Cris Williams

In a couple of my previous posts about Coco & Caia, I mentioned that it took me years, actually 10 years to be exact, of convincing before I finally decided to adopt a dog. The main reason was that I did not like pets, regardless of the kind of animal until the time that I thought of at least looking into having one. I decided on a dog. The more I read about the stories from dog owners, I became gradually convinced of adopting one and of course my husband played a huge role for he is the one who suggested it in the first place. But other than the benefits of having a pet, I also read a lot about owning one and even back then, I realized that it is not easy, that it’s a huge responsibility. So I thought why not share my own readings and experiences after adopting not only one but two dogs now, a Shit Tzu named Coco and a Shichon named Caia.

1. Read and Research: The very reason why it was not that hard for me being a first time dog owner, is because before I made my final decision, I made sure I am prepared for it. I read a lot about the kind of breed that will match my personality as well as my life style. I did basic and advance readings about taking care of the breed I chose. To me, this is the most important thing that you need to do prior to adopting and deciding if you really want to be a dog owner.
2. Financial Aspect: Once you’ve prepared yourself mentally, the next thing that you have to check is if you are ready for any financial responsibility that will go with being a dog owner. If your answer is yes, that is a good sign.
3. Prepare the Den: After attending to the mental and financial aspects of owning a dog, the next is for you to prepare your place for your future family member. You have to be very organized and this is to make sure that your place will be safe for your future dog and at the same time comfortable for you. Owning a dog will change and affect your lifestyle because now you have their meal and grooming to consider.

Make sure they are comfortable.

Make sure your furnitures are safe as well.

4. Be Patient: Like rearing a child, it requires for an owner to be very patient. Dogs will misbehave and be prepared to patiently understand and train them. Repetition and patience are the key to have a very happy life with your dog.

Coco & Caia have a routine for their meal, daily walk and even their poop time 😁. They know when it’s time to wait for Daddy at the stairs. Particularly Coco, he is a leader and Caia follows his lead. But I have to tell you that it took me a lot of patience, time, effort and you have to be firm. I promise you, they will remember.

5. Be Understanding: They do not have a way of communicating other than barking, whimpering or facial expressions so be a more understanding owner. What I did from the very beginning was observe, observe and observe. That is why now, I can almost tell why they bark, whimper or make facial expressions often than not. I always remind myself to understand them and so in return, Coco & Caia seem to understand me as well.

6. Take care of them: Saying that my dogs are my kids is an understatement. I said that because I treat them more than some parent treat their children. I make sure that they are responsible, disciplined, praised, groomed, well-fed and have regular visit to their Veterinarian. In fact, they also have their own health insurance so I do not have to worry that much in the event that they will need health care.

Thank you for letting me share our personal experiences and the steps we took to be responsible dog owner. If you are a dog owner, please share your experiences and comments with us.