One of the most common ways that people acquire pets is as a gift. With Christmas right around the corner, it is possible that you may be considering giving a dog or puppy as a gift to someone you care about. It might be your children, spouse, parents, or friend – but whoever it may be, there are a few things to consider first.
Make sure that the recipient of the puppy knows what your plans are. There are oftentimes situations going on in someone’s personal life that we may not know about. For instance, can this person reasonably afford the high cost of owning a dog after food, vet visits, vaccinations, toys, and other expenses are factored in? Does his or her daily schedule make it possible to give the attention and time needed to properly raise a puppy? Will this person be dedicated to training their new dog – as challenging and frustrating as it may be at times? Many people also need to feel a special bond with a dog before letting him or her become part of the family. Offering to take this person with you as you pick the perfect canine companion ensures that the right dog will be found!
Are your children really ready? Giving children the gift of a puppy is a wonderful thing, but only if your children are truly ready to understand what it means to have a family pet. Can your children remain calm when they need to, and can they reliably follow simple instructions? Are they old enough to help with feeding, cleaning up after, and walking the puppy, or are you ready to take on that entire responsibility, as well as caring for the kiddos? Have they expressed an interest in having a family dog?
Another thing to consider with children are your children’s friends. Many dogs do not tolerate children well, but generally, puppies raised with kids will do fine with the children of the family. In order to ensure that your new puppy will get along with all kids, make sure that the friends who come over to play with your children are taught how to properly interact with a puppy. This means no fast movements, no yelling, no tail pulling, no barking at the dog, etc. It is best for your children’s friends to meet the puppy one-on-one instead of as a group. Make sure that these visits are well supervised and that they are kept short, as small children may not be able to remain calm for very long around a cute little puppy! Encourage soft and gentle petting on the puppy’s back and chest – not the top of his head. Also, keep in mind that your children may have some friends who will not be able to meet the puppy until the puppy gets older. These friends are the ones who have a lot of energy and cannot control themselves well in exciting situations. Children (and adults!) like this can scare puppies, putting them at risk of developing a phobia of children, loud noises, and/or fast movements.
Does this person have physical limitations? Caring for a puppy or even an adult dog can require a lot of energy, depending on the dog. If this present is for an elderly relative or friend, please consider whether this person is capable of keeping up with a young, energetic bundle of fur! Puppies jump, play bite, whine, pull on the leash, and require a great deal of training. To effectively socialize a puppy, they need to be out and about in the community and around all kinds of situations. They need a lot of exercise, and they need boundaries that are consistently kept. If the recipient of your gift cannot adequately meet these necessities, consider adopting an older dog. Older dogs make wonderful companions, are generally trained and housebroken, and don’t require as much exercise as a young dog would. They have a lot of love to give and are more than happy to do so calmly curled up beside their owner.
Before you give a puppy or dog as a gift, keep these questions in mind. This will make sure that you, the recipient, and the puppy find the best fit possible for a forever home.
If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer, will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com.