Giving a puppy for Christmas

Jamiya · Nov 5, 2004

Here is some info from various websites on Christmas puppies (there is a LOT of info, but please read it all). The third one (NO CHRISTMAS PUPPIES, PLEASE) is my favorite and gives alternatives to "unwrapping" a puppy on Christmas morning:

During the holidays, many people are too busy to keep an eye on the new puppy to ensure that it does not get in harms way with holiday decorations, plants, and other hazards that may injure them or make them sick. It is hard to find moments in an already full schedule for training, comforting and loving an insecure pup who needs reassurances in his new surroundings away from his siblings and birth home for the first time. Overexcited children may scare the puppy or neglect it, especially if it chews new presents or has an accident on the rug.

To symbolize the gift of a dog to come, you may want to put a stuffed toy dog in a dog's bed beneath the tree or wrap other dog-related gifts such as AKC's The Complete Dog Book For Kids or The Complete Dog Book and a dog bowl, brush and comb. Once the holidays are over, give the owner-to-be the opportunity to research the breed of dog that best suits their preferences and lifestyle. Then together you can bring the puppy home.
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A Puppy For Christmas
It's every kid's dream... to come downstairs in the early morning hours on Christmas morning and find a cute little furry face peering out from a brightly wrapped box. A new puppy or dog at Christmas seems like the ideal gift. But it's not a great idea. And here's why...

The holidays are one of the busiest times of the year, with traveling to relative's houses, shopping for presents, finishing school just before the break, and making all those last-minute plans. Though it may be the time of joy and peace, it is rarely peaceful. Bringing a new member into the family during that chaotic and hectic time is difficult at best. New puppies require a lot of attention and a calm, stable environment to thrive. It's so easy to forget about them in the rush and bustle of the holidays and in the end, they'll suffer. People also tend to have lots of family around, coming and going, and this frantic activity is just the opposite of the type of calm, relaxed environment you want to introduce a puppy into. Housebreaking takes lots of time, teething can be a nightmare, especially with all the tempting holiday ornaments and "goodies" around. Puppyproofing your house at any time can be a difficult task - but almost impossible during the holidays.

Many places that sell puppies cater to the "Christmas rush" and plan litters to arrive at around that time. With the increase in numbers, it becomes difficult to care for each and every incoming puppy - particularly with health concerns. Holiday puppies are often sick and substandard due to the need to fulfill demand. If one is going to buy a puppy from someone other than a reputable breeder (and we recommend that you DO NOT buy a dog from a pet store or backyard breeder!), this is often the absolute worst time to do it. Truly, you should be on a waiting list for a planned litter from a reputable breeder and whenever that litter is due is when you should be adding a puppy to your family.

Holiday season also means winter, and trust me, housebreaking a puppy in 20 below zero weather, with a foot of snow outside, is no fun at all. Most people hate the thought of even stepping outside and young pups are no different. If you're planning on having an outside dog, it is impossible to put a young pup, with little ability to thermally regulate its body, outside in the cold weather to fend for itself. That's one sure way to end up with a dead pup and even garages or sheds can become too cold for young pups to withstand.

Holidays also present household dangers that you normally wouldn't have around - tinsel, abundant electrical cords, candles, poinsettia plants, chocolate, small items to swallow (like ornament hangers, pine needles, ribbons, etc.), roaring fires, and too many places to get into - potentially lethal to an inquisitive puppy.

Getting a puppy should be a lengthy decision, one taken by the entire family. It shouldn't be a "surprise" to a family member or a loved one that may not be expecting a pet for a gift. If you decide to buy your aunt and uncle a puppy for Christmas, what happens if they don't want it or aren't prepared to take on the responsibilities of pet ownership that come along with such a gift? Then what becomes of the pup? If it's returned to the place where it was sold, what are its chances of being resold? If you can't return it, where will it go? Will you keep it? Take it to the pound? Or turn it over to rescue? Animal shelters and rescue organizations fill up quite quickly after the holidays are over because of people making these sorts of seemingly thoughtful decisions.

