I had a second choice for a pet, a Miniature Dachshund. I saw this tiny one in a pet shop, and his eyes were so glazed over, I thought I saw myself in him! My eyes were like that too. I was feeling all anxious at the time (but I still have those eyes, haha). I thought about bringing him home, but I couldn’t make up my mind. My mum always says taking care of animals is a big responsibility, and I didn’t want to be irresponsible.

  A few weeks later, I went back to the pet shop, and guess what? He wasn’t there anymore! I hope he’s found a loving family and is having a happy life. 

✔︎ What should I get to welcome a dog home for the very first time?

✔︎ When’s the best time to bring a dog home?

I've watched tons of YouTube videos and read loads of articles online,

and I’ve even checked out real dogs at pet shops. Here are my top picks for dog breeds:

Toy Poodle

small size super smart hair doesn’t shed much (so less chance of allergies) the most popular breed in my country, which means plenty of info available vets are very familiar with them, so they get lots of experience caring for them

One downside is that some breeders make them really tiny, which can lead to weak health or genetic issues. Also, the smaller they are, the pricier they get. The tiniest ones are called 'tea cup poodles,' but I’m not a fan of that marketing angle.

I've always dreamed of truly living with a dog—not just 'having' one, 'keeping' one, or 'owning' one. I wanted to welcome a dog as a full member of my family. When I was a kid, I asked my mum over and over, "Can I have a puppy?" but she always reminded me that taking care of an animal means a lot of responsibility. And she was right. So, I decided I'd live with a dog once I grew up and could be responsible for it.

Now, I'm in my 40s. I had kind of forgotten about that dream. But when I was searching for a new flat, I came across a 'pet-friendly' place. Suddenly, my dream came back to life. I signed the contract and moved in. But as soon as I started thinking about welcoming a dog into my family, doubts crept in. Am I really capable of taking care of a dog? I can barely take care of myself... It took me six months to finally decide to bring a dog home.

Beforehand, I did a lot of research about dogs. I focused on these five points:
✔︎ Which dog breed would suit me best? (My landlord only allows tenants to have ONE SMALL DOG or CAT—cats have to be 'small' too...)

✔︎ Should I get a dog from a pet store or a breeder? Or maybe rescue one from a shelter?

✔︎ Since I live alone, I have to leave the dog alone at home for at least 8 hours on weekdays, which makes me feel sorry for the dog. Can I handle that?