I can’t say it any better than these folks.
See why experts in the field agree… it’s never a good idea to give a puppy as a gift, despite the fact that it may seem like the best thing to do.
Following are a few heartfelt stories, revealing why Christmas puppies are never a good idea:
- The Christmas Puppy: Why You Shouldn’t Get One by Jon Katz
- No Christmas Puppies, Please by Ruth Ginzberg
- And the best reasons of all — why NOT to get (or give) a puppy for Christmas — are summarized here by Gina Spadafori who spent the entire month of December one year summarizing why a Christmas puppy is a very bad idea and reasons puppies make poor Christmas gifts.
Good news: Gina Spadafori managed to convince Craig Newmark, the owner of Craigslist, to make it very difficult for puppy-millers and high-volume backyard breeders to sell on Craigslist.
Exceptions To The Rule
If and only if the timing is such that the puppy you’ve had your eye on just so happens to be “ready” around Christmas time, then that’s a whole ‘nother story.
That’s how it happened for us.
Here are 30 things you’ll want to make sure of before you bring that puppy home though!
As long as you’ve done your research, and you trust that yours is a reliable breeder with an established history, then best of luck to you and your new puppy.
Here are some special considerations for enjoying the holidays with your new pet.
I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn’t think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I’ve always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I’ve been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I’m not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I’ve written over 600 articles for dog owners on this site! Many of them have upwards of 200K shares.
