Getting a dog for the first time?
Yayyyy, welcome to the beautiful world! 🐶
You’re about to experience unconditional love, zoomies, muddy pawprints, and a whole lot of chaos — the good kind. But let’s be honest: while getting a pet sounds exciting, many first-time dog owners realise (a little too late) that it’s not always as easy as it looks on Instagram.
Over the years, I’ve seen pet parents — myself included (sometimes) — make some avoidable mistakes in the beginning. So here’s a no-nonsense, straight-from-the-heart guide on what people often get wrong… and how you can avoid doing the same.
❌ Mistake 1: “Dogs Are Low Maintenance, Right?”
Let’s clear this up: they’re not.
Dogs need your Time, Energy, Attention, and most of all — Consistency.
They’re like toddlers that never grow up. You can’t skip walks, ignore playtime, or expect them to “understand” when you’re tired.
Instead, ask yourself honestly:
Can I give my dog 1–2 hours every single day — no matter how busy I am?
If not, you might want to press pause and rethink your timing & it plan better.
❌ Mistake 2: Picking the Wrong Breed (Or Rushing to Buy One)
So your friend has a Husky and now you want one too — even though you live in 40°C summers and have a 1BHK flat? Please don’t do that. 🙈
What to do instead:
- Research breeds that match your climate, work schedule, and energy levels.
- Better yet? Adopt from a shelter. You’ll literally be saving a life.
- If you still want to go for a Good breed, please do some research before getting them.
❌ Mistake 3: Delaying Training & Socializing
“I’ll train him when he grows up a bit…”
That’s like saying you’ll teach a child how to speak when they’re 10. Doesn’t work, right?
Start early — even simple things like “sit” and “stay” make a difference. And don’t forget to help them get used to people, sounds, other dogs, and daily life outside the home.
You’ll thank yourself later.
❌ Mistake 4: Feeding Too Much Love… in the Form of Food
We all do this:
“Just more bite… look at that face!” 😍
But here’s the harsh truth — overfeeding (especially with human food) can mess up your dog’s health big time.
Fix it by:
- Sticking to a proper feeding schedule.
- Avoiding food that’s toxic to dogs (onions, chocolate, grapes, etc.).
- Asking your vet what works best — not Google or a random dog reel.
❌ Mistake 5: Skipping the Vet (Unless Something Goes Wrong)
Some pet parents only visit the vet when their dog is already unwell. But prevention is everything.
Ticks, worms, infections — they’re more common than you think.
Your to-do list:
- Keep vaccinations up to date
- Regularly deworm your dog
- Use flea/tick protection (especially in monsoons)
❌ Mistake 6: Thinking “Love Is Enough”
We wish it was. But love alone won’t raise a happy, well-behaved dog.
Your pet needs:
- A daily routine
- Clear rules (what’s okay and what’s not)
- Space to play, rest, and just be a dog
Dogs need structure just as much as they need cuddles.
❤️ Bonus Advice: Build Your Pet Parenting Tribe
Nobody gets it right alone — and that’s okay.
Join a community of pet parents, follow pages that offer real advice (like The First Paw ;)), and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Whether it’s choosing a vet or handling separation anxiety, someone else has been there. In my last 9 years experience, I haven’t met a single pet parent who laughs at you for asking silly questions 🙂
🐶 Quick Recap:
| Mistake | What To Do Instead |
|---|---|
| Thinking dogs are low effort | Plan for daily time & care |
| Rushing to buy a trendy breed | Research + consider adoption |
| Waiting to train | Start Early |
| Overfeeding & giving scraps | Stick to healthy food |
| Ignoring vet visits | Stay on schedule |
| Only giving love | Add routine & rules too along with lots of love |
🧡 Final Words:
Bringing a dog home is one of the best things you’ll ever do.
But it’s not about being perfect — it’s about being prepared.
If you’re a first-time dog parent (or thinking of becoming one), you don’t have to do it alone. That’s why we created The First Paw — a space to learn, share, and celebrate everything about life with dogs.
🐾 Because your dog deserves the best version of you — from Day 1.