So what should you do? You're intent on giving such a wonderful present but don't want it to backfire. Well... here's

The Solution
Instead of buying a puppy for your loved one, buy them a bowl, a collar, a leash, and a bag of puppy food and present it along with a "coupon" good for one puppy (of their choosing) at the time of their choosing - at your expense. That way, even if they want to get one at that time, they can wait until the holiday season is over and get the puppy during a more relaxed time period. They can also take their time in choosing the appropriate breed, sex, and size of their dog and it gives them a chance to do the required research into the various breeds. Also, if by chance they aren't ready for a puppy or don't want one, all they have to do is return the bowl and other items - and a puppy doesn't have to needlessly suffer. If they do decide to get a puppy, make sure they read Bringing Puppy Home before they bring it back home.

Or better yet, point them in the direction of rescue and have them adopt a dog - that way they get exactly what they want and a dog that will fit into their family. Or best of all, buy them a dog for Christmas by sponsoring one of BCR's rescue dogs at the facility and send them a stuffed dog with their sponsorship. This way they get a dog (in spirit) and no one has to clean up the mess on the kitchen floor. What more could anyone ask for? You end up saving a life and spreading peace on Earth... goodwill towards men (and dogs
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NO CHRISTMAS PUPPIES, PLEASE!
Copyright © 1993, Ruth Ginzberg

...in loving honor of my own dogs...
The following applies to both puppies and kittens:

To many people, a puppy is the perfect symbol of the true spirit of Christmas. A puppy represents wonderment, innocence, exuberant energy, unconditional love, hope for the future. These are the sorts of gifts that many of us wish we were able to give one another. And that is a good thing. In an increasingly violent, horrifying, mind-numbing and impersonal world, Christmas time reminds many that there are more important values, that there is hope and love, that joy comes from giving of oneself more than it does from taking. To many people, these values bring to mind the loyal, loving, uncorrupted, hauntingly simple innocence of a puppy.

Indeed, many advertisers and artists have noticed this connection. Images of cozy family Christmas mornings often include scenes of floppy-eared puppies peering innocently out of a colorful gift box, their eyes wide with wonderment and awe. As the scene continues, the puppy stumbles preciously over mounds of gift wrappings, to the great amusement of delighted children who rush to hug the youngster and receive big wet puppy-slurps in return. Mom and Dad smile knowingly in the background as the true meaning of life is celebrated before their eyes. What could possibly be wrong with this picture?

Nothing. As art, as fiction, or as advertisement, it captures a lot of the symbolic spirit of the Christmas celebration perfectly. The appeal of this scene is like that of Norman Rockwell's paintings. As advertisement, it works. It sells products, even those totally unrelated to dogs or to Christmas. As fiction it warms people's hearts. What's wrong, though, is what happens when real people try to re-enact this warm loving scene in their own homes with a real, living puppy playing the role of a prop in this mythic family life-drama.

I am not against dog ownership. I have two dogs myself, and I think the world would be a lot better place if more people had meaningful relationships with dogs. My concern here is with the future of those living beings, those adorable puppies with child-like eyes who show up as gifts on Christmas morning. While images like the one I described may look irresistibly appealing in pictures, art, advertising or fiction, the future for those real-life puppies who start out under the Christmas tree, in all probability, will turn out to be fairly grim. Groups as diverse as, and often at odds with one another as, the Humane Society of the United States, canine behavior experts, the American Kennel Club, PETA, Animal Rights Activists, breed rescue groups, veterinarians, obedience training instructors, and most reputable breeders of sound, healthy dogs, are in strong agreement that live puppies should not be given as Christmas gifts. Here are some of the reasons:

THE ATMOSPHERE OF CHRISTMAS MORNING FRIGHTENS THE PUPPY.
People who study canine development and behavior have found that puppies, like children, go through developmental stages. The first fear/avoidance period in a puppy's development occurs roughly between 7-12 weeks of age. However this is also when the puppy is developmentally best capable of leaving its litter and beginning to form bonds of attachment with its new family. Most breeders agree that this is the right time to send a young puppy home with its adoptive family. However, it is also extremely important not to over-stress or unduly frighten the puppy during this vulnerable time. Fears learned during this first fear/avoidance period can be very, very difficult to overcome later, even with the very best training or behavior modification techniques. In other words, traumatic experiences at this point can have a permanent impact on your puppy's personality as an adult dog.

