard and want to add some greenery that won’t be dug up by your dog or be the cause of endless muddy footprints, you will be happy to learn that they manufacture fake grass for pets, free from toxins and easy to clean. Whatever dog-friendly item you are looking for, it almost-definitely already exists.

Once you have brought a dog into your home, you will realize how empty it feels without one. The saying “a house is not a home without a pet” is now something you can relate to, and perhaps the biggest lesson you will learn. Dogs can bring so much love and joy and life to a home, you will soon start to question how you ever lived without them!