Christmas Joy
Christmas JoyWhat is the best reasons NOT to buy a puppy as a Christmas gift?
Author: mike | Filed under: Dogs
katslookup asked:
Well, since Christmas is coming up and people are going to want that “cute little puppy” for Christmas, lets list the major reasons that getting a puppy for Christmas is a bad idea!
What do you all think?
You guys are WONDERFUL!!! I love all of the great answers!!!! Keep it up! We may just educate people yet!
- Tags: Buy A Puppy, Christmas Idea, Gift Christmas
crazy4 bul
October 21st, 2008 at 7:31 am
OVERPOPULATION AT THE POUNDS!
LuvMyBT!
October 24th, 2008 at 3:44 am
It is too hectic a time to bring a puppy into a home
It may be seen as a “present” and the novelty may wear off
Vet Tech
October 26th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
The craziness and hype of the Holidays is very overwhelming for a new puppy who is already going to be trying to adjust to a new environment, the last thing they need is added excitement. Much too stressful. I would never put a puppy through that.
DP
October 29th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Reputable breeders will not sell puppies for Christmas Gifts.. SO if you are able to get a puppy for a Christmas Gift for someone, you know you are not buying from a responsible breeder..
Gin 'n Tony
October 30th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Look at the questions and answers here, it’s obvious.
Idiocy is rampant.
Late Entry :
Ok, seriously for the moment, Christmas is the busiest time of the year. First few days in the NEW home is crucial for the pup’s well being. Even the most dog illiterate people should wait when everything calms down.
Hope to get more thumbs down for this 🙂
kitdragon2000
November 2nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
because people dont look into what there getting most of the time, no research and they get the puppy on spur of the moment, usually from BYB or pet stores and give them to a kid expecting the kid to care for them which makes a porrly cared for porly trained and a new dog for a shelter.
i tend not to do winter litters, because of this reason and because its just harder on the ***** and me….
meg l
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
It is the worst time of year to devote all the time and care a baby needs with all the uproar of the holidays and all the fuss will add to the stress a puppy is under going to a new home. Puppies need calm and routine, and will keep you up all night long at first. Puppies are not a gift that can be returned either.
kittenslayer
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
A puppy should not be a surprise Christmas gift. Its important that the person who will be caring for the puppy wants that responsibility and is ready to commit to its care for its whole life.
Also, Christmas tends to be a hectic time of the year. The puppy would come into the house when people are off from school and work, family is visiting, and all kinds of exciting things are going on, only to be confused when life goes back to its regular pace.
If someone wants to give someone a puppy for Christmas, they should wrap up a can of puppy food and tell that person that they will get them a puppy of their choice.
Honeysadsam
November 4th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
After the holiday is over, they realize that they cannot handle and train the puppy. So they turn the puppy into pounds.
christin s
November 7th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Well since I run a animal shelter and I see this for what it really is. They are all soooooo darn cute as pups but then they grow up and more times than not they don’t get them spayed or neutered so then the females get pregnant and guess what these great ppl do. They will bring the mom and her 12 pups back into the shelter. So it is NOT a good idea cuz your 10 yr. old wants a puppy, to rush out and get one. Please take your time and make sure that it is something you want for lets just say 10-20 yrs.
Alicia
November 11th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Christmas puppies tend to only be loved at Christmas and not their whole lives.
You could get a breed that is not right for the receiver.
You could get a dog with a personality that won’t match.
They could not be financially ready for a puppy.
It could be an impulse decision to want a puppy at Christmas time.
If a person really wants a puppy for Christmas then give them a gift card to
Bossoli
November 11th, 2008 at 10:11 am
The first thought that came to my mind is “why would any responsible breeder even sell around Christmas time?” My instincts tell me that a responsible one wouldn’t because of the obvious reason that the dog will probably be rejected by June (if not earlier.) Which leads me to the point that… if you do manage to get a puppy from a breeder around Christmas time, it’s probably a BYB. This perpetuates the cycle, as a puppy from a BYB has such a great chance of having issues with temperament and health…therefore families who aren’t prepared for the responsibility, will almost definitely hand the dog off to someone else.
