Why You Should Get a Dog in Your 20'S

If you've been thinking about getting a dog, consider this your sign!

I think there are so many positive reasons to getting a pet in your 20's. I'm partial to dogs, but this could apply to any pet! Below are a few of the wonderful reasons you should get a dog.

You will start to have a daily schedule

We are creatures of habit. The more we do things, the easier it is to become a habit. Our brains are actually wired to follow habits to make our lives easier. That being said your dog, will have habits that eventually turn into routines. You as the owner of your dog, will need to work with your pet to find a routine that is best for both of you. Overtime you and your dog will have an understanding of what each day is going to look like (of course somedays there are exceptions to this!).

This daily schedule will dictate what time you get up, what time you eat, what time your dog eats, what time you go on walks, or workout, or how late you stay out with friends, and so much more. We got our puppy when she was 11 weeks old, and during those early days it was hard to think of doing anything else besides taking care of her. Overtime, things got easier as we learned what our puppy needed, and she learned the routine we were trying to implement. (Yes this included taking her outside every hour to try to potty train her). Now that she is 8 months old things are so much easier! I feel confident knowing that I have a daily routine that is going to allow me to take care of my puppy and everything else that I need to do each day. This took a lot of discipline and repetition, but I am very happy with how our days look like now.

Adjusting to young adult life can be hard. Going from having a couple classes each day to working a fulltime job, takes changing your lifestyle and daily habits. I've known many people who struggle with this change. This is why I think having a dog helps in some ways, because it is an outside force that makes it necessary for you to be on a schedule.

You will have better time management

My second reason for getting a dog goes hand and hand with my reason above. When you get a dog and are operating on a daily schedule, you are going to need to practice good time management. Dogs are a lot of work! I'm sure you've heard so many people say this. You will quickly learn that you don't have as much time as you had before your pet.

This can be a good thing! You will start to manage your time better and work more efficiently. Think about the wasted time spent scrolling and watching TV. I still have time on my phone and in front of the TV, but I feel more balanced now that I need to be more intentional about my time management.

You will learn your parenting style

I know dogs and kids are very different, but there is some truth to being a pet parent that relates to being a real parent. Dogs need structure and they need to know that they can trust you. In order for your dog to be well behaved it takes training them for them to eventually learn to be behaved. In order to train them you need to communicate clearly, set expectations, offer rewards, and be consistent.

One thing I learned about myself when working with our puppy is that I wanted my puppy to like me so much it interfered with how I was able to train her. We've all heard the saying that you can't be friends with your kid. That was the place I was in with my puppy. She thought of me as her friend and not her owner. My puppy didn't understand that I had authority over her and she needed to learn/listen to what I was saying. Having authority doesn't involve being mean or aggressive, but simply not letting my puppy follow her own will all the time. I still want us to have fun together, but I also want her to obey and to act well around others.

I've also learned to manage my emotions in front of my dog better. I get very overwhelmed and anxious easily in new or unknown situations. One small example was going to the vet for the first time. I was so nervous. Dogs can pick up on their owners emotions very easily and I didn't want my dog to learn to feel nervous at the vet, so I had to work on staying very calm and positive. This is a skill that I can now use in so many different situations in the future.

You will learn empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Understanding the needs of your pet takes time. It takes a lifetime of care and companionship. The reward for doing this is the unique bond you have between you and your dog. By having a pet you get to learn to be empathetic to the needs of an animal.

You will have to sacrifice so much for your pet, but by doing so you become a more selfless and more caring version of yourself.

You will need to practice being financially responsible

Getting a dog is expensive. There are vet appointments, crates, beds, leashes, collars, harnesses, dog food, dog bowls, medication, toys, and so much more when you have a dog. All of it can add up. Before you get a dog you should save some money to be able to get the basics of what you need. Saving for something as exciting as a pet can be a great way to start saving money in general.

Once you have a dog, setting aside a little bit of money to have on hand for emergencies or buying more supplies is essential. Starting this practice in one area of your life can easily lead itself to other areas too. Eventually, you could find yourself saving for other expenses. Little steps like this can have a big impact on how you manage your finances.

After getting our puppy we had so many family members who helped us with pet supplies. I am so thankful for our family for donating so much from bowls to crates. If you can ask your friends or family if they have anything they aren't using. This can be a great way to save money, instead of quickly buying everything.

You will have more fun

Let's be honest, dogs are so much fun! They love to play and love to explore the world around them. My puppy teaches me everyday to slow down and have fun. I love watching her learn new things and play with all of her toys.

Having a dog in your life will hopefully make you slow down and make time for fun too!