Why Getting a Dog In My 30s Was The Best Decision I Made Yet

There are a few things society tells you you’re supposed to have figured out by your 30s: a stable job, a savings account that’s not just a rumor, maybe a skincare routine that involves something other than makeup wipes. Not to mention the whole marriage thing and being in a long term relationship looking to settle down for the future.

Being in your 30s means lots of expectations and milestones, and let’s be real sometimes those milestones don’t get met when we are hoping they do…

What I didn’t expect to add to that list? A four-legged, fur-covered best friend who completely changed my life. Seriously, this was not on my Bingo card until I was settled down and not feeling like I was so much in limbo.

Let me just say it upfront, in the spirit of transparency, getting a dog in my 30s was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Yes, even better than finally buying the viral criss cross office chair that totally elevated my work from home set up…

The Commitment is Real (But So Is the Reward)

I’m not one to sugar-coat things so you’re about to get some brutal honesty. Getting a dog is not like ordering a cute accessory off Amazon. It is so glamorized on social media today, but it is a big time and energy commitment.

It’s early mornings, muddy paws, and saying goodbye to spontaneous weekend trips. It’s budgeting for vet bills instead of bottomless mimosas. It’s realizing that “puppy proofing” your home means your floors will never be clean again.

The most important to really talk about here is the training. Training is not a one and done task – it might look that way on social media with all the expert dog trainers, but it is truly a labor of love. The time invest that comes with getting a dog should not be glanced over. If you do get a puppy, it’s so important to invest your own time into the training and socialization of the dog. And if I have learned anything in my 34 years, it’s the time is the most expensive currency and it is a real commitment to dedicate that time to your dog.

The amount of times I have left plans or canceled on future ones because “I need to walk my dog” or “I can’t be gone from Monaco that long” exponentially grows by the day. It stung at first, but honestly I’ve grown to enjoy those nights at home with my dog. We’ll talk about that more in the next section…

But here’s the thing: for every inconvenience, there’s a moment of pure, uncomplicated joy that makes it all worth it.

That face waiting for you when you get home? It never gets old
The wagging tail when you say their name? The joy is so authentic and genuine (that’s rare these days)
The excitement every single time you see them, regardless of it you were gone for 5 hours or in another room for 3 minutes? It’s so pure.

It’s the kind of love that doesn’t ask for anything in return — except maybe a walk, a belly rub, and your entire side of the bed.

My Lifestyle Did a 180 (And Honestly, Thank God)

Before I got my dog, my weekdays looked something like:

Wake up. Work. Scroll. Eat something “quick.” Watch too much Netflix. Go to bed. Repeat.

I was basically living to work and not working to live.

I did not prioritize myself. I’m talking about my health, both physical and mental. Becoming so laser focused on work has been my entire life and it was how I viewed success and valued myself. It absolutely blows my mind that a dog is the thing that made me realize that I am more than just a person who sits behind a computer all day hoping to climb the corporate ladder.

But dogs? They don’t let you get away with that nonsense. No longer a slave to the man.

They demand you get outside.
They insist you take breaks.
They remind you there’s a world beyond emails and meal kits.

Suddenly, I found myself exploring parks I’d never been to, chatting with neighbors I didn’t know existed, and actually enjoying sunrises (something I previously thought only existed on Instagram). I even joined a pilates studio and now practice 3x a week – all because I realized how my mental health improved when I prioritized physical movement. The sunsets are something incredible too – we post about them on TIktok and you should give us a follow. My step count skyrocketed, but so did my happiness.

A side effect I wasn’t expecting from getting a dog… cutting alcohol. I was never a big drinker, but all of sudden those long nights our because 2 hour stints with 1 drink and heading home to walk my dog and go to sleep at a decent hour *mind blown.*

The “People” You Meet at the Dog Park

Here’s the part no one tells you: your dog becomes your ultimate social wingman. My mom always told that the two best conversations starters and babies and dogs, and she was not wrong.

Forget dating apps — nothing sparks conversation like a golden retriever rolling joyfully in the mud while you apologize profusely to everyone nearby.

I’ve met friends through dog walks, I’ve met neighbors I never talked to in 4 years of living on my street, and the random “OMG, can I pet your dog?” moments are some of the most fun interactions I’ve ever had. Having a dog has this magical way of connecting you with people you never would’ve crossed paths with otherwise — people who just get it.

It Was an Investment… and the Best One I’ve Made

Sure, getting a dog isn’t cheap. Between food, vet visits, and the impulse-buy squeaky toys that mysteriously vanish, it adds up. Don’t go to TJMaxx, you will leave spending $200 o dog toys every. single. time. But honestly? I can’t think of a better investment.

Because what I got in return was purpose. And you really can’t put a price on that

Having my dog made me feel needed in a way that nothing else did. It grounded me. It filled my home, and my heart, in ways I didn’t even know were missing. It reminded me that love doesn’t always come from a person, and that sometimes the best relationship you’ll ever have has four paws and fur.

Call me a crazy dog mom, I own that and wear that badge with honor.

So, Back to You, Should You Get the Dog?

If you’re sitting there wondering, “Is this the right time?” — I get it. I asked myself that question for months. But here’s my honest answer:

There’s probably never going to be a “perfect” time. Life will always be busy, messy, uncertain. But if you have the love, the time, and the patience — you’ll figure the rest out.

Because at the end of the day, a dog doesn’t care how clean your apartment is or how chaotic your life feels. They just care that you’re their person.

And once you experience that kind of unconditional love, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

So yes get the dog.

It might just be the best decision you ever make, too.

Teena Fey