5 Things I Have Learned Since Becoming a Dog Mom
My Siberian Husky, Luna, turned 5 years old yesterday which means it’s been almost exactly five years since I became a dog mom. I bought Luna as a 21st birthday present to myself after spending decades begging my parents for a husky, researching huskies, collecting stuffed huskies, and wishing I had my own. In hindsight, I am incredibly glad that my parents made me wait until I was old enough to be 100% responsible for caring for my own dog. Dog ownership is no easy feat, and while I thought I was fully prepared upon bringing her home, there was so much that I didn’t know. Even today, almost five years later, I’m still learning how to be the best dog mom to both of my huskies. But while I’m forever learning, I do feel quite confident in my dog parenting abilities today. In honor of Luna’s 5th birthday, I am going to share 5 things that I have learned since becoming a dog mom.
1. The Puppy Blues are Real
Have you ever heard someone mention the “puppy blues”? Puppy blues are essentially a phrase used to describe the feeling of regretting getting a puppy. When I first brought home Luna I thought there was no way that I could ever regret my decision. After all, this is something I had waited my whole life for! But I’d be lying if I said that regret never crossed my mind.
Raising a puppy is hard. And while I’m sure it doesn’t truly compare to raising a child, it’s gotta be pretty close. On the outside, puppies look like little bundles of cuteness and fluff but it’s important to realize how difficult raising one can be. Puppies come to you not knowing how to be “good” dogs. They don’t know where to go potty, or how sharp their teeth are. They don’t know that the crate is not a prison or that eating a sock could result in an expensive surgery. As a puppy owner, you have to teach them everything and it is an around the clock job.
When Luna was a puppy, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her for a second or she would swallow a sock, scrunchie, or any other fabric she could get her mouth on. She kept me up all night long crying in her crate and I was covered in scratches and bite marks from her extremely rough play. I never truly regretted getting Luna. She has been my entire heart from the moment I laid eyes on her. But I’d be lying if I said there weren’t times I wondered what I had gotten myself into, and worried that it would never get better.
If you’re considering getting a puppy it is so important to realize how much work it’s going to be and truly prepare for it. I promise you aren’t alone in feeling like you made a giant mistake, but it will be so worth it in the end.
2. People are Really Judgmental
I’ve been in the dog space on the internet for awhile now and every day it becomes increasingly more clear how judgmental dog owners are of each other. Whether it’s the dog breed you chose or the food you feed them, dog owners love to judge other dog owners.
I get judged constantly, not only for owning huskies, but also because I bought one of them from a breeder. I am judged for feeding raw and fresh food diets and I’m judged for not crating my dogs when they’re home alone. The fact of the matter is this, if you own a dog, other dog owners are going to find something to judge you for.
What it really comes down to is how much conflicting information is out there in the dog world. One person is preaching “adopt don’t shop” while someone else will only purchase from ethical breeders. You read an article that states kibble is full of filler and fresh food is the way to go, and then a vet tells you that your dog is lacking nutrients unless you feed Science Diet. You can’t please everyone, and you shouldn’t feel like you have to. It’s important as dog owners that we do our own research, form our own opinions, and work with our own vets and trainers to do what is best for our dogs. It doesn’t matter what Karen from the dog park or user274910 on TikTok has to say about it.
3. There is No “Right” Way to Raise a Dog
Now don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a wrong way to raise a dog, but there is truly no perfect formula for owning and caring for a dog. As I’ve already mentioned, there is so much conflicting information out there on what is the best way to care for a dog. But the truth is, there is no best way!
What works for one dog, or one dog owner, is not going to be what works for the next. Dogs are living beings and they all have different emotional, physical, and mental needs that will be met in different ways. Some dogs cannot be left home alone if they’re not in a crate, other dogs will injure themselves if left in a crate but do just fine left loose. Some dogs thrive by having other canine friends and a full social life while other dogs prefer to be the only one in the room. You can’t put all dogs into one box and write out one set of rules that all owners must follow.
I have had many people over the years try to shame me for certain things I do or don’t do for my dogs. The thing is, my dogs are happy, healthy, and truly thriving because of the way I care for them. What I do with my dogs isn’t going to work for everyone else, and that’s okay! I learned very early on in my dog mom journey that it doesn’t matter if I raise my dogs the exact way others raise theres, because there is no “right” way to raise a dog.
4. You Have to Find a Vet You Trust
Healthcare for dogs is a tricky subject because most vets have completely different beliefs and ways of practicing veterinary medicine. Your dogs vet is going to be an incredibly important part of their life from their first puppy vaccines until it’s time for them to cross the rainbow bridge. Finding a vet that aligns with your personal beliefs on how you would like to handle care for your dog is key to giving your dog the best chance at living a long and healthy life.
I went through multiple doctors and clinics before finally finding a vet who fit every box I needed checked. I wanted a vet that practiced minimal vaccinating and supported raw and fresh food diets, while still believing in and prescribing traditional pharmaceuticals and treatments as needed. I feel so lucky to have a vet who knows my dogs, knows me, and supports me in how I choose to care for my pets.
If you find yourself not agreeing with your vet or feeling like you need to lie to them about certain things, you need to find a new vet. Having an established vet that you trust is one of the most important parts of dog ownership.
5. You Get Out What You Put In
When it comes to raising a dog, you get out what you put in. This means that the amount of time you spend training your dog, socializing your dog, and interacting with your dog is going to directly correlate to how well they behave and the personalities they will have. This isn’t to say that you must spend hours a day training your dog. Some people just want a fun pet to take on walks and snuggle with on the couch, and these dogs aren’t going to need strict training schedules. However, if you want a dog that follows every command, you’ll need to be constantly training them to do so.
When I got Luna, I knew that I did not need a perfectly trained dog. I wanted her to know basic commands such as “sit”, I wanted her to be friendly with people and other animals, and I wanted her to know how to be chill-so those are the things we worked on. Consider what you are hoping to get out of your dog, and then, after finding a breed that can fit that lifestyle, prioritize those behaviors.
If you want a dog that is police canine level trained, you can’t just bring them home and hope for the best.