Your puppy's experiences of leaving its mother and litter-mates, and its arrival in its new home and introduction to its new family, can permanently affect its ability to bond with and trust humans. The puppy needs to be introduced to its new home and family during a relaxed and quiet, gentle time, with a minimum of loud noises, flashing lights, and screeching children, ringing phones, visiting company, and other types of general hub-bub. Christmas morning is absolutely the worst time, in terms of the puppy's developmental needs, for introducing this newly-weaned youngster to its new family.

THE TIMING TEACHES CHILDREN THE WRONG VALUES.
Many families who value pet ownership do so at least partly because of what children can learn from the family pets in terms of care and responsibility, love and loyalty, and respect for other living beings. But think of what happens to the rest of the toys and gifts that start out under the Christmas tree. By Valentine's Day, most of them have been shelved or broken or traded or forgotten. The excitement inevitably wears off, and the once compelling toy becomes something to use, use up, and then discard in favor of something newer.

A living puppy should not be thought of in the same category as a Christmas toy. Children need to learn that a living puppy is being adopted into the family - as a living family member who will contribute much, but who will also have needs of its own, which the rest of the family is making a commitment to try to meet. A puppy who makes its first appearance as a gift item under the Christmas tree is more likely to be thought of by children as an object, as a thing-like toy rather than as a family member. This will not teach one of the most valuable lessons there is to learn from a puppy, which is respect for living beings and concern for others in the form of attention to their needs.

A GOOD BREEDER WILL NOT SEND A PUPPY HOME ON CHRISTMAS MORNING.
Responsible breeders - those who guarantee the health and temperament of their puppies, and who are abreast of current knowledge about canine health, genetics, socialization and development - already know these things and will not send a puppy home with its new owner on Christmas morning. If you were to be able to obtain a puppy from someone who actually let you have it on Christmas Eve so that it could appear under the tree on Christmas morning, that should tell you something. It should warn you that you would be getting your puppy from someone who does not know enough about canine behavior and development to be in the business of breeding or selling puppies.

You would be much better off acquiring your newest family addition from a breeder who knows enough about dogs, and who cares enough about the particular puppies that he breeds and places, to insist that you take the puppy home under conditions which would be best for the puppy. If your breeder does not insist on this, you are purchasing a puppy from a breeder who does not know or care enough about his "product," to be in that business, and you should acquire your pup from someone else instead.

THE PUPPY GROWS UP AND HAS NEEDS.
Many people have a somewhat romantic view of what dog- ownership is like. This romanticism can become exaggerated by the warmth and loving kindness associated with the Christmas season. People who have not had dogs before, or who have not had dogs since they were themselves children, or who have recently had a dog but one who was a canine senior citizen trained and socialized to the family's ways long ago, often are completely unaware of how much work it is to raise a puppy from infancy into a good adult canine companion. They may have mental images of happy times romping with the dog on the beach, or curling up in front of the fireplace, of playing Frisbee in the park or of hunting with a loyal companion. All these are things they might well eventually enjoy with their canine companions. But they may have temporarily forgotten, or perhaps not ever really have known, how incredibly much work it takes to raise and socialize a dog from puppyhood to that point of mature canine companionship.

Unlike cats, who generally do not need extensive training and socialization, dogs require a huge commitment from at least one person who is prepared to teach the dog what behaviors are expected of him, under a wide variety of circumstances. Adults may believe that they remember a Faithful Fido from their youth who seemed never to need training; Faithful Fido always seemed to "just know" what was expected of him. But those adults were children at the time, and they did not necessarily see all the work that their parents and others put into training and socializing Fido.

Professionals who deal with dogs regularly, call this common fantasy the "Lassie Syndrome." That is, everyone hopes for that imaginary dog who has E.S.P. and who automatically knows how to behave in human company without needing any training. In other words, they want a dog like "Lassie." But "Lassie" was a fictional character. "Lassie" actually was owned and trained by Rudd Weatherwax, one of the most hardworking and successful professional trainers of dogs in the history of US television and film. Rudd Weatherwax spent his entire lifetime training "Lassie" to do those things which looked spontaneous in the fictional story lines. No real, non-fictional dog is actually like that.

