Tips from Adopters: What We Wish We’d Known
We asked our adopters to share with us what they wish they had known before bringing home a dog—learnings they went through so you don't have to!
"I wish someone had told me not to reinforce bad behavior because it's cute. It won't be cute when they're 55lbs and still not fully grown!" -Christine, adopted Mia in 2018 & Luka in 2020
"One thing I wish I knew not to do was to think that my dog would immediately be attached to me and vice versa! I had a few moments of panic where I wondered if we were right for each other. I now realize that like with people, dogs take time to build a relationship with." -Katlyn, adopted Cricket in 2020
"Before I adopted, I thought I knew what to expect financially but you just never know what will happen to your dog. Luckily, I got pet insurance. At the time, I thought to myself, 'Sure I’ll get an inexpensive plan and never use it.' That inexpensive plan has saved me +$60,000 in three years. Plus, dog walks alone in NYC are expensive." -Haley, adopted Mushu in 2017
“I wish I knew that my (more of a cat person) partner was not going to take to dog ownership as easily as I thought! Make sure if you are adopting with your partner that you BOTH agree to share equal responsibilities and that you make sure they know what the responsibilities entail. It is A LOT of work!” -Jessica, adopted Arrow in 2017
“I wish I'd known how much it would cost to hire a sitter for all three pets. I knew it would be a lot but I don't think I really put much thought into exactly HOW much it would cost over the course of a longer trip. Also, I didn't expect the persistent medical issues that sometimes just happen with dogs. Tally's allergy issues have set up camp and it's been a challenge that we weren't really thinking we'd run into right away.” -Brittany, adopted Tally in 2020
“I knew this conceptually, but it’s different when a dog is in your care: dogs take a while to settle in and their personality really evolves over the first few weeks & months. You might not be completely head over heels in love and you might be frustrated until you get into a routine but it will come! Having a trainer I trust has really helped my sanity.” -Alex, adopted Paddles in 2020
“We did not realize how often you have to take a puppy out especially during the dead of the winter. For those adopters like myself who grew up outside of NYC with a backyard, housetraining is very very different than what you may remember your parents doing. You physically have to go outside down the stairs or elevator with the dog and stand outside in the freezing cold begging this little puppy to please pee or poop for you.” -Inky, adopted Banjo in 2017
“I didn’t realize exactly what “high energy” meant as a trait in a dog. I thought that meant maybe adding a couple extra miles to our walks each day. But having a high energy dog means ensuring your dog is mentally and socially stimulated. Roo requires a strict routine, and a lot of time goes into ensuring she gets enough exercise and activity so that she doesn’t become destructive or feel anxious when I’m gone.” -Chloe, adopted Roo in 2020
“I wish I knew not to create my own expectations of what my dog would be like before I adopt her. I had these fantasies of hiking, playing fetch, and bringing her to visit all my friends. However, Bailey gets carsick, so long travels to hike sites aren't easily possible, she doesn’t enjoy fetch, and she pees out of anxiety so bringing her to other houses is a risky choice. However, she does have a ton of personality that I didn't expect that I'd love out of a dog!” -Emily, adopted Bailey in 2020
“I wish I had taken time off work, maybe 2-3 weeks, to help my rescue acclimate to his new environment. Unfortunately, you can’t just get a dog and hope that he’ll be fine on his own when you go off to work, even when he’s past the puppy stage! There was a lot of separation anxiety to work through and we probably set training back by months just by continuously leaving our dog home alone to ‘cry it out’.” -Rachelle, adopted Milo in 2019
“Puppy Blues are totally normal and will pass! I felt anxious, worried, and honestly a little sad for the first 10 days after we brought our pup home—it was a big life change (and the lack of sleep that came with crate training a puppy certainly didn't help!). But I reached out to the MPR community and learned how common this feeling is. Slowly, these feelings were replaced with confidence, optimism, and unbridled joy!” -Skylar, adopted Mulaney in 2020
“I wish someone had told me to get pet insurance right away—don't wait! You never know what might come up, even shortly post-adoption. Better to be safe than sorry! Lucy had a mass that I found shortly after adoption and although I had initially planned to get pet insurance immediately, I waited a month and then it was too late for coverage.” -Amanda, adopted Lucy in 2017
“One thing I wish I had known about before I adopted was ‘puppy adolescence’. If you see behavioral regression between 7 months to 1 year of age, do not panic. Your dog did not break. This is normal. Welcome to the teen years. Get a trainer, take a deep breath, and think about how relieved you will be when it's all over!” -Elspeth, adopted Roo in 2018
“I wish I had thought to figure out all the logistics of what vet we would go to and how to secure pet insurance. The initial research can be overwhelming when you are trying to focus on acclimating your new dog. Also, don’t be scared of stomach issues during the decompression period but DO be vigilant! NYC streets are a buffet for many dogs!” -Daniella, adopted Bella in 2020
“Always be ready for changes. Our pup kept adjusting after one week, after one month, after three months, and keeps pushing his boundaries to see what he is or is not allowed to do. Watch for changes in their behavior—if one bathroom schedule was working for three months, it does not mean it will work forever.” -Natalia, adopted Paradox in 2020
“I wish I had thought to pick out a trainer and learn more about dog psychology and behavior long before adopting a dog. I messed up so many more times than I would have if I had had a trainer’s help. The cost is so worth it!” -Ilona, adopted Zadie and Levi in 2014
