Why You Shouldn’t Give Puppies as Gifts this Christmas
It can be shocking just how much time, attention, and training a puppy (or a dog) requires! Christmas can be a beautiful time to make a dog a part of your family ~ IF have already been planning on it for awhile!
Before you do, RESEARCH YOUR BREED! The AKC website is a great place to start deciding which breed might be a good fit for your circumstances and your family. Working breeds, such as Labs, especially need a lot of mental stimulation. Although they can be calm during “down time” they aren’t lazy lap dogs, and they won’t be content just lying around all day every day while you are too busy to spend much time with them. If you would love an eager companion for outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, bikejoring, water sports, hunting, or a good ol’ game of fetch, a Lab will be your best pal!
Also, RESEARCH TRAINING TECHNIQUES! There are tons of free websites, articles, and videos available to help you understand a variety of methods for training your dog or puppy. Remember, some breeds are much easier to train than others. If you are a first time dog owner, strongly consider a breed that is on the easier and more obedient side. Labs are a great choice, as they are generally highly intelligent, quick learners, and are eager to please.
Very importantly, RESEARCH PUPPY CARE! Find out what to expect when you first bring a new puppy into your home. How can you ease his transition? What supplies should you have? What is your potty training plan? How will you implement training right from the start? Where will she stay when you are away or sleeping and she needs to be left safely unsupervised?
Finally, FIND A REPUTABLE BREEDER! Are you looking for a family dog, a therapy dogs, or a hunting companion (Labs are top pick for all of these). Is it important to you to have a dog that is purebred or AKC registered? If possible, meet the parents, and visit the facility. Are the dogs healthy, socialized, and well cared for? Have they been vet checked and had their first shots and deworming? Adopting a rescue is always a wonderful option, although it may be more difficult to know the breed tendencies (or what kind of breed mix the pup is at all), and what your dog may have been through in its past life. Either way, think it through and be prepared for many years’ commitment of your time, care and attention.
With the right research, preparation and planning, a puppy for Christmas CAN be a great gift.
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