Real dogs not only must be housetrained - most owners are aware of that need; they also must be taught not to chew the furniture, taught not to jump on their owners, taught not to play-bite, taught not to bowl over the toddler, taught not to dig holes in the yard, taught to come when they are called, taught not to eat the homework or the woodwork, taught not to swipe food off the table, taught not to growl at strangers or bark at the mail carrier, taught to walk on a leash without dragging their owner down the block, taught to allow their toenails to be cut and their coats to be groomed without biting the groomer, taught not to shred feather pillows and down comforters, taught not to steal the baby's toys, taught not to growl at their owner's mother-in-law, taught to sit, stay, and to lay down when and where the owner tells them to, and to wait there until the owner says they may get up (absolutely essential commands for the dog's own safety), taught not to escape out the front door or out of the yard or out of the car when the owner looks away for just a second ... all of these things and many more are not "natural" canine behaviors; they must be taught by owners who are willing to spend the time and the effort doing so.

The reason I mention this is because lack of owner knowledge about the amount of work required to socialize, raise, and train a puppy, is one of the main factors contributing to a huge national problem: the problem of adolescent and young adult dogs being "given up" by owners within the first year or so of having acquired the animal. Untrained, unsocialized puppies might be "cute" and "natural" but they are tolerable only for a few weeks, if even that. Then they start to be nuisances. Then they start to be major problems. Sooner or later they become downright dangerous to themselves or to their families and neighbors.

It is often between the ages of 7-14 months that the dog (sadly, reluctantly) is brought to the pound or to the vet for euthanasia by a frustrated owner as an "uncontrollable" dog, or as a dog with "behavior problems." Or perhaps it is taken to a shelter in the faint hope that it will be adopted by someone else. (Chances are almost certain that it won't; nobody else wants an untrained, unsocialized dog's behavior problems either.) By that age the untrained dog is a full-grown and unruly adolescent. It might have bitten a family member, or threatened a neighbor's child, necessitating the involvement of a town animal control officer. Or the dog may have run away and been hit by a car. Or it may be adopted into a series of homes, one after another, none of which can adequately control it, until it finally winds up on death row at the pound.

These tragic dogs, those wonderful canines known to generations as "Man's Best Friend," never had a chance. According to statistics kept by the Humane Society of the United States, the majority of puppies and kittens born in the United States never reach their second birthdays, even though their natural lifespans should be many times that length. They die from being hit by cars, euthanized by owners, starving or being fatally injured in fights with other animals - including wild animals, some rabid in many areas - after having run away from their owners, or being taken to shelters, pounds or vets, where they are "put to sleep," usually before the age of two. In other words, many, many canine deaths are squarely the responsibility of owners who did not understand what it would involve properly to train and socialize their puppy, or who did understand, but did not do the necessary work.

IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
"Christmas puppies" often are impulse purchases, in a spirit of love and giving and generosity that goes with the season, but without the hard self-assessment that goes into asking oneself if one has the time and the energy and the inclination to give the necessary commitment to raising and socializing and educating that puppy. Better to get that new puppy at a less emotionally charged time of the year, when the decision to add a dog to the family is a less impulsive and more carefully considered one, uninfluenced by seasonal generosity of spirit, which might just fade a bit after the tree comes down and the lights are put away.

If you are absolutely set upon getting your family a puppy for
Christmas, consider this alternative instead: Purchase a leash, a collar, a good book on raising a puppy, a gift certificate for a veterinary checkup, a gift certificate for puppy socialization classes from one of the local obedience instructors, a book or video tape on the topic of how to select the right dog for your family (there are several, including even a computer program that purports to help you do this), or a gift subscription to one of the dog-oriented magazines.