There’s always the alternative of adopting a puppy or a dog from a shelter, but that still carries the intense risk that the dog will be forgotten about once the hype of the gift has worn off.
simplyshel
November 12th, 2008 at 11:19 am
cleaning up poo.
ninyenu00
November 15th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
They might not like the dog that you pick out. I suggest letting the person pick the kind of dog they want.
sherrose2
November 16th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I feel that the person getting a puppy needs to do the picking. Main reason being that I think you bond with a pup right off. When I’ve went to look at pups or dogs it seems like you and the dog know it’s a right fit. Not all people and pups fit.
lilredhead
November 19th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
It’s a horrible time , they get the puppy an love it at first , then realize that they cant handle it , an it goes to a shelter to DIE. So many cute lil puppys DIE cause stupid people give them as gifts , an most of the time they are Unwanted.
DobieOne
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
This webpage lists the reasons very well:
Maureen
November 25th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Hectic time of year, really may not be wanted by the receiver,
and we do not need any more unwanted pets in our shelters.
It is best if you want to give a puppy to someone at Christmas time is to involve them and find out if they are ready for one, this is one gift that should be sprung upon someone.
kwbfirst
November 26th, 2008 at 5:59 am
Where to begin? Pets should NEVER be given as a “surprise” gift b/c they come with a huge amount of responsibility … the person you’re giving the dog to may be allergic to it … the person may not REALLY want a dog! … dogs are super-expensive so it’s kind of like handing someone a cute furry bill …. i could go on and on.
werewolf!
November 29th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
a dog is not just for christmas its for life. the child that is getting it may be overwhelmed and die. joking i know that wasnt very funny but hey! like someone else sed 1.over population
2. christmas is to hectic and when the dog gets older and doesnt run around or like to be carried around or CANT be carried around the novelty may wear off and the dog will feel unloved.
evil_streak_78
December 1st, 2008 at 3:50 am
Christmas puppies are not given enough thought as to what happens with the puppy after Christmas. Half the dogs in shelters were probably christmas puppies.
Jen
December 1st, 2008 at 6:28 am
1. Wrong time of year to get a dog. Kids are in school, people go on vacations, it is a difficult time of year to potty train a dog with it being so cold and snowy outside.
2. Getting a dog involves a ton of research: what breed is appropriate for the family? What does that particular breed need? Is there enough room for this dog? Is the yard fenced in?
3. People who buy dogs on a whim tend to just go to a pet store and pick out the cutest one. There is a whole bunch of reasons why you shouldn’t get a dog from a pet store. I can nearly guarantee that a dog from a pet store will cost more money (if not for the price of the dog, then for the cost of medication and vet bills to get the puppy to recover from one of the highly contagious diseases they tend to get when exposed to a hundred other dogs)
4. All the kids Christmas gifts get chewed up by the puppy!
5. It is embarassing to have to clean up puppy *** in the middle of Christmas dinner with the family.
AnaBell Loves Chihuahuas
December 1st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Some people think buying a puppy for christmas as a present is just well “Buying a Puppy”
Just feed it, bathe it, water, walk, play but what people don’t realize is you can’t just buy and give someone a puppy without
A: Researching the breed
and B: Do you even know if your child or any other person is going to like it?
I know its nice to surprise someone with a cute little puppy but you need to take it real serious and do allot of thinking and researching before you just pick up a Pup and give it as a present. Allot of problems come up when they have chosen the wrong dog.
Poms4Life
December 4th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
1)It is a very stressful and hectic time.
2)among all the chaos the dog may be forgotten about.
3)there are many hazards:chewing christmas lights, glass bulbs, poinsettias, christmas trees, ribbons, small toys being dropped, dog getting stepped on with all the commotion.
