Of course, the first thing you discover when you get a new dog is an entirely different realm of cute that you never even knew existed.
From puppy breath to secret yellow “surprises”—these are just a few of the common discoveries you’ll likely encounter in the first few weeks.
The longer you two spend together, the more things you’ll come to realize. Read on for a rundown of ten things you discover when you get a dog.
The importance of routines
Your dog’s biological clock is uncanny. Whether it’s time to wake up to go on a walk or hit pause on that movie to refill a water bowl, you can always count on a dog to be your four-legged and furry sun dial.
The going-ons in the neighborhood
Whether it’s the trees’ changing colors or the house two blocks away that just went on the market, your daily walks keep your finger on the pulse of your hood.
By way of your buddy, you’ll also likely meet all the other dogs within the five block radius of home.
Dogs always want the worst thing for them
Maybe it’s your completely botched attempt at homemade pad thai or maybe it’s the piece of double chocolate cake you just sat down with—whatever the treat, your dog can smell it and she wants it, bad.
The true meaning of puppy dog eyes
You can’t compete with the soul-obliterating and anger-neutralizing gaze of a guilty golden after he’s been caught red pawed drinking out of the toilet or chewing up your checkbook…Nice try, Jake Gyllenhaal.
The magical properties of the lint roller
And you keep one in the car, by the door, and in your purse just to keep things fur-free.
A need for cloud-based storage
Guilty as charged…Your phone is perpetually full of dog photos. And on that note…
You become THAT person on social media
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter—no platform is left behind on this one. But we get it: Why shouldn’t the internet see that photo of Fido pensively gazing out the window on a snowy day, or that close-up shot of him sleeping soundly on his new dog bed?
Yappy hour is a thing
Yep. If you thought cheap beers out with friends at 4pm was a thing of the past, think again.
Parks you never knew existed in your city
You and your buddy are always looking to change things up. Even if an uncharted dog park is a little bit further away than what you’re used to, you’re up for it. On that note, you also quickly discover which cafes are dog friendly, so you can sip on something warm during your winter walks.
Dogs are people, too
You discover more and more human attributes as the days go by, like a penchant for sitting on the couch in a suspiciously human way, and a mutual love of late night snacks (we hear you in the kitchen munching on your kibble at 1:30am, buddy). If you need any more convincing…