Simone Reddington

It’s hard to believe that it’s now been over a year since I took Paddy, my little puppy home, after years of wanting my own dog. It’s been a year full of laughter, tears and very happy memories and I wouldn’t change him for the world. Here are the things that I’ve learnt in my first year as a dog owner.

1. Puppies don’t stay babies forever and they do grow into big dogs before you know it. Don’t get me wrong, they’re just as lovable when they’re fully grown, but take plenty of photos and enjoy every moment of them being little balls of fur as they won’t stay that small for long.
2. Don’t leave any valuables (i.e anything worth keeping at all) around your dog when unattended as they WILL find it and they WILL chew it up.
3. Whoever said puppies are better behaved and don’t deprive you of sleep as much as human babies was lying as they will cry during the night when you first bring them home and howl like mini werewolves.
4. Taking your dog to Pets at Home for their own retail therapy is fun but you can buy nearly every item from there in Wilkos for a fraction of the price.
5. As much as most dogs enjoy going for walks, it does take them a while to get used to it so don’t be surprised if they’re unwilling to leave your front doorstep when you first put a lead on them. Give it a bit of time and they will soon want to walk for miles.
6. There is nothing better than coming home after a long day at work to your canine pal running towards you and jumping up for a cuddle.
7. Although dogs are carnivorous mammals, its not a good idea to give them bones to chew on. Vets certainly do not advise giving them cooked bones, as they can be very dangerous if swallowed. Dogs can also quickly lose their tempers if you try to take their bone from them and will growl and snap. There are plenty of tasty dog treats in pet shops now that are much better for them.
8. There’s nothing more awful and frightening as seeing your dog poorly, especially as they can’t speak and let you know what’s wrong with them so watch what they’re eating when they’re outside as they will pick up all sorts of leaves and rubbish that might make them ill.
9. Your dog will soon become your best friend whom you love unconditionally but you will lose your temper and will find yourself telling them off when they’re being naughty. However, neither of you will be able to stay cross with each other for long and you’ll be snuggling with each other again before you know it.