Are You Actually Ready For It? What To Consider Before Getting a Dog

by Sana Bun

Are You Actually Ready For It? What To Consider Before Getting a Dog

5 Sept 2024

When you think about getting a pet, it is easy to picture all the fun, games, and good times that come with it. From my own experience, I can tell you that a fluffy friend truly does bring endless joy and amusement into your life. Growing up, I was surrounded by pets — fish, hamsters, parrots, cats, dogs — you name it, I had it. But getting a dog as an adult turned out to be a whole different story. What seemed like a simple decision quickly became a huge challenge.

Looking back, I realise I never seriously considered getting a dog alone because the level of commitment and all the limitations terrified me. On top of that, after my favourite cat passed away two years ago, I didn’t feel ready to have another pet.

But then, a barky four-footer entered my life almost spontaneously. Having a dog had been my boyfriend’s dream for quite some years, and while I didn’t mind the idea of adopting a puppy together someday, we never rushed into it. We talked about what kind of pet we would want when the time was right. Since we live in an apartment and travel often, we wanted a small breed that didn’t need much space and could accompany us in the cabin on flights. We also wanted a dog that was pretty, smart, and quirky — so we settled on a Kaninchen dachshund.

The more we discussed it, the more our Instagram feeds filled with pictures and Reels of sausage dogs. As we both work remotely, the timing seemed perfect to get a puppy, as we could give it the attention it needed. After some research, we found a breeder who had been working with dachshunds for over 30 years, and it felt like a perfect match. Originally, we planned to wait at least six months, but the breeder had recently born puppies. We saw the pictures, fell in love, and soon drove all the way to Hungary to pick up our three-month-old sausage, Alfonso.

Before getting a dog, I thought the worst part would be the multiple daily walks (which actually turned out to be fun), but the real challenges were far less obvious.

Separation Anxiety

Even though we prepared and educated ourselves, having a puppy felt like having a baby. Initially, we couldn’t leave Alfonso alone even for a minute — he cried, misbehaved, and tried to eat everything in sight the moment we left the room. He wouldn’t sleep unless we cuddled him, and even then, he would wake up panicking every couple of hours. For weeks, we barely got any sleep and were exhausted and frustrated. Alfie’s separation anxiety forced us to temporarily pause some activities that we usually enjoyed together because we simply couldn’t take the dog with us or leave him neither alone nor with other people.

Lack of self-preservation instinct and huge vet bills

Young dogs are far from independent; keeping them alive can be a full-time job.

We puppy-proofed our home by removing cables, relocating plants, and hiding anything potentially dangerous. Yet, it wasn’t enough. Despite having health insurance, we blew past our expected 1,000 euro annual budget within the first three months, thanks to unexpected vet bills.

In Amsterdam, where we live, weekend vet visits are limited to emergency clinics that charge 200 euros just for an appointment, not including treatment. Of course, our dog managed to find trouble during off-hours, leading to our most significant bill yet — 1,600 euros for a colonoscopy after Alfonso tore apart his bed and ate a piece of the stuffing. And this was not the only episode.

Misbehaviour

Learning to communicate with Alfie took time. We had to understand his breed-specific needs, body language, and behavioural patterns (Dovecote Dogs online academy was a huge help). Expecting a new puppy to be obedient from the start is a big misconception. Simple things like walking on a leash or going to the toilet outside are just not in dogs’ factory settings — they have to be taught. Until then, puppies can be destructive — to themselves and your home.

Bigger commitment than you might think

A dog demands far more attention than just food and walks. Dachshunds, bred to hunt badgers, are scent-hounds, so naturally, Alfonso wants to sniff, chase, pull, and do things typical for his breed (right now, he is trying to chew on a curtain). If he isn’t mentally stimulated with commands or games, his behaviour quickly shifts for the worse. We have learned that to keep our pupster happy and manageable, we need to dedicate at least a couple of hours a day to him.

Unexpected self-reflection

If you lack structure in your life, rest assured: a puppy will highlight all your weaknesses and test your ability to handle stress. Dogs thrive on predictability and a solid schedule, so if you don’t have it, you will be forced to readjust.

Unwanted attention

Apparently, going outside with a dog attracts people who want to interact. Most are nice and polite and ask for permission to approach the pup, but some treat your pet like public property, rushing to touch or call it. While it might seem harmless from a human perspective, it can be scary and overwhelming for a young puppy, leading to phobias and behavioural issues.

