Choosing a Best Friend is a big decision.

As humans we don’t go out shopping for a best friend. We don’t pick a day, do some speed dating, and then come home with a human that we dub worthy of our friendship based on the five minutes we interacted at a store or shelter. It’s just not logical, right? It’s a title someone in our life earns from shared experiences, long standing relationships and the willingness to be there for you through thick and thin. It is a hard earned title and usually well-deserved.

I am Lucky enough to have 7 best friends: 5 humans and 2 dogs. My human Besties and I deff earned these titles In each others’ lives and They are the best humans I know for putting up with me this long. It has been years in the making and I am grateful everyday that I have them in my life.

As for my dog besties, I would say they came into my life already knowing how to be my absolute best friends and I was the only one who had to earn the title, to prove my worthiness. I met them both at different times in my life and it was one of those Love-At-First-Sight moments. I felt an instant connection and knew they would be my besties for life.

If only meeting humans could be this way, am I right ??

So I took them home and this is the part where I had to start earning the Unconditional love they were already giving me. But how to Care for them properly?

Of course they have basic needs food, water, and sleep, but what about the rest? Love, Play, and Security? It can be Quite overwhelming to walk into a big Pet Store with so many things and not know what the heck you’re doing. Like a kid in a candy story where you’re just grabbing everything and anything, or like in the first episode of the show “Baby Daddy”, where two young guys are standing in the baby aisle grabbing food for toddlers when their baby doesn’t even have teeth.

So for all you first time Dog Moms and Dads, or those that are just needing a little help, I’m here for you. I’m going to break it all down here: What you Need, What will be nice to have but isn’t a necessity, What will be So Helpful for you as a pet parent and what is just a waste of your time/money, and how to keep track of it all to stay organized.

Okay, so First things first: Besties Gotta eat Right? Food seems like the easy part, but have you ever been in a Dog food aisle? There are so many options. Dry or Wet ? Puppy, Small Dog, Adult Dog, Senior, or Small Bites ? Chicken, Lamb, Salmon, Beef, Duck, Rabbit, or Venison? Brand Names? Big Bag or Small Bag? Portion Size? Grip on the bottom of the food bowl or no grip ? Bowl Size ? Raised bowls or ground level ? Dog food Mat ?

It can all be so daunting, but don’t worry, I’m here to help.

As for the Brand there are so many controversies over what they actually put in the food, how much of the good stuff is in it and how much is just filler stuff. Best tip I Ever got (from a Pet Value Friend) was to look at the first 10 Ingredients because that is what the majority of the ingredients are. You want to make sure these first ingredients are Your Protein, Veggies, Fruits and Grains to Ensure your pup is getting the proper balanced nutrition.

According to American Kennel Club the most Important thing to look for on your dog food is the phrase: “(Name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.” This isn’t just an advertising slogan. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has strict requirements to make sure that a product is in fact complete and balanced for dogs (or cats).”

Now which Protein to get? If you haven’t got your bestie an Allergy test yet and the Pet store/Shelter they came from doesn’t know any of their food allergies, then consider steering clear of chicken or beef until you know for sure, seeing as these are some of the more common food allergies for dogs. (This I learned the hard way after endless skin rashes, ear infections, weight loss, vet visits, and expensive tests and treatments for Poor Padme.)

As for Wet or Dry dog food I would say as a Pup or a Senior dog It might be nice to give your bestie some Wet food to make it easier to chew and get down. If  you Choose to go with dry maybe every once and a while give them some wet food as a nice treat to switch things up. If you have a small or medium size dogs some small bites dry food will be just fine. If you have Big or adult dogs I would go for some adult Dry food and then add some wet food for fun sometimes. If you aren’t happy with any of the options out there for dry and wet dog food there are a few premade “Real Food” options or you can even make your own Real Food Recipes for yourself. ( I make all Padme and Jack’s food myself due to my Bubble Babies’ allergies and I am so happy with how healthy and strong she is growing again).

Portion Size, This is super Important so Your besties Grow Healthy and Strong. I think we all know I’m learning personally how important Portion Control is for us Humans and it is just as important for our pups. According to Pet Md this is not as cut and dry as the food packaging makes it out to be. “If you have a 20-pound dog who lays around all day and has no interest in exercising, feeding him the maximum amount would almost certainly lead to unhealthy weight gain. Alternatively, an active dog who zips around all the time probably needs more calories than would be provided by the lower end of the range.” Another thing we should take into account is that the recommended Serving amounts are for the entire day not just one meal. So unfortunately I can’t tell you an exact amount of food to give your dog. I can tell you that I have two very active dogs one 9 years old and the other about to be 5, both small, and we feed them 1 ½ cups of Real Food a day.

