101 Things New Dog Owners Should Know (but I didn't)

As I type this, Giorgio's curled up in a little ball, sleeping. He had glanced at his fluffy blanket, then at me, before jumping on my lap as his bed of choice. Three months ago, if someone had told me that I could love so dearly within such a short amount of time, I would have scoffed. And done Liz Lemon's masterpiece eyerolling. I guess stranger things have happened.

GG is my first dog in nearly 10 years and I wanted to do everything right this time. Last time, I had lucked out because I had a sturdy, incredibly well mannered Miniature Pinscher, Alvy, but at any rate, I was am a dumb dog owner. Knowing what I know now that I didn't, I wondered why anyone would ever let me raise pets then.

I still find myself making mistakes all the time. One could only hope that GG's half as patient with me as I am with him. It's been a steep learning curve, which is why I'm putting everything I know here in one place. I'm not a dog expert - far from it. I'm just an oftentimes anxious dog owner who hopes that sharing these information could help anyone looking to get a new puppy.
COST
The purchase price of the dog is just a tiny fraction of what it will cost to raise a dog. This is not to say that you should only get a dog if you are well off. It's just that not unlike human baby, dogs need your time, love and constant care. They could live up to 15 years, sometimes more. They are long term investment, so be fully prepared lest you have buyer's remorse later on. Find a breed that suits your lifestyle, put emphasis on prevention care and insure him so that you're always covered. You'll find yourself spending the most in the first three months. Structure a monthly budget for your dog's spending and (at least try to) stick to it.

In Australia, you could look at anything from $300 for a rescue dog or puppy from independent owners, to up to $1800 for a puppy from a registered breeder. I'd advise against buying:
 from a pet shop, or puppy mills where dogs are continuously forced to breed. If you have the slightest inclination to get a puppy off a petshop/puppy farm anyway, this thread will convince you otherwise.

 puppies labeled as 'miniature' or 'teacup', which means that the breeders purposefully mate smallest dogs to produce tiny puppies. Yes, these puppies are super cute and therefore sell well but they are also weak and more prone to diseases. It's a sad thing. And why teacup anyway? Why not say, coffee mug?

 from backyard breeders, which is a term for unregistered, often inexperienced people breeding dogs mainly for commercial gain. I got GG from a family that I now suspect as a BYB. I didn't get to see the parents and wasn't aware that it's crucial to check the parents' temperament. It was a by-the-door transaction, which at that time I chucked to the owners being reluctant for a stranger to come into their house. The puppy was adorable, already wormed, vet checked and vaccinated and I didn't think much of it. I have to say, 3 months in, GG is a lot of work, temperament wise. We're already in love with him and willing to work on these issues, but you may find that getting a certifiably healthy puppy with excellent temperament from reputable breeders would pay off in the long run.
How could you pass on this cutie pie though?
BREEDS
 Pureblood vs Mudblood
I'm not so fussy about getting purebreed or pedigreed dog. I do have a slight problem with treating crossbreeds or mutts as lesser breeds. Yes, popular cross breeds are often overpriced and have silly names like 'maltipoo' or 'cavoodle' but any cross breed is still a dog, and all purebreed dogs were once products of a cross breeding anyway. GG himself is an Australian silky terrier, a purebreed that had come from Australian terrier and Yorkshire terrier. Cross breeds can be just as loyal, healthy and smart as your purebreed companions. With that said, should you consider adopting one, you must be aware of potential medical issues. Plus, the fact that they are not breed to standard means their appearance can vary greatly even from the same litter.

Choosing breed based on cuteness factor is a bad idea (I mean, it should be a factor, but not the sole factor ;) ). First, you need to find out about the dog's temperament and suitability to your lifestyle. If you're a high energy person, a couch potato dog may not be for you and vice versa. A good place to start is Animal Planet's Dog Breed 101. Don't be fooled by their appearance - a Yorkshire / Silky Terrier isn't your typical lap dog. Terriers in general are feisty, love to hunt and dig your manicured lawn. And since Pomeranians are yappy, protective dogs, check if barking would be an issue with the neighbors. In my experience, giant breeds are 100x more well mannered than toy breeds. Just the other day, my still sick, 4kg puppy tried to pick a fight with a Rottweiler. Everyone who heard him thought the barks came from the (thankfully calm and indifferent) Rotti.

