Should You Give Your Kid a Puppy for Christmas?

Imagine a Golden Retriever puppy sporting a red bow about her neck running in to greet your children on Christmas morning. Your children laugh and roll in the floor, while the puppy licks noses, tears Christmas paper, and wags her tail endlessly.

It's a beautiful Christmas moment when a child receives a pet for Christmas. It's like a scene from a movie. In fact, the scene described above would only be seen in a movie. Sure, your kids would be filled with joy at getting a puppy for Christmas, but before you allow the giddiness of the holidays to carry you away stop and consider whether or not a puppy is a good gift for your child.

A Christmas Puppy is more than a kid's gift.

A puppy is more than a Christmas gift. Christmas gifts can be put away, worn, or returned. A puppy is a new member of the family who requires constant care, supervision, training, and love. Getting a puppy means making a long term commitment as a family.

Children love puppies, but many kids do not enjoy the responsibilities of house breaking a puppy, taking her for walks in the cold, or accompanying you and the puppy to the vet. Take all of this into consideration before deciding to give a child a puppy.

This year's Christmas puppy is next year's dog.

Is the momentary thrill of a Christmas puppy worth the responsibility and aggravation of owning a dog? Puppies are cute. Their pee spots are small and easy to clean. They are clumsy, but they are so little they can't damage too much. Chewing is the biggest problem you may have with a new puppy.

Grown puppies and adult dogs need just as much love, affection, and play time as they did when they were puppies. They may not be as cute and cuddly, but you have to be willing to love your dog unconditionally regardless of whether she stays small and grows a woolly shag coat or whether she grows into a large brute.

Even house trained dogs have accidents. Will your family be willing to handle this appropriately without lashing out at the dog?

Big puppies and even adult dogs are clumsy. Can you put up with a dog nosing into everything you are doing from reading the paper to working on the computer? Puppies and dogs require a lot of patience.

Don't buy the Christmas puppy that ends up at the pound.

When you look for a Christmas puppy for your child, check the pound first. You will be surprised at the various sizes, breeds, and ages of dogs that are waiting to be adopted. You may be able to find a young dog that has already been house trained and spayed /neutered.

If your kid's heart is set on a specific breed, and you are determined to give him a puppy take time to talk about the joy and responsibility of owning a pet. Be sure to pick a breed that is suitable for your family and living conditions. Do everything possible to ensure successful dog ownership.

If you give a child a puppy for Christmas, do everything necessary to make sure this year's Christmas puppy isn't looking through the chain links at the pound next holiday season.