New Puppy for Christmas: Not a Good Idea

Puppies don't do well in chaos and confusion. Bonding with your puppy, introducing it to your environment, starting potty training, making it feel secure - all of these things are difficult amidst the chaos, clutter and visitors of Christmas. Puppies need a lot of care as they learn about their new homes.

A New Puppy Shouldn't Be Exposed to Holiday Dangers.

At Christmas, there are ornaments to break, poinsettias to be poisoned by, and tinsel to choke on. People are going in and out, and pup might try to go with them and not even be noticed.

You Can't Take Care of a New Puppy When You're Too Busy.

How are you going to keep tabs on your new puppy when you need to run out and shop, stay home and cook, wrap, and decorate. Puppies need lots of attention and constant supervision. And you do not want to leave the new puppy in a cage all the time.

A New Puppy Should Not Be Over-Handled.

Everyone wants to pet the new Christmas puppy. Everyone wants to hold him, play with him, carry him around, take him out in the cold. A new puppy needs lots of naps and a relaxed atmosphere to eat in and learn in. Being stressed out is not good for a puppy and neither is over-stimulation.

A New Christmas Puppy May Have Been Weaned Too Soon.

Puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders try to cash in on Christmas by madly breeding dogs so that new puppies will be ready to go to a new home for Christmas. Often the pups really are not ready, and need more time with mama dog. Also, mass breeding is a big cause of genetic weakness in pedigreed dogs. You do not want a dog who has inbred health issues.

A New Puppy as a Christmas Present? Sometimes Christmas Presents Lose Their Thrill.

The kids madly open the presents they have been begging for, play with one after another and in a few days they're bored with them. When one of those presents is a living breathing puppy, it's a big problem. It's stressful to the pup to suddenly lose all that affection and attention. Separation anxiety in dogs results from inconsistency: irregular periods of intense interaction, followed by long periods of isolation when everybody goes back to school and work.

Wait Until After Christmas to Get a New Puppy

After Christmas will be a better, quieter, less stressful time to introduce a new pup to the household and family. There will be time to teach the kids how to handle the puppy and what their responsibilities are toward the new pup. And time to train the puppy to fit in his new home. Most importantly, time to prepare the pup for family time as well as alone time, and establish a routine.

A New Puppy for Christmas May Be Unwanted ..

Sadly, every year after Christmas, puppies are turned in at animal shelters because they're unmanageable or just unwanted. Deciding to add a new puppy to one's life is a personal decision. Selecting a new puppy is something people need to do for themselves, based on lifestyle, room for accommodations, budget, and personal affinity. A gift puppy may just be the one gift a person can't handle.

Instead Give a New Puppy Package for Christmas.

For Christmas or anytime, when your family or your gift recipient is known to want a new puppy, it's the perfect time to buy and give puppy toys, collars, leashes, beds and blankies. Of course if you're thinking "Great Dane" and your gift recipient is thinking "Chihuahua" some of those gifts may need to be exchanged!

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