101 Things You Wish You Knew Before Getting A Dog (or Now that You Have One)

Recently, some of my blogging friends shared their experiences and things that they had to learn the hard way. They shared some invaluable insights gained from their mistakes.

Learning things the hard way works but it always sucks.



Learning as you go works, but often your dog can get harmed along the way. Why not take advantage of what others already know?

People hate reading manuals. Some of that might have to do with the quality of the manuals themselves, while some of that might simply be the result of the "I know best what is good for my dog" syndrome.

I bet that even if you had dogs your entire life, there are still things you can learn.


Not every time we go through hard times we learn the right lesson. Not everything that was a truth written in stone a year ago is still true today. And most certainly you have not personally experienced every potential bump on the road.

Our understanding of dogs improves. Veterinary science constantly evolves. Changing lifestyles generate new challenges. 

While some truths remain the same, the potential disasters do not.

Ourselves, our parents and even our grandparents knew that dogs will eat just about anything.


Some harmful things we should keep away from our dogs are the same as they've always been. But there are some deadly risks the previous generations never heard of.

Some human food items can be harmful or toxic to dogs. But did you know there are some brand new toxins out there that can kill your dog? Do you know what xylitol is, where it can be hiding and what it could do to your dog? What about e-cigarettes? Potentially safe for humans but not at all safe as a chew toy when discovered in a purse.

There are more risks inside and outside your home.


The world is becoming more populated, there is more traffic, more appliances, more packaging, more gadgets, more chemicals ... 

Did you know that almost daily dogs die suffocating in snack bags?

If you had to sit down and write up all the things in your dog's daily life that can potentially hurt them, how many do you think you'd end up with? Could you get to 101?

Would you want to take your chances missing a few?


101 Essential Tips - Puppy or New Dog - Health & Safety by Dr. Jason Nicholas is a must read


Are you worried that reading that much information will give you a headache? 101 does sound intimidating, doesn't it? Do not worry. This book has a very reader-friendly, fun design and the vital information is presented in easy-to-read, bite-sized chunks.

You can read it, your kids can read it and enjoy it. And learn vital information in the process.

We all want our dogs to have the happiest, healthiest and safest life possible.


Perhaps you do, but I certainly don't know everything. I bet you that reading 101 Essential Tips - Puppy or New Dog - Health & Safety you will find at least a few bits of information that will surprise you? Are you up for the bet?

***

Dr. Jason Nicholas is passionate about helping you keep your dog safe from emergencies, and he has the experience and advice to help you do so.  Pet emergencies are common. And though they range in both severity and price, many will cost you anywhere from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, and many can cause your pet debilitating pain, illness, or even death. 

While you're at it, you can also check out their fantastic blog and Facebook page, both fountains of great information.


Comments

  1. I think that vet is based here. I've seen his talks advertised but I haven't been yet.

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    1. Oh, how lucky you are; he seems to be fantastic.

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  2. Looks like a great book! Gosh, I never thought about the snack bag danger, but it makes sense. I will absolutely be more careful about this. One thing I have learned of late (after having dogs for many years) is the dangers of various outdoor plants and chemicals. I am so glad to be more informed now. Always good to keep learning!

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    1. Some plants and most chemicals can be very dangerous for sure. Something like snack bags isn't the type of thing people normally think of. There are dogs suffocating in these things all the time; so tragic and so preventable.

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  3. This is awesome! I wrote a similar post too because there ARE things people need to know BEFORE getting a pet but as you said we are ALWAYS and FOREVER learning more! I will check out the link to the book! Thanks!

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    1. Yes, it would be ideal to know these things before; but it's never too late to learn.

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  4. This sounds like a great book for first time dog owners or those wanting to learn more. It terrifies me that some people buy a dog on a whim and know absolutely nothing about their care or needs.

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    1. If it was up to me, I'd institute a dog ownership licensing. That's what I'd do.

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  5. It would be nice if shelters could give a basic dog safety flyer to new pet owners after adoptions. Just a "be aware" sort of thing. It might save on some dog returns.

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    1. Yeah, I agree that every dog should come with a little manual :-)

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  6. A good book for first time, and not so first time dog owners. People need to know how to look after a dog and how to train and work with it.

