Choosing a dog or choosing a puppy as a Christmas or Holiday gift simply doesn’t make for a good first day of an every day commitment to your new pet. Puppies and dogs are living beings, not toys that can be played with, put away, and forgotten – you can’t turn them off. Don’t give in to the impulse button the pet store chains would like to see you push. There is much to think of if you are choosing a dog and want that choice to be the perfect Christmas dog present.
Here are 5 important considerations for if you are choosing a dog to be a Christmas dog or Christmas puppy under your holiday tree.
1. There will be a lot of competition for the attention your new Christmas puppy will require. How can a puppy compete with a video game console, or with any of the latest commercialized gifts? Choosing a Christmas dog might mean you will have to sacrifice or make special considerations to your holiday schedule. Never leave you new puppy or dog alone for extended periods of time – make a schedule for potty routines, feeding, playing, and attention.
2. Holidays are not normal household routine days. Choosing a dog as a Christmas present will mean your new dog will begin orientation to your household under conditions that won’t be typical of the rest of the year, and the rest of their life. That could cause a Christmas dog or puppy confusion and anxiety that can negatively affect your success with every stage of dog training and orientation to a typical daily schedule.
3. Will you be home to care for your puppy? Or, will the hustle and bustle of the holiday season require you to visit your family and friends? Your Christmas puppy won’t fair well if left alone – and neither will you. Nor is it a good idea to take your new pet with you. Invite people come to your home if they want to see your new puppy. Don’t take your puppy visiting or traveling.
4. Lots of visitors translates into often open doors – maybe a chance for your new dog to run away, possibly out of fear. Lots of visitors also means lots of human feet competing for the floor space that your new dog or puppy requires. Some guests may not like puppies or dogs as much as you do. Don’t let your opportunity to train and orient your new puppy or dog be negatively affected by holiday guest traffic.
5. Beware of the holiday hazards of food, decorations, and plants. Don’t put your pet in danger because you won’t be able to supervise all of your guests and your puppy as you entertain. Never allow anyone to give a dog chocolate, dough of any kind, alcohol, watch for poisonous plants, dispose of gift wrappings and ribbons right away, and never allow a guest to leave a food plate within your pet’s reach.
Don’t let yourself be pushed into desperately choosing a dog as a present. If you do bring home a Christmas dog, learn how to prepare yourself, your family, and your guests for your new Christmas dog.