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Buying a Puppy for Christmas

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Christmas is a time when many puppies are purchased as a gift for someone on your list.

Bringing a dog home for Christmas is a great idea! In reality, there's no difference in buying a puppy as a Christmas gift than buying a puppy as a birthday gift, or anniversary gift, or for any other day of the year.

And while there's nothing wrong about buying a puppy as a gift for someone, IT IS something that requires some responsibility on the part of the buyer...

  • Make No Surprises - If you're planning to buy a Christmas puppy, make sure the recipient wants a puppy. Don't drop a bundle of responsibility on someone who doesn't want that responsibility. Otherwise, it'll end up at the shelter, and likely be put down.


  • Get the Right Dog - If your recipient wants a puppy, make sure you get the right type of dog. You'll have to ask the recipient what breed they want, or how big or small, or if they want a dog already trained, or what.


  • Take the Recipient With You - Let the recipient pick out the dog they want. While it might take away from the surprise, remember that a dog is not just any other kind of gift, it's living being, with feelings, and will attach itself emotionally to its owner.


  • Adopt a Shelter or Rescue Dog - Maybe shelter dogs or rescued dogs are not as cute as the puppy in the pet shop, but they make loving pets, and are often trained to lesser or greater degree, and are a heck of a lot cheaper to buy. Dogs in shelters are essentially on death row, bringing one home as a Christmas gift is greatest gift you can give to such a dog.
You'll perhaps see countless articles imploring you not to buy a dog for Christmas, this is only because people are concerned about dogs being neglected and winding up in the shelter. I take the position of encouraging personal responsibility. I'm sure I'll make more enemies because of it, but I maintain that anytime you give a dog a permanent home, you're giving a gift to the dog as well.

Remember that Christmas is for dogs too, and then be responsible in your gift-giving.

9 Comments:

  • I LOVE DOGS!THEY DO DESERVE GOOD HOMES!ESPEICIALY ON CHRISTMAS!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:45 AM, December 17, 2006  

  • Thank you for suggested that someone get a rescue dog! But what do you mean they possibly aren't as cute and cuddly??

    By Blogger Debra, at 1:55 PM, December 17, 2006  

  • Another great article Steve. Thanks for making a difference.

    By Blogger Chris Dillon, at 7:03 PM, December 19, 2006  

  • I believe dogs can be a great gift for Christmas, if handled properly. Our child has wanted a puppy for 6 months or more and we feel she is ready for the responsibility. We have other children with responsibilities to other pets,and have had good results. Yes, with proper guidance and care "Christmas Puppies" can be wonderful.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:41 PM, December 20, 2006  

  • Nice article, especially the suggestion to look at shelter dogs! If it's helpful - here's a link to my blog post with some suggestions on considerations when getting a shelter dog!

    Things to keep in mind when adopting a shelter animal...

    By Anonymous PSR, at 7:35 PM, December 21, 2006  

  • My first dog was a birthday dog. He was a complete and utter surprise. He was the best surprise ever. He'll be ten later this year and I am thankful for every single minute I've had and will have with him. Not all surprises are bad.

    (yeah, birthday, not Xmas, but my birthday is just a few days before Xmas)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:56 AM, January 19, 2007  

  • I agree with every one else that your article is great. I certainly agree that going to the animal shelter or better yet a humane society is a good idea. At humane society's the dogs are always spayed or neutered and current on vaccines and tested for heart worm when possible. A grown up dog is usually house broken and trained to a leash. Some times there are puppies available at these places too. Where ever you choose: an animal shelter or a humane society those dogs need forever homes and lots of LOVE.

    By Anonymous Tracy, at 10:48 AM, January 25, 2007  

  • Thank you for suggesting rescue and shelter dogs. We often have puppies - look at today's and yesterday's blog for pictures and story. www.turtlegardens.org Keep up the good work.

    By Blogger turtlegardens, at 7:47 PM, January 28, 2007  

  • Giving a dog as a gift is NOT a good idea. Wow. That's like thinking having a baby will make a bad relationship better.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:12 PM, December 10, 2007  

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