You Got A Dog - Congrats! So...What Now?

So, you decided to adopt a dog, but have absolutely no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into? I was once in your position, a newly adopted dog in my home, with no actual clue, other than the obvious feeding, walking, and providing veterinary care. Because I was inexperienced and uneducated when I got my first dog as an adult, I decided to make animal care my full-time gig, eventually even assisting in surgeries of all kinds. I am currently writing a comprehensive guidebook for dog parents and offer tips here, where you can subscribe to receive pet care aid delivered straight to your inbox.

First, I got a job as a kennel technician for a facility that housed up to around 200 dogs at a time. Within the first week, I had already proven to my bosses that this line of work was destined for me, and I was a natural. I earned Employee of the Month during my first month at the kennel, then decided I wanted to positively influence animals by gaining a degree in veterinary medicine. I enrolled in Veterinary Technology courses within 4 months of beginning my journey into animal care, then quickly took on a more managerial role, followed by acting as general manager in another facility.

Once I left that line of work, I became a veterinary technician within a few months of starting a clinic job that had me taking care of the baths and boarders. I was then in an accident this past year that has left me disabled, so now I am offering counsel to pet parents who are struggling, and I want to lay out a few simple tips I wish I’d been told before getting my first dog that will get you ahead of the pet care game - honestly, with no sugarcoating.

Tip 1: Desensitize them to grooming tools & even blood draws - yes, really! - soon after adoption, to help get the dog more comfortable in its environment.

You can do this by using something in the approximate shape and size of a needle & syringe, first letting them smell it, then gradually moving toward their neck and legs to mimic blood draws from the jugular, saphenous, and cephalic veins. This ensures they will be prepared for any testing or surgical prep they may experience in a veterinary environment over the course of their lives.

If your dog is highly anxious and fearful of these tools, you are going to want to start very slowly - and by this, I don't mean a snail's pace; I mean a sloth's. Hold out your hand, holding the object, and just let your pet sniff the tool for as long as they're interested. Gradually, and again, slowly if fearful, adjust the location of the object, getting closer as your pet becomes more comfortable. Limit the activity to no more than 10 minutes each session, so you don't counteract your efforts and increase your dog's fear and anxiety.

Of course, make sure you reward your dog any time he/she exhibits calm behavior around whatever object or action you are working on desensitizing. If your dog is suddenly fearful or aggressive again, pull back and start the process over from where they are once again calm. Take a break and come back to it later if your dog seems overly stressed. There's no reason to push them so far that they bite or panic - it isn't worth causing them the extra anxiety, which could then put you in a dangerous position as well.

Once your pet is no longer fearful of the tool, if it makes noise, you'll start the process again by turning it on to the lowest setting near them. Then you will gradually move the tool toward them, stopping if they are fearful and rewarding if not. You will then raise the speed and eventually touch your pet with it. It's all about taking small steps toward being able to handle whatever action or process you need them to cooperate during.

Tip 2: Budget for heartworm prevention rather than being blindsided by prices at your first visit.

Yes, HW prevention is expensive - however, it’s absolutely vital to their wellbeing. A dog off prevention is at high risk of contracting heartworm, and please don’t give me this ridiculous excuse: “My dog stays inside, so we really don’t need it.” Since when, exactly, does a mosquito resign itself to the outdoors? 🤔