When it comes to whether to get the big or small bag of food when you are just getting your bestie I would always recommend a small bag at first to wait and see how your dog will like or react to the food before you go spending money. Y’all know Dog food can be expensive.

For some ideas on the range of options available, click on each of the below pics and explore the details for each of these brands. I’ve personally tried each of the below and highly recommend them.

Last but not Least: Food Bowls. Of course we all want something cute for our bestie but most important is that the bowl does not go sliding away as they eat. Grips on the Bottom or Holders can help with that. If you have a small dog small bowls at floor level works perfect, but for a big dog having a stand that raises the medium to large bowl up will be much better for your pup. As for mats I personally don’t use them, My pups don’t usually let a drop of food out of their bowl, they love their food too much and even if they do drop any, they eat on the Tiled floor of our kitchen so it’s an easy clean up.

Next thing I find so Important is…. Treats! We all want that great connection with our pups and personally I feel giving treats helps solidify that bond right off the bat. Imagine if the first time you met a Potential friend they showed up with your absolute favorite snack of all time. It’s a snack that only a Bestie or a mind reader would know you loved because its so specific to you. Wouldn’t you feel fated to be Besties? Wouldn’t you be in disbelief ? Like OMG You Know My soul? Maybe that’s just me, but I feel like when you show up with the yummiest treats that pup is gonna feel fated for you. And after all, that’s what we want right? A pup that wants us as much as we want them. So let’s talk treats.

If you are anything like me you’re gonna use these for training, introducing them to new things and just as a little reminder that you love them. So I would recommend something that is not bad for them nutrition-wise. Something like freeze dried treats that are single ingredient, with usually a protein, or even getting a small bag of a healthier dry dog food that you might have passed on because of the price, can be a great treat. Go to the store ahead of time and get some of these treats and show up to the shelter or pet store with them. Then introduce yourself to the dog you feel the most connection to by letting them smell you and giving them a treat. I’m a true believer that the best way to their heart is through the tummy.

Since Padme has so many allergies we love single-ingredient treats in our home, like these ones below that we get from our local Pet Value (Click the pic for the link).

Now that they have met you, bonded with you, and you have fed them, let’s be honest this was an exciting day for both of you, so let’s talk about getting some rest.

Now I am no expert, but I have been learning about training my dog for a while now and so many trainers say letting your dog sleep in your bed teaches them that they are your equal and you are not their pack leader, but I disagree. I feel that when my dog sleeps next to me or at my feet he must really trust me. If you really think about it a dog is most vulnerable while sleeping and when they are taught that its ok to sleep next to you, you’re bonding. I wholeheartedly believe this is another bonding opportunity. You are teaching your pup right from the start that they can trust you. You are their pack and they are safe with you. I looked up pics of wild dog packs and they all sleep together so sorry-not-sorry, Jack will be in my bed every night.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with doggy beds! For some ideas, click the pics below to see some pretty neat options 🙂

If you choose to get a dog bed I would put it in your common living space or office so your pup has a place in the room while you work or have company. Dog beds come in so many shapes and sizes but the reality is your dog may shed, drool, throw up, or even pee on it if they aren’t trained. So getting a bed that is machine washable is a must. This would be the kind that have a cover that zips off or are thin and flat enough to throw in the washer with no problems. Trust me, this will be a life saver. As for the size if you have more than one dog you can consider one large bed they can share. Other than that I would just get one slightly longer than their body length. Dogs usually curl up when they sleep but sometimes they like to lay in weird positions or stretch out. For more options then the above, see more pics below!

Lastly don’t forget to get lots of rest, yourself, because tomorrow is the start of the rest of your life as a Dog Parent.

Talk soon

• Jean Marie

P.S.: I will share some PDF’s below. A list of the Must haves for Dog Parents and An Inventory checklist I use to stay organized on things I’m running out of. Comment and let me know if these tips were helpful or if you have any tips of your own to share I’d love to hear from you! If you want to hear more about my toys, potty pad, harness, collars, carriers, clothes, and boots recommendations don’t worry, Next Sunday I will be Posting more on that.

Downloadable PDfs

  Womens Best Friend Inventory

 Womens Best Friend Must Haves