4)lots of commotion in the house, no time to care for a dog
5)no time for the dog to adjust to the new environment
6)A lot of times a christmas puppy isn’t something that someone took a lot of time and researched, they bought the cutest puppy at the pet store and thought they were doing a good thing.
Rachal961
December 5th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Aside from the obvious issues that go along with the well known bumper sticker slogan “A puppy is for life, not just for Christmas”….there are other safety concerns as well- puppy proofing the house is hard enough when its not the holidays- a pine tree full of shiny things poses numerous hazards- water filled bowl full of toxic pine needles, electric cords draped all over the place, glass and plastic ornaments that can be chewed up and ingested, etc. Plus the less obvious, like extra people zipping in and out of the house, potentially leaving doors open, risk of puppy getting stepped on, run over, etc, ribbons that can be chewed up and injested….nothing like spending Christmas night at the emergency vet….
Personally, I don’t think anyone should be given a puppy as a surprise gift at any time of year, its almost as much of a commitment as someone giving you a surprise baby- “Happy Birthday, I got you an infant- enjoy it for the next 18+ years”
Angela H
December 5th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I could list 100, but here are 3:
1.Because someone giving a “gift” of a puppy or dog may not realize that the receiver does NOT want or is not ready for a puppy at all for many reasons.
2.Giving a puppy as a gift to someone may degrade the value of a dog’s life…the receiver may see the dog as an object rather than the living, breathing, feeling being he/she is.
3.The dog given to the receiver may not be the right kind of dog for them. Maybe they need a Chihuahua when you got them a Great Dane.
kitty143cat
December 6th, 2008 at 2:04 am
O’er the twelve days of Christmas, my puppy gave to me …
12 sleepless nights
11 bouts of barking
10 chewed-up cushions
9 hours of whining
8 angry neighbors
7 landlord warnings
6 vet appointments
5 golden stains
4 daily walks
3 upchucks
2 garbage spills
and a big rip in my upholstery
Puppies require a lifetime of love, patience, and understanding. Please don’t give puppies as presents.
Not a Good Role Model
December 8th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
you cant make a puppy sit still long enough to wrap him up.
Friend of Dog
December 11th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
You should never assume someone might want a living thing.
Yo LO!
December 11th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Just like the Barbie Dream House, the puppy will soon be forgotten…
People don’t realize the work involved, so the cute little puppy comes home for Christmas with a big red bow around it’s neck, then is forgotten about and ends up in a shelter or rescue because the people just didn’t think that it would be as much work as it’s turned out to be.
pandora020105
December 13th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Speaking as a person who is getting a puppy for Christmas – I might sound hypocritical but…it’s not a good idea to get a child a puppy for Christmas. You see the cutest new puppy trend out there (puggles, labradoodles – whatever) and you think what a great gift without realizing that you will probably get stuck doing most of the work. You should really be prepared at least a few months ahead of time to be sure that you and they can handle it – so no surprises can be had. Also so many dogs get put in shelters after Christmas because of this – I would just wait. I’m an adult and know what I’m getting into so it’s all good.
Cleopatra R
December 15th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Puppies are living, sensitive, sentient beings who will require a great deal of time, effort & responsibility, not to mention money. You cannot possibly know if your gift recipient is truly ready to make this sort of commitment. A truly healthy dog can live as long as 27 years. Is your friend ready for that sort of committment? Also, every single dog is different and every breed is different as well. To make this gift is to make a decision that will affect owner and pet alike. One reason why so many shelters and pounds are full of unwanted dogs is because of unprepared people purchasing or receiving them in the first place. The best way to bring a new dog into the home is for the prospective owner to hook up with a responsible breeder who can interview them and find the best puppy for them and their situation and thus find the best new home for that little puppy.
ivethelloween
December 17th, 2008 at 3:00 am
First reason… you never know how people is going to react in front of this situation… getting a puppy is like having a baby and you don´t know if they’re going to be good parents.. there is a lot of people who don’t care about animals and if they don’t want a puppy the just open the door and get them out of they’re houses to the street.
