How To Take Care of a Dog – What You Should Know Before Getting Your First Dog

Things All Dog Owners Should Know

Hey there! Welcome to The Dog Bunker…

As a dog owner, whether you’re new at it or not, there are a few things to keep in mind when you become the proud owner of a new puppy or even an older dog.

I’ve always had dogs in my life for as long as I can remember, so I thought I would share some of what I have learned over the years with you….

A Few Basics for Dog Owners to Remember

Before going out and picking out the perfect puppy or adopting an older dog, please remember:

You are responsible for their health and well-being. You can’t just put your dog up on a shelf and forget about it if you get tired of doing all the daily chores that may arise with owning a dog.

Things Your Dog Needs

• Food
• Fresh Water
• Grooming
• Training
• Exercise
• Love and Attention
• Health Care (shots, checkups, and emergency care as needed)

Your dog will need these things for the rest of its life…so, be prepared to do what it takes to do these tasks for your dog every day for the next 10-15 years, more or less.

Yes, owning a dog is a lot like having kids….in our home, they’re considered part of the family and have become our furry kids! Once you become a dog owner, you’re now this dog’s “parent” when you think about it.

Owning a dog is a lot of work and responsibility, it is also very rewarding! Who else will show you such complete and unconditional love every day…whether you make mistakes or not, your dog will always be happy to greet you at the door when you come home, ready to cheer you up with all of its silly antics!

So, if you’re here and haven’t gotten a dog yet, I’d advise that you choose a breed that is most suited for your lifestyle…

Please keep reading and look for the “Helpful LINKS” below…

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Choosing a Dog

What is best? A purebred or mixed breed dog?

It doesn’t really matter! They all need the same basic healthcare, food, socialization, and training no matter what kind of dog.

Although some breeds may need more attention than others in certain areas. Breeds that are known as working dogs such as German Shepherds, Huskies, cattle dogs or shepherds of various types, as well as quite a few other breeds, usually are very smart dogs….

but, they can be difficult to keep happy…

In other words…it’s difficult to keep them from being destructive! At least some of these dogs can and do get in a lot of trouble if left alone or not exercised enough…they get destructive and start chewing on everything, barking, and just misbehaving in general.

Some Breeds Need to Be Kept “Busy”

Not saying these are “bad” breeds to choose at all, but just be aware that most dogs that fall into the working breeds class need to be busy…

After all, they’re used to working, right?

So, yes there are certain breeds that are known to be more active dogs, and will most likely need more exercise and attention than some other breeds.

But, on the other hand, there are breeds that aren’t so active at all such as the Shih Tzu, like one of our dogs, Daisy, pictured over on the right…(and, yes, she needs a bath, again!)

All dog breeds have both good and bad points in one way or another…

My point being, a shih tzu’s hair is almost impossible to keep up on when it’s long, and she loves rolling around in the dirt outside…getting her face all filthy! Which is why she doesn’t have the long flowing hair right now.

So, Please, Do Your Homework Before Choosing a Dog

Otherwise, you may be in for trouble…

What I’ve Learned From Our Dogs

Chewed up furniture, shoes, and yes, even doors!

Believe me, I know from experience, especially with our black lab/husky mix, Thor, whom we raised and loved, many years ago. As a pup, he was not happy with being left alone for even a couple of hours in our kitchen. And, as the old saying goes…live and learn!

At the time, we did not realize how energetic he would be, especially as a pup. He was the first puppy my hubby and I were the proud parents of many years ago, and boy, did we learn a lot from him!

The First Time Leaving Thor Home Alone…Big Mistake!

We got home after a couple of hours and we were in for a big surprise! What a mess! We never left him alone in the kitchen after that! Time for crate training! …and, a new door for the kitchen!

Oh, and…believe it or not, new blinds for the kitchen window too! How a three or four month old puppy can reach a window so high up, I still don’t know to this day!

I just wish I had known more back then…

Puppies do get bored too and will chew just about anything!

We learned all too well with our dog, Thor, and with our other dogs as well…

After we realized what we needed to do to keep our house from being wrecked, and how to keep him happy, this same puppy grew up to be a very good dog.

I am hoping to be able to help you, fellow dog lovers, to avoid something like this from happening to you…and hopefully learn from my mistakes before doing them yourself!

Owning a dog is a big responsibility and a lot of work, but they’re worth the extra effort! Life would definitely not be the same without them…they’re always there to greet you at the door and welcome you home with wagging tails!

Dogs are always aiming to please….they’re Loyal, and ALL they ask for is attention from their people!

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Click the following links to read more:

Helpful Links

Potty Training a puppy,

Biting and Chewing,

Dog Chew Toys,

Crate Training

Product Reviews

Much more is available here now and if you do not find it yet, it will be coming soon! Much of this info can be found by clicking on the following link to go to my Blogs About Dogs page.

Feel free to look around! You may learn something that will help you with your dog. Please share any comments or questions you may have about your dogs, and come back and visit us again! I’d be more than happy to hear them and learn how I can help you with your dog.

Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Please leave a comment below or if you’d rather, you can leave me a message on our contact form. 

I’d be happy to help you with your four-legged friend 🙂

It’s why I started this web site to be able to help out fellow dog lovers and learn even more about dogs and the things that can be of benefit to our beloved fur balls!