“No matter how old your dog is, he always stays a little puppy for you,” Daryna Kalnichenko, the pet behavior expert at Petcube Online Vet told Bored Panda in an interview. “Still, raising puppies is night and day from raising grown-up dogs,” she added.

First off, raising a pup requires a lot of time, energy, and attention. “It’s literally four-legged infants. The biggest difference is probably not having constant supervision. Puppies lack training, attention span, and mental capacity compared to adult dogs.”

Daryna said that that’s why you need to constantly check to make sure if a puppy peed in the corner, chewed your new shoes, or got stuck in the furniture. “On the other hand, when you have a grown-up dog who has its own characteristics and behavior, it’s sometimes hard to change it,” the pet behavior expert added.

Before becoming a puppy owner you should remember that the first months of life with a pup are time-consuming. Daryna argues that you have to start from scratch and do potty training, establish their routine, and work on separation anxiety and overall training.

“Another challenge is healthcare,” she said. Daryna’s advice is “to ask around to find a local vet and ER. Another great option is a 24/7 online vet — an on-demand team of licensed veterinarians ready to answer newbie questions. Don’t forget to vaccinate, deworm, do parasite control, desex and microchip a new pooch.”

Moreover, little puppies often get into trouble when they explore a whole new world around them. “Starting with falling over the stairs and ending up eating their own shits. It’s a good idea to have an emergency fund to cover unexpected veterinary expenses,” Daryna explained.

Meanwhile, each breed has different maintenance requirements. Daryna reminds future puppy owners that it’s a must to learn as much as possible about the particular breed you like. “Make sure it fits your lifestyle, then you won’t consider bringing a new family member ‘a huge mistake,’” she said.

“Large breed dogs like Bernese or Saint Bernard need special puppy food for healthy bones and joints. Pugs, Poms, and Chihuahuas need watching for signs of low blood sugar.”

Also, some breeds require extra care about their coat. “Poodles and Havanese have to get used to brushing from an early age,” Daryna explained.

Meanwhile, a dog is considered to be a grown-up when it’s between one or two years. “Your pooch starts to be more relaxed and gets used to living in a family, and overall everything just calms down. You just know it when the dog is mature. It starts listening to you, behaving well with other dogs, and responding to the training,” Daryna explained.

“Usually, dogs stop pooling the leash, trying to eat the trash, or jumping on people. With a grown-up dog, you can finally get enough sleep and even leave them for 4-6 hours alone at home,” the pet behavior expert at Petcube Online Vet concluded.