Stephanie Loves Sam
December 19th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
well the holidays r a very hectic time for both people and animals. when u get a person a puppy as a gift they have the sudden flash of “ooo its so cute i will love it forever” but as they keep looking at their new gifts and the hype of the puppy wears off then the next day puppy goes to the pound. and even if a person is really serious about the dog they didnt get what they wanted. if u really want to give a dog as a gift go to the shelter and buy a gift card (yes shelters sell gift cards) for the amount of the adoption fee and then give it to the person so they can go pick their own dog that way they can do it when they arent busy and they can get what they want
mooningrosie
December 20th, 2008 at 5:34 am
the best thing to do is go to a shelter and find the perfect doggie there…. It’s not that getting a puppy is a bad idea just don’t get one from a breeder.. I think all dogs should be spayed or neutered so they can not have pups themselves… there sre SO many lonely dogs and puppies in the shelter who deserve to have a home of their own.
Isaac O
December 21st, 2008 at 10:25 am
Children who are too young to appreciate the responsibility soon lose interest in the dog and the parents end up being the primary care giver. If you are willing to take the responsibility of the dog after your child loses interest, or whomever you give it to, then have at it. Otherwise, you will end up cleaning up after it and making sure it gets its daily walk and learns how to socialize with the rest of the world.
I LOVE OLD ENGLISH SHEEP DOGS!
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:19 am
I think it is horrible that you guys think its not a good Idea! Not in a mean way though! I am a kid (12) I love dogs and I would give it the best care in the world1 I cant have one cause of my bro’s allergies, but if I could I would care less about the other presents for I would have a best friend that I didnt put in my closet when I outgrow it, no it would be the best day of my LIFE! I would have the best holiday, my family over to tell them, and most importantly my new best friend! It would be a very special day for me ask a kid!!!!!
Monica
December 25th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
It is such a bad idea, Sure it is going to be new to the person getting the pet. But …….. The newness will wear off in a couple days. There will be no one around to take care of the pets while everyone is out visiting relatives. They will be pushed aside while everyone is busy doing other family things and the pets will not get the care they need. They can get into food, candy, small pieces of toys, lights ,cords and the like left laying around. The person giving the pet will need to make sure the person receiving the pet has all the items it will need to start out with, even the staples such as food, kennel , few toys or litter and litter box. Make sure they will have time for the pet during all the Christmas and New Year festivities. It is just too busy of a time for bring new pets into a household.
BlOnDiE
December 26th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I think christmas is not a good time to get a new dog. It’s way too hectic or a young pup, or any new dog for that matter. Really, who do you think is going to spend their holiday cleaning up after a puppy. Most people just want it for the cuteness factor. And usually if it;s a surprise, the reciever of the puppy isnt prepared for a living breathing companion.
Laura ?
December 29th, 2008 at 11:56 am
No reputable breeder or rescue I know will place a dog or puppy at Christmastime. Therefore, the only dogs and puppies available are from disreptuble, irresponsible, and unethical individuals and organizations. How do you explain to your kids that you got your puppy from a pimp?
abbi loves nicky
December 30th, 2008 at 11:13 am
i think some ppl might not have the energy to take care of the puppy and after a while it would get neglected. dog-owners need to be responsible so for children no unless you plan on taking it back eventually. or maybe some children won’t get tired of their new dog. i depends on the owner and the dog.
Lauren
January 1st, 2009 at 11:34 am
Who ever you are giving the puppy to may not want that kind of dog.
Most people (kids) want to pick out there own dog.
It’s a hard thing to keep a secret!
baggy0
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I think the best reason not to buy a puppy for someone for christmas is because they turn into older dogs and they are no longer so cute but, a big mess of trouble. Unless u yourself are willing to take the dog on, I would suggest not to. Thaats my opinion and I hope I helped somewhat.
Pat – baggy0