Wrap these up and put them under the tree. As family members unwrap the various pieces of the "puzzle", their delight and anticipation will grow. They will gradually understand what this present is! Then, after the Christmas tree is taken down and the frenzy of the holiday season is behind, the family can once again enjoy together the anticipation and excitement of discussing and selecting a breed, selecting a breeder, selecting an individual pup, and so on. This will increase the family's mutual commitment to, and investment in, the well-being of the newest family member. It will be a project the family has done together, which is a wonderful way for any adoption to commence. This will not decrease the enjoyment of your new puppy; I guarantee it. It will increase it by many fold. And it will be a better start both for the puppy, and for the long-term relationship between dog and owner(s). A dog with a good introduction to its adoptive family is much more likely to become a long term companion rather than just another tragic statistic.
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Holiday Pet Cautions

Will Santa be placing a puppy or kitten under your Christmas tree? Or are you thinking about welcoming one as a Holiday surprise?

Although a new puppy or kitten on Christmas day would be a wonderful surprise, it can be stressful for the pet, causing it to become over-excited and confused. This confusion may create problems in getting your new pet off to a good start. A frightened kitten may dart outside when the door is open and may or may not be found. You may not have adequate time to begin housebreaking your puppy immediately and to help it adjust to its new surroundings. Both time and patience are needed to establish a routine for a new puppy.

If possible, pick up your adoptee no later than the weekend before Christmas. This will allow time to help it become accustomed to its new home and family before the hustle and bustle of Christmas day. If this is not possible, or if the days prior to Christmas promise to be hectic, try to arrange to pick up your new pet after Christmas when household activities are calmer.

Ask that your pet not be fed before you pick it up. This will help prevent car sickness during the drive home. To help establish a bond of trust, give your newcomer its first meal after it has settled into its new environment. It will quickly learn that it can depend upon you for its food.

Ease your pet into its new home by gradually introducing it to friends and neighbors. Don't overwhelm it with a crowd. Let it meet one or two people at a time. Avoid introducing your new puppy or kitten to other animals until the newcomer has all its immunization shots.

Do your shopping for your pet in advance so all its needs will be met when it joins your household.
Here is a list of basics a newcomer requires:

Brush and comb
Collar and leash for puppies
A carrier for kittens
Food and water bowls - heavy, non-tippable and easy to clean
Litter box and litter box filler for kittens
A scratching post for kittens
A bed large enough for the pet's comfort
Appropriate toys for puppies or kittens
A well-insulated doghouse for puppies who are to be housed outside - make sure it's large enough to house your dog when it is fully grown
Nutritionally complete and balanced food especially formulated for growing puppies and kittens - be certain the label states that the product has undergone feeding trials

For new pets, as well as pets who are established members of the family, please remember that the holidays can be stressful for them. More people, more noise and changes in their daily schedule may frighten or confuse them. Securing your pet in a quiet area during a holiday party is easier for your pet and for you.

Pets, like people, may be tempted by holiday goodies. Allowing them to have holiday treats and sweets can lead to digestive upsets. In the case of chocolate goodies, beware. Chocolate contains theobromine which may be toxic to dogs.

Keep plastic bags away from a new kitten as well any adult cats in your household. Cats are attracted to bags and could smother inside a plastic bag.

Puppies and kittens are notorious for chewing. Yarn, Christmas tinsel, ribbons and other "chewables" are attractive to a playful puppy or curious kitten and may cause internal damage if swallowed. If you cannot supervise your newcomer, keep it confined in a safe area.
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loves-da-pits · Dec 7, 2004

I found this poem about giving a Christmas puppy. I think it was written by Santa himself. Hope you don't mind, Jamiya.

Christmas Returns Author Unknown

Santa comes quietly long before dawn
While shops are still busy and lights are still on
While dinners are cooking and kitchens are warm
And children count presents they’ll open by morn.

He slips past the trees in windows aglow
Through the gate to the backyard
As icy winds blow
To find the pup he brought last year
Chained up in the snow
And, kneeling, he whispers, “Are you ready to go?”

There are too many stops like this one tonight
Before the beginning of his regular flight
He leaves not a note or footprint in sight
Just an unbuckled collar
On a cold Christmas night...
please don't give animals as gifts.

Jamiya · Dec 7, 2004

That made me cry. :cry:

Samsintentions · Dec 10, 2004

You'd be amazed how many animals I'll be getting and finding rescue homes for come christmas and January..... Feb is the biggest "DUMP" month of the year....its very sad.

Jamiya · Dec 10, 2004

With a close second in bunnies and duckies after Easter....

Samsintentions · Dec 10, 2004

Yup.....

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