    Our back neighbours have a reactive dog and it gets a little bit boring BARK BARK BARK but he has improved a lot recently. I was also told one person had a dog taken away for persistent barking - all because they don't know how to work with their pup. Shame.

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    1. The book doesn't get much into training; I don't know if it would be possible or even advisable to try to cover everything in one book. But it has important health and safety pointers.

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  7. This sounds like an awesome book! You are so right - there are so many dangers out there that our pets can get into, even in our own home. You can never be too careful, and it's so important to keep educating ourselves!

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    1. Some of the things appear harmless and one wouldn't think of them as deadly. Knowledge is power.

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  8. It's really scary how many things can be so harmful to our pets. Years ago people basically just took their chances & didn't worry about it - and pets suffered for it. Pesticides are my newest fear; every house in our neighborhood seems to be treating their lawns w/ harmful pesticides. They are also spraying insecticides at many residences, which scares the heck out of me.
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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    1. Well, I think that years ago there weren't nearly as many things as dangerous. Packaging was limited, artificial sweeteners weren't used, chemicals for laws maintenance weren't broadly used ...

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  9. I offer a pre-puppy, pre-dog training session. When people have prior knowledge, it makes parenting a dog much easier.

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    1. People should understand the basics of training and also health and safety matters.

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  10. I know I never thought about all the things that could harm pets when I first owned them 50+ years ago. How wonderful it is to have professionals who can share this information with us now.

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    1. There are many things one would never think of until its too late. How many people realize that snack bags can kill, for example?

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  11. This sounds like a must read book, regardless if you've had dogs all your life or are about to get your first one. The world is always changing, which means so are the dangers.

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    1. It most certainly is. You never know what you don't know until you learn.

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  12. I am still learning daily although Layla is one very healthy 10+ year old and full of energy like a puppy - I watch everything that goes into her mouth and am fortunate that not having kids there is very little dangers lying around the house plus I use apple cider vinegar for all cleaning here, no chemicals are allowed in my house

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    1. Not having kids does cut down on a number of things ... need to be aware, though, of things any visitors can bring in in their purses, what happens with chip bags during barbeques or celebrations ...

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  13. This book sounds really helpful! You can never know enough about your pets. There are people who have PHDs that study dogs and cats all of their lives and still don't have the answers for everything. It is so important to always keep learning. I've found that in learning about my cats, I've learned a lot about myself. There is always something new to find.

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    1. Nobody knows everything. There isn't even a consensus on what they believe they do know. This books covers basic things one should be aware of to keep their dog safe and healthy.

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  14. Oh yea if I knew then what I knew now, but I would never ever wish I hadn't gotten Dolly, well Taffy maybe. It's watching Dolly destuff a toy with surgical precision and remove the squeaker that makes me hope I don't die home alone with just her.

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    1. Cookie is quite a surgeon as well. My strategy was to condition her to shred it all she wants but spit out the pieces. At first I'd ask her to drop them in exchange for a treat, now she does it automatically.

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  15. Sounds like an awesome book! There are definitely things we can always learn. I just recently shared what I wish I knew before becoming a dog owner.

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    1. Yes, I've seen a few posts on the topic recently; I mentioned in the introduction.

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  16. This is really fantastic! I would love to see something like this handed out with every shelter or rescue adoption! I grew up with dogs and I currently have three and I learn something new every single day! I appreciate that you make it clear that this is not just for first time dog owners. Learning is a journey, not a destination!

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    1. Yes, that would be a great idea. I even think there should be dog ownership licensing :-)

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  17. You're right, things are always changing, so having an updated resource for dog parents can be super important. Thanks for sharing how valuable this resource can be!

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    1. They sure are. Such as the recent situation with peanut butters. Once safe - now one needs to check for xylitol. Personally, for my dogs I only buy peanut butter where the sole ingredient is peanuts.

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  18. What a great book! It's only in the past seven years (since I adopted Lexy) that I've been more in tune with pet dangers. Years ago, before the internet, I wasn't as knowledgeable about this. And books like this weren't around.

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    1. Yes, the internet can be quite a blessing and a fountain of information.

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