A Puppy For Christmas: Are You Sure?

Have your kids been harassing you for months to get a puppy? You may be gradually warming up to that idea and now that Christmas is coming up soon, you might be thinking: why not give the kids a cute little puppy on December 25th. If you have been considering the idea of giving a puppy to your kids for Christmas, please read this article very carefully.

First, the Holiday Season is probably the worst time to get a dog. A puppy needs a routine and we all know how crazy our schedule is during that time of the year. Remember that you’ll have to get up once or twice in the middle of the night to get your puppy outside to do his business. So, if you’re already tired from shopping, cooking and the office parties, not having full night sleeps won’t help!

A dog is not a toy that you throw away once the magic of the first couple of months is gone. A dog should be considered an integral part of the family exactly as your kids are. You don’t give your kids up for adoption if they break your favorite vase, so a dog shouldn’t end up at the shelter if he chews on your favorite pair of slippers. In fact, if your puppy destroys anything in the house, you should bang YOUR head on the wall…. A puppy has to be supervised and needs safe toys to chew on.

Another thing you have to plan before getting a puppy is the costs associated with it. Getting a puppy requires you to get a crate, toys, food, bowls, leash, collar, etc. Furthermore, your puppy will need a vet checkup, his annual shots, etc. Also, as we talked earlier, if you don’t want to lose both your dog and your slippers, you will have to train your cute little puppy. Put on your list of things to do for your dog a puppy socialization and/or an obedience class.

You also have to plan what you are going to do with your dog when you go on vacations. Will you bring your dog with you, ask a friend or family member to babysit or have him stayed at a good kennel? You’d be amazed by the number of dogs who end up at the humane society because the owners decide to leave the country for a couple of weeks and don’t want to pay $20 a day in kennel fees.

If you think that a dog belongs in the garage or tied to a chain in your backyard, please DO NOT get a puppy. Dogs are social creatures that absolutely need the interaction with their pack: you. They need to be with you, to live with you, to play with you, to feel protected by you. In other words, they want to be in the house with you. And for that dog to be a well-behaved pet inside the house, he has to be housetrained. Consequently, housetraining your puppy will be your first job as a new dog owner.

If after reading this article, you know that a puppy would be a great addition to your family. You don’t mind at all spending the time and money required to train and live with a well-behaved and happy dog, then I would be more than pleased to help you with your first job.