First-Time Dog Owner?
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Over the course of helping lots of families find their perfect Doodle Buddy, we’ve found that a lot of our families are first-time dog owners, and we love that! We are obviously a little biased, but we think that miniature Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and Irishdoodles are the perfect pups for first-time dog owners because of their temperament, size, trainability, and health. Knowing this, we wanted to compile some extra information specific for first-time owners (in addition to our resources for the first twenty-four hours, training tips and tricks, health and grooming information, and products we love). As always, feel free to reach out to us via text or Instagram DM if you have questions we haven’t answered on our site! Odds are, if you have the question, so do others!

DO YOUR RESEARCH!

Bringing home a puppy (or adult dog, for that matter) is a big commitment that comes with a lot of factors. The most important advice we can give is to do your research - researching the type of doodle you are interested in bringing home and talking to other Doodle owners is the absolute best way to help determine if you’re ready for a pup and what kind is best for you. We try to give you as much information as possible, but other owners are a goldmine of information.

THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS OF DOG OWNERSHIP

Puppies - and dogs in general - can be expensive, especially depending on where in the United States you live. Budgeting for veterinary fees, the cost of food, treats, and equipment, as well as grooming bills, can add up quickly. Below are estimates of the annual costs associated with dog ownership (emphasis on estimates!).

Grooming

On averages, Doodles will need to be groomed every 6-8 weeks starting around four months old. You can expect to pay between $60-100 per groom depending on the size of your pup and the experience of the groomer. Some Doodle owners learn to groom their pups (there are a ton of online tutorials and YouTube videos that are great resources), but many opt for a professional groom. It’s also important to keep in mind the up-keep of whichever cut you prefer - longer cuts mean you can stretch the time between grooming appointments more than if you prefer a shorter cut. This averages out to about $500-700 per year for grooming costs.

Veterinary & Health

Veterinary costs and dog ownership go hand in hand without saying. The first year of a puppy’s life is the most expensive when it comes to vet bills as you get them all of their vaccinations and procedures to set them up for life-long health. The American Kennel Club estimates that the first year of veterinary bills for a pup will range from $1,600-2,000, which includes 3-4 vet visits for vaccinations as well as a spay/neuter procedure. Of course, the actual costs are dependent on where in the United States you live (for example, the cost of veterinary care is much more expensive in Connecticut or New York than it is in Utah or Idaho) and the veterinarian you choose to work with.

After your dog’s first year of life, the vet bills drop significantly as most pups need just an annual visit for vaccines and a wellness check (this can range between $80-250 for an annual visit, again, dependent on your veterinarian). However, there are parasite prevention medications you need to take into account as well. In general, the estimated cost for this preventative care (in the form of monthly medications given in tablet form or applied topically) is about $200-700 a year. Prevention is far less expensive than treatment, especially for heartworm.

With an annual vet visit and preventative care, you can expect to pay about $300-800 for annual medical care for your pup.

Many pet owners also invest in pet insurance, which can help mitigate costs in the event of a medical emergency for your pup. Some companies even offer rebates for preventative care and annual costs.

As an aside, choosing a good veterinarian that you can trust is key. The best way to find a good vet is through word-of-mouth - ask your friends and family which veterinarians they use and how they like the services they provide. Same goes with a groomer - word of mouth helps you find the perfect groomer for you and your dog.

Food, Treats & Equipment

Like with the first year of veterinary care, the first few months of dog ownership come with higher than average costs as you purchase the equipment you need for your pup. Buying a kennel, bed, toys, bowls, collar/harness, leash, and food storage is an upfront expense that you generally won’t need to purchase again (or very often when it comes to toys - some pups are serial toy destroyers, we know!).

The cost of food ranges from about $20-60 a bag, depending on your brand choice (check out Dog Food Advisor for info on different brands of dog food!) and how much your dog eats per month, but often averages out to about $300-700 per year for food. The average cost of treats is really up to you! The cost is dependent upon how often you use them, the type (i.e. biscuits, training treats, or jerky), and the brand.

TRAINING

Training is often the most daunting part of bringing home a new puppy for new dog owners, but it doesn’t have to be. Training helps set your pup up for success, creating a safe environment and one where they know what is expected of them. It’s a win for both your dog and your family! Beginning training on day one really makes all the difference in the world (and we can’t stress this enough).

There are tons of resources available online (check out our training tips & tricks page for some resources we recommend), but really it all comes down to time, patience, and consistency. We’ve found that working in short (5-10 minute) training “sessions” a few times a day really helps your pup develop healthy habits and learn skills that will help them be successful. Puppies thrive with a schedule and consistent expectations (kind of like toddlers!).

Utilize as many resources as you can when it comes to training - advice from reputable trainers (whether IRL or online), training alongside other dog owners (puppies learn really well alongside other dogs who are older), and training resources like the ones we’ve provided on our training tips and tricks page.

TIME

Time is always the biggest commitment when it comes to owning a dog for the first time - dogs are happiest and healthiest when they are able to spend as much time as possible with their people. Our doodles are all a mix of breeds who naturally love being with their people - Poodles, Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, and Labradors are all breeds that thrive on human companionship and struggle when they are left along for long periods of time. Do you work long days or have a ton of activities in your schedule that would mean your pup would be home alone for long stretches? Dogs left alone for long periods of time tend to develop anxiety and destructive behaviors so we encourage families to make sure they have enough time not only for training and care of their pups, but also to simply hang out with them or have the ability to bring them places (we love how portable our pups are - they love going on adventures with their families).

This isn’t to say that someone who works long hours wouldn’t be a good dog owner - a good support network of family and friends (and even someone you hire to walk your pup in the afternoon or a doggy daycare) makes all the difference and can help create the best environment for your puppy to be happy and healthy.

DOG PROOFING YOUR HOME

Bringing home a dog requires families to evaluate how safe their home is, especially for the first few months. Puppies are masters of getting into things they shouldn’t - no shoe, garbage can, or roll of toilet paper is safe! First-time dog owners should be prepare to put anything breakable out of reach, as well as any wires or cords that are accessible and alluring to a puppy.

You’ll also need to make a plan regarding your puppy’s outdoor situation. Is your yard fenced or will you be bringing him/her out on a leash for a walk around the neighborhood to relieve themselves? It’s always best to think of these things in terms of winter - the time of year when bringing your puppy to go potty at 5am really feels the worst!

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

When bringing home a dog it’s also important to think of your lifestyle, including how often you travel and if you’ll want to kennel or bring your pup with you. One of the challenges of dog ownership can be finding someone you trust to watch your pup while you are out of town, so having a plan beforehand can help you decide if/when a dog should join your family. Our puppies make great traveling companions, but it does take a little extra planning when you travel with a dog to make sure that hotels, campgrounds, and vacation rentals allow dogs.

Other important lifestyle questions include how children in your family will respond or play around dogs, whether anyone in your household has allergies (our pups are low-allergen, but that doesn’t mean that they are allergy-free), and if you’re up for a 10-15 year commitment (the average lifespan of a small dog).

Please feel free to reach out if you have questions about being a first-time dog owner! We are more than willing to answer questions as you decide whether the time is right for you to bring home your first dog.