A dog for Christmas. Bad or good idea?

Adopting a dog for Christmas is the ultimate present for a lot of kids. They beg for it for months and in the end, parents give in. Next thing you know, under the Christmas tree, there is a box with crude holes poked in it that makes funny noises. But, is it really a good idea?

To offer or not a puppy for Christmas really depends of the reasons beyond the gift and if you really have reviewed all of the pros and cons of adopting a dog.

A dog is a lifetime commitment. It needs time, resources and love. When offering a dog for Christmas and expecting a kid to be in charge of all of the above is simple unrealistic. Sure, Junior will take care of the dog for the first few days, but as soon as the holidays vacations are over, who takes care of the new addition to the family? Too often, a few weeks after the holiday, pounds and rescues are overflowing with unwanted puppies that are too much work for the family that first adopted them.

To DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, if you really want to surprise somebody with a puppy, made sure you discuss it through with the person that will be responsible of the pup. And yes, sometimes, that person is yourself. The subjects that needs to be discussed are the expenses related to a dog (food, accessories and veterinarian visits, shots, surgery and drugs), the necessary training in order to have a well behave dog and the fact their life will be changed for the next 10-15 years. No more impulsive ski week-end or long vacations without first planning a good kennel stay.

Don’t forget, if you are the one offering a puppy as a gift, you have the last word and can ultimately decide if offering a puppy is a good idea.

If after reflexion, you decide that a dog is a good idea, please DO NOT do these:

-         -  Wrap the puppy in a box under the Christmas tree. A puppy is a living being that needs air. Also, not only are you risking suffocating the dog, but you might un-wrap a pup that will have urinated and/or defecated and/or vomited on himself while waiting for you to unwrap him. Not quite the welcome you were expecting. And since a puppy is not a toy or a thing, don’t treat him as such.

-         -  Get a puppy from a pet store. Never, ever, ever buy a puppy from a pet store because those pups comes most likely from a puppy mills where dogs are kept all their lives in a cage and they are as good as they can breed. If you are serious in the search of a puppy, go to the pound, to a rescue. Find a reputable breeder or ask around you. 

-         -  Buy a puppy because of his look only or because it’s a popular breed. Each breed of dog is part of a group (work, sporting, hunting, terrier, herding, etc.) and if you choose the wrong group for your family, your life WILL be miserable. I can guarantee it. Imagine this. You just adopted a Labrador after seeing Marley and me but you are a very sedentary family that doesn’t do a lot of outdoor activities. Not only will you be overwhelmed by the work a Labrador needs, but your dog will be miserable and will act up. Check the site of the AKC (American Kennel Club) for more information about which breed is the perfect fit for you and your family or for the family you will be offering a puppy to.

An alternative

As I have mentioned above, since a puppy is not a toy or a thing, why not, instead, visit the pound as a family and adopt a dog that needs a new home? If you are specifically looking for a breed, look out for rescue groups across the country. Here are a few examples: 

a)      a) You are looking to adopt a Labrador. With a few clicks, you can find for “rescue Labrador new York”:
http://www.rudysrescue.org/ ;
http://www.tenspider-pets.net/pet-adoption/labrador-retriever-rescue.html ;
http://www.rescueforlife.org/.

      b)   You are looking to adopt a Yorkshire terrier. Enter : “rescue Yorkshire terrier new York” :
http://adopt-a-yorkie.adoptapet.com/ ;

http://www.yorkierescue.com/need.html ;
http://www.netpets.com/dogs/dogresc/breeds/dogyork.html.

Not only adopting from a rescue is a good thing, but the dogs coming from there are usually already fixed/spayed and/or have their shots and their behavior are assessed, making it easier to find a good fit, maybe for you and your family.

And if you wish to, not, if you feel as if you have to wrap something up, think about these necessary accessories:

-        - Leash and collar

-        - Food and water bowl

-        -  Toys

I can promise you that if you adopt a dog for the good reasons, whatever are your reasons, you will have a happy family, of humans and fur-balls.