6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Adopting a Puppy

I’ve wanted my own dog since the day I graduated college (and probably even before then, if we’re being honest). After growing up with multiple dogs in my family, I’ve always loved the happiness dogs bring and wanted to experience that by having my own.

Since dogs require a commitment of both time, money, and resources, my fiancé and I delayed getting our own puppy for a few years until we decided we were both ready. After having our dog Addie for over a year now, we’ve learned plenty! In the interest of passing on our wealth of knowledge and puppy tips, here are the six things I wish I knew before adopting.

1. You can adopt almost any breed of dog at any age.

Before we looked into rescue, we assumed it would be very difficult to find a puppy for adoption, and that we wouldn’t have a selection of breeds to consider. However, once we started researching, we found that many rescues across the country have litters of puppies available due to overpopulation from a lack of spaying/neutering.

We also loved the dachshund breed and wanted to adopt a smaller dog that would be able to adapt to apartment-style living. While looking at local dog rescues in our state, we scrolled through hundreds of photos of dogs of different ages, sizes and breeds until we saw a photo for Addie: a three-month-old, dachshund mix puppy who was supposed to grow no bigger than 20 pounds and needed a forever home. We applied immediately and were approved after a week-long waiting period.

2. Adopting a dog makes you a part of a larger family.

We did a lot of research into where we were rescuing from: Were they reputable? How long have they been in operation? What was our adoption fee going to be? After we received answers to all of these questions and others, we felt confident in the rescue organization we were choosing to support and have since recommended them to friends and family.

Since adopting Addie, we’ve discovered an entire network via social media of other adopters from the same rescue. We’ve connected with the dog parents of Addie’s brother and half-sister and have even met friends at our dog park of those who have adopted through the same rescue. My future sister-in-law even adopted her puppy from the same rescue after seeing what a great experience we had!

3. Patience really is a virtue.

When we brought Addie home, she was three months old and we had to fully train her. She made messes on our carpet, destroyed multiple shoes–including a brand new, expensive pair I had just bought (R.I.P.) and was terrified of going for walks on the sidewalk (she doesn’t like the loud sounds of cars driving by). While it’s easy to be frustrated by these things, we had to be patient and realize that just as we were learning, so was Addie. With a few months’ time and many treats later, Addie is now fully house-trained, only chews on her toys, and now loves going for walks.

4. Every dog is different and has its own personality.

This is one of the most important puppy tips I can share! While both my fiancé and I grew up with dogs, we weren’t fully prepared for Addie because every dog is completely different. For example, Addie is an avid chewer and destroys every toy we give her. Neither of us ever thought we’d be buying countless “tough” toys for our 15-pound puppy!

5. You’ll make new friends.

One of the great things about dogs is that they require you to leave your house and get outside. By bringing Addie to our dog park, not only has she made friends, but so have we! We’ve formed amazing friendships with the other dog parents in our apartment building, and often hang out with them outside of the park.

6. You’ll love them more than you ever thought was possible.

Addie is a member of our family. While we knew we would love her from the moment we were approved to adopt, we didn’t fully understand what she would mean to us until the day we picked her up from the rescue and brought her home. Dogs require a lot of time and commitment, but the endless love and loyalty they’ll give you in return is worth it–a thousand times over.

We want to hear your adoption stories and puppy tips! Tell us in the comments–and show us your puppers (please!) on Instagram @Lulus using #lovelulus!