But is there another side?

All of this makes it seem like I regret my decision. Honestly, there were hard times when I did. Now Alfonso is only seven months old, and we still have a long way to go, but we are already seeing the results of our hard work: pawranting is becoming more and more rewarding.

While our puppy is incredibly stubborn in his misbehaviour, he is also full of love and so much fun to have around. His quirks and strong personality bring us a lot of joy, making him a great companion for all sorts of adventures. While we teach him to adapt to life, he teaches us to be patient, sharp, attentive, disciplined, flexible and multitasking.

Is it easier now? Yes, for sure. Do we still struggle at times? Absolutely. But for anyone considering getting a puppy, I would recommend being critical and doing a thorough reality check first.

To give you more to think about, I asked other dog parents to share their experiences.

Alina Antonova, Art Director at The Sandy Times

Owner of six-years-old Ziggy, 11-years-old Kurochkin and eight-years-old Mikosha

It all started when my mom and I picked up a dog on the street; I was about seven years old back then. Funny enough, before that, I never wanted a dog as a child and never asked for one. Later, the number of dogs at home grew to four. When I moved out from my parents' house, the place I moved in already had two dogs, so it turns out that wherever I have lived, dogs have always been present in one way or another. The first pets of my own, however, were cats because I am not a big fan of walks, and I didn’t want the responsibility of having a dog.

My first dog, Ziggy, came into my life almost by accident. My friend and I found her and two other puppies on the street in winter, took them in, and somehow Ziggy ended up staying with me.

The second dog, Kurochkin, also joined by chance. My friend (the same one with whom we found Ziggy) and I were rescuing dogs from a very bad situation, and I took him in, hoping to find him an owner. Later, I realised that due to Kurochkin’s personality quirks, finding him a new home would be nearly impossible.

The third (and hopefully last!) dog, Mikosha, is from a shelter where I volunteer. I also intended to find her a home, but it turned out she was seriously ill, and I had to take care of her treatment. During the process, we got so attached to each other that I decided to keep her, despite the fact that having three dogs is a bit of madness.

It so happened that all three of my dogs have their quirks, either with behaviour or health. For example, Ziggy is very anxious and scared of people and anything new in general. I spent a lot of time getting her used to walking in the city, among people, other dogs, loud noises, etc. Kurochkin is quite aggressive due to the terrible conditions he lived in and the mistreatment he endured. He even used to bite me, but now we have reached an understanding, and everything is fine. Mikosha underwent a long treatment for cancer, including two surgeries and a course of chemotherapy, which cost me a lot of time, nerves, and money.

Of course, when I imagined having a dog, I pictured something completely different, but the reality doesn’t match it. Though, I don’t regret having my dogs.

If you want to adopt a dog, seriously think it through beforehand because the reality can be very different from what you expect (most likely, everything will be fine in the end). Then, think it through again :)

A dog can significantly change your life, probably for the better, but that can’t be guaranteed. If you do decide to get a dog, take good care of its health, make sure to vaccinate regularly, take it for a full check-up at least once a year, and brush its teeth at least once a week (though daily would be even better, yes, really). And, in my opinion, it is best to adopt a dog from a shelter rather than buy one.

Alexandra Mansilla, Chief Editor at The Sandy Times

And dog mom to a one-year-old toy poodle, Eevee

My previous experience with pets was limited to my grandmother’s big dog, who lived in the village. To clarify, this was an outdoor dog that stayed in a kennel, practically being outside all the time. Just a quick disclaimer: in that area, this was the norm. The dog had one clear job — to guard the house. We fed him whatever we ate ourselves because back then, specialised dog food wasn’t really a thing.

That dog never got sick, even though he roamed the village freely and picked up whatever he found on the ground. I used to think all dogs were like that — low-maintenance, just there to guard the house and be your friend.

But one day, around 2005, that dog bit me on the hand (I still have the scar!). Ever since, I have been terrified of dogs. For example, if I see a big dog on the short path to my house, I will take the long way around. The fear is so strong that I can physically feel it rising inside me, and it only gets worse when I realise that dogs can sense it.

