10 Things I Didn't Know About Being a Dog Mom
1 . No matter how much you puppy proof, you’re doing it wrong.
Unless your dog will only be 8 pounds, that crate you bought off of amazon won’t be high enough. No matter how nice of a dog bed you bought, you will find it destroyed.
Did you like that basket? So did they. Flowers? You mean tasty little yard snacks? Puppies are the cutest little monsters ever.
2. Scratches; scratches everywhere.
While adorable, your puppy will make you look like you ran through a patch of thorned rose bushes. These scratches won’t last forever - (unless you’re me and your puppy is ruthless) be prepared for being asked what this scratch is from or what that scratch is from. It’s from the adorable monster. But more like something off of Jurastic Park.
3. You have the best excuse to get out of everything.
Don’t want to go to that little shindig? “Sorry I can’t, my dog has to be given attention.”
4. You will accidentally spend money on toys, they hate.
Squeaky toys don’t last long with my pup, and I can’t imagine I’m the only one. Once the squeaker is out, the lifeless rag that is left is enough to provide hours of entertainment.
5. They will swallow things. That shouldn't be swallowed.
Did you just buy a really cute doggy name tag off of Etsy? Asking from personal experience of course. You can call the vet like a crazy dog mom. They’ll tell you to just follow them around and wait for cute name tag to show up while it passes. Quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies - dogs do not care. Anything new and possibly yummy, down the hatch it goes. You’ll learn to move quick and not be afraid of putting your fingers in their mouth to retrieve it.
6. Dog health insurance is a thing, if you don’t have it, get it.
Nationwide provides DOG HEALTH INSURANCE! I know how crazy that sounds. But hear me out… I signed my dog up for it. $250 deductible, and it’s Major Medical! Anything super bad happens, the closest thing I have to a kid is totally covered! And so is my bank account.
7. They will have a favorite person, just hope it’s you.
If you own a dog with a S/O, your dog will have a favorite person. Someone will get more snuggles, kisses, and more attention from the little monster. There is nothing you can do to force your dog to like one person more than the other, just hope that you’re in the winners circle.
8. Luke Combs is right, dogs do run off.
Unless your dog is always on the leash or if you don’t have the space for them to run off, it will happen. Your heart will sink and you will holler their name. But no matter how mad you are at them for getting too adventurous, as soon as you see that face running back to you, there will be a sense of relief. You can yell at them for not listening, but it likely will happen a couple times before they understand, “you can’t run off like that, idiot!”
9. You have a shadow with four legs.
Getting up to get something to drink? Have to go to the bathroom? Bedroom? Outside? Them too. Wherever you’re going might be exciting - what if there's a bug that needs to be taste tested outside? (see #5 again, don’t go after a bug, let nature take its course.) Whatever they’re doing, you have to let them come with.
10. They’re part of your life, you’re their whole life.
I already knew this statement was true, but it sits different with me now. If you’re like me, you’ll want them to be with you every single second. The fails at puppy proofing, the scratches, the chewed up lifeless toys, swallowed goods, health insurance claims, running off and the constant shadow are all a part of your ride together. It will never be a long enough ride, so enjoy it while you’re on it.