 Different breeds have different grooming needs. You should check if they shed a lot and or / require extensive grooming (read: $$$). Maltese will disappear into a huge matted cotton fur ball (not as cute as it sounds) if not regularly brushed and groomed. Breeds who shed less would suit those with allergies. Full grooming in Sydney starts at $60 for a small breed, which is no small deal. Want a low maintenance dog? Get a miniature pinscher, toy fox terrier or short coat chihuahua. Alternatively, learn to groom them yourself.
TIME
 I have been told - and I concur - that Christmas is the worst time to get a new puppy, even though you'll often see puppies given as Christmas presents. The first 4 months of a dog's life is crucial as they need regular walks, training and play time. They may need to be enrolled in puppy school and obedience class and go to dog parks. All of these take significant amount of time that you may not have during busy holiday season, especially if you plan to vacation somewhere and leave the pup by themselves.

If you are a parent getting a puppy for your kids, please be prepared to be the puppy's real owner. Dog isn't a tool to teach kids responsibility. The key is to show your kids how to care for their furry friend, not hand the puppy over and hope they magically have the knowledge to raise a dog. They won't, although  that would be a Christmas miracle.
FEEDING
 There are many food I didn't imagine dogs would eat but they do. GG loves apples (no seed as seeds and pits are toxic), (low fat) cottage cheese, green beans, carrots, banana and strawberries. He even eats grass. Since fruits are high in sugar, feed them in small portion, especially toy breeds and those prone to diabetes.

 No table scraps since ingredients and seasonings (salt, garlic, onion) used in our meals are bad for them. I have no idea how Alvy survived with me all those years.

 Must avoid: chocolate, grapes, raisins, garlic. These are commonly cited as toxic for dogs. In small dogs, even a small dose can be fatal. When in doubt, Google is your friend. Always crosscheck before you feed them anything new.

 Always check the list of ingredients on commercial dog food. Choose one with less grain and fillers, which your dog doesn't need in his diet. Note that chicken / beef / meat by products are meat that aren't deemed suitable for human consumption and thus repurposed as pet food. Why would you feed junk to your puppy? Conversely, just because a product has plenty of meats in the ingredients doesn't make it good. Sometimes, too much protein is well, too much. Aim for a balanced diet instead. Here's a comprehensive review site on commercial dog food, canned and dry: Dog Food Analysis.

 GG loves his homecooked meals. I boil diced, skinless chicken breast, green beans, carrots, veggies with a teeny bit of olive oil and parsley (for nice breath). It was the first time I make a stew. Or as I call it, K9stew.
HEALTH
 Most vets are (understandably) in the business of making money. I've been to a really nice vet hospital who pushes insistently towards certain food/medicine brands ("everything else is bad except brand X, which we sell here for 130% retail price" - I may have done some paraphrasing). Do ask around and find a vet who is more of a doctor and less of a pharmaceutical salesperson. If you find a good vet far away from your place, also find another one who lives close by as a back-up. Make a note of their opening hours and whether they allow drop by and open on weekends.

 Unless you're extremely certain your puppy will stay healthy forever, insure as soon as you get him. I had planned to insure GG at 6 months and boy was that the most expensive mistake I've made thus far. Insurance premium depends largely on breed and age. Standard insurance (at Petplan) for a young small breed costs roughly $400-500 a year. Meanwhile the cost for two vet consults, medication and blood test when GG fell ill last week was $505. Not to mention that insurance doesn't cover preexisting conditions. I find that vet consult ranges around $55 in Sydney. In the case of emergency, after hours vet fee is exorbitant ($200 for consult at SASH vet ICU). While insurance doesn't pay 100% of all your dog's health expenses, it does takes a huge chunk of the burden in making sure that your pet is healthy.

 Vaccination is generally required in Australia and I'm not against it. I've seen the arguments from both sides and agreed moderately to both. What I know is that GG couldn't stand up for a night after his second C5 shot, which was a normal reaction, and that he developed severe reaction two weeks after his final C5 shot. He had fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, joint swelling, swelling on the back of his neck, weak hind legs, internal inflammation and high white blood cell count which were attributed as side effects of the vaccine. It was a scary, scary time.

The amount of vaccine given to a small and large dog is the same. If I could do it again, I would NOT inject his tiny body with 5 vaccines at the same time. There is a real danger of overvaccination and before GG's given annual vaccine booster, I will first ask for a Titre test, to check for his antibody level and determine whether a booster is even needed. It's more costly than say, a combo C5 at the vet's office, but I owe it to him not to hurt him in my attempt to prevent diseases.

I realise that this isn't exactly 101 things, but we'll get there. Meanwhile, if you have any tips to share, please do :)
GG and I thank you for your time