4 Dog Adoption Tips From Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert-Hough

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert-Hough are perhaps most famous for their years teaching other stars how to dance onDancing With the Stars(where Derek is now a judge), but they can also offer some advice when it comes to adopting a dog or two.

The newlyweds adopted 3-year-old Luna during the COVID-19 pandemic while Derek brought Romie home a little more than 10 years ago. He's now around 13 or 14 years old. Suffice to say they've learned a thing or two over the past few years.

Most notably, they've learned how to save on veterinarian bills and to find people you trust if you're going to leave your dogs at home alone. (You sort of have to when you're embarking on a three-month dancing tour of North America.)

Here are Derek and Hayley's four tips for dog adoption and ownership:

1. Get Pet Insurance

Based on a gut feeling, the Houghs decided to enroll in pet insurance for Luna when they brought her home, paying a regular fee (the premium) so they could be reimbursed in case their new puppy ever ran into any health problems.

It turns out that was a valuable gut feeling because poor Luna has gone through it. The 3-year-old has already needed a pair of TPLO surgeries to repairknee injuries．她也感染了giardia,Bordetella, andcanine influenza．

Woof. That would've been a ton of cash without the insurance, but with insurance, Derek and Hayley didn't have to pay those entire vet bills.

“令人惊讶的是许多人甚至不知道阿布t pet insurance," Derek says. "They don't know about it, and it's a game changer."

2. Know You'll Have to Make Sacrifices

Dogs aren't kids, but there are undeniable similarities. One is the most basic: Someone's always gotta look after them.

For dog owners, that may mean you can't go on a quick weekend trip if you can't find someone to watch the dogs. (Though you can board them, the Houghs like to keep Romie and Luna at home, where it's familiar and they can be together.)

"So you kind of have to sacrifice some of your own interests for them, but, honestly, their love, their energy every single day—just their little faces, by literally just looking at them, it makes it worth it," Hayley says.

3. Have Friends You Can Trust

Speaking of watching the dogs, you'll need people who can step in when you do have to leave for a trip or even just an afternoon. And that's not as easy as simply asking someone to show up and put food and water in the bowls.

Luna knows how to open sliding doors, and the cats—Palo and Lily—will knock things off counters for the dogs to get. They can also open doors, so vigilance is key for any housesitter.

"For me that's the hardest part, trusting somebody to really make sure the animals are good," Derek says.

But they have found trusted friends and housesitters who will be especially necessary as the couple completes its three-monthDerek Hough Symphony of Dancetour.

Besides caring for the dogs and cats, the houseguests will also have to supply Derek and Hayley with constant content. One of their friends, in particular, seems to always be in the right spot to captureNational Geographic-esque photos.

"You better be sending us photos and videos every day," Hayley says.

4. 'Just Do It'

Apologies to the shoe brand, but that's Hayley's final piece of advice. If you're willing and prepared to adopt and care for a dog, go for it.

"Just adopt them," she says. "Obviously be aware of what is needed to take care of [them] and to be prepared. But it's so worth it and it's amazing. I want everybody to experience loving an adopted dog."