Now, 20 years later, we decided to get a dog. How did that happen? Well, here is the honest story. I had been living in Valencia for about a year, and at some point, I decided to move to Amsterdam. My daughter had already made a group of friends in Valencia, and I knew she probably wouldn’t want to move and that it would be tough on her. I picked a day to talk to her about it, and to my surprise, she agreed to go to the Netherlands, but with one condition: to get a dog. That is how our toy poodle Eevee came into our lives.

Why Eevee? Because there is a Pokémon named Eevee, and it is awesome.

The breeder warned us that the first few days might be tough — the dog might struggle to sleep alone, whining and barking. But when Eevee arrived, being about six months old, none of that happened. She seemed to be the perfect dog: she slept peacefully on her own, didn’t whine, and was so happy to be with us.

The only problem was, sorry for the details that she would poop and pee all over the house. But we managed to handle that: over time, she learned to use the puppy pad and, eventually, got used to taking bio breaks outside.

Then, a new problem cropped up: she couldn’t sleep alone anymore. She constantly wanted to be with me, jumping up and whining all night. Those who have dogs will understand — when they give you that look, you give in.

Next, she started barking. At everything. If she thought someone was coming, if someone really was coming, if someone slammed a door, if a dog barked somewhere in the distance (I get it, she just had to respond). And she started biting my hands while I was doing interviews (my interviewees can attest to this!). Basically, she wanted, and still wants attention.

Also, she often gets sick because she picks up everything on the street. But, honestly, all of this is manageable — I just need to dedicate more time to her. I love Eevee, and now I can't imagine my life without her.

My advice to those thinking about getting a dog: go for it if you have time. If you don’t have time but really want one — go for it anyway, just make sure to carve out the time.

Priti Malik, co-host of The Kris Fade Show (Virgin Radio Dubai)

Owner of three-year-old golden retriever, Duke

I have never had a pet in my life — not even a goldfish. I was terrified of animals, especially dogs until I did hypnotherapy to get over that fear.

I always loved dogs and felt like I would want one one day, but I was just too scared. About four years ago, when moving from an apartment that didn’t allow pets, we started looking at townhouses and pet-friendly apartments in Dubai, thinking that maybe we would get a dog eventually.

The way we got our golden retriever Duke was through a friend of a friend who was moving to Sweden permanently. They had an unexpected litter of puppies and could only afford to take one dog and one puppy with them. So they asked friends and family around if anyone could take the others. That is how Duke came into our lives — right after we moved in. We visited the puppies, not really believing we would get one, but Duke came right up to me and instantly loved me.

Neither my husband nor I had ever had a pet or any experience raising a dog. Luckily, one of our best friends, who has two huskies, really helped and guided us with what we needed. He even immediately put us in touch with a trainer, so by day three, we had a trainer helping us out to do crate training and everything else.

There is one thing we learned quickly about puppies is their ability to hold pee and poop (sorry to get graphic). In the beginning, Jeff and I had to take Duke to the bathroom every hour because he couldn’t hold it for longer — this meant through the night as well. We would tag team, taking turns. We couldn’t leave him alone for long. If someone had to go out, only one of us could go, and we couldn’t take him out since he didn’t have all his vaccinations yet.

It was definitely challenging. I think one of the biggest struggles was not realising how much work it would be — the training, the constant waking up, the discipline required.

Instagram: djjeffdxb

Yes, dogs are cute and adorable, but it is a full-time responsibility. They are not just there for your enjoyment — you are taking care of a living being. They rely on you for everything: feeding, cleaning, walking. If you are getting a pet, you commit for their entire life. Forget about partying until 4 am and sleeping in the next day — your dog will need you. It is a huge commitment, not just for the cute Instagram moments.

Before bringing a pet home, ensure you are ready for that commitment. There were times when I broke down, especially when Duke was a puppy. He was teething, used my arm as a chew toy, and we didn’t even know what zoomies were! The first time Duke got the zoomies, we freaked out, and I thought something was wrong with him.

We were lucky to have a trainer, and I highly recommend getting professional help. Even if you have had pets before, good training is key to understanding your dog’s behaviour. My biggest tip is to be fully committed — whether it is their coat care, exercise, vet appointments, or vaccinations. That is why, sadly, many pets get abandoned. But if you get through it, the love and joy they bring is beyond words. They are the best stress relievers, and now I can’t imagine life without Duke.

by Sana Bun