Christmas is the time that we gather together as friends and family and celebrate with one another! Some people choose to bring a new puppy into the mix at this time. While this can be a controversial topic online, we think that a puppy can be an excellent gift for someone who has thoroughly considered the responsibilities of a new dog. Thinking about adopting a puppy for a holiday surprise? Here are some things to keep in mind!
Puppies Never Stay Puppies
As cute and cuddly as puppies are, they don’t stay that way long. Puppies grow up to be “preteens,” and soon after full-grown dogs! A puppy is a lifelong commitment that can live for upwards of ten years with proper care. So when you are thinking of investing in a puppy as a gift, make sure you are doing your research.
If you have had a puppy before, then you know what you are signing up for. If this will be the first time this person has had a puppy, however, this can be a hard time of year to balance that responsibility and the holiday festivities. Puppies can sometimes be a bit cantankerous and love to throw late-night parties in their kennels or declare your favorite pair of shoes as their new chew-toy. Keep in mind that getting a new puppy is not always sunshine and rainbows! Puppies require a lot of hard work and dedication, but they are totally worth it in the end.
The Gift of a Puppy is One That Keeps On Giving
A puppy can easily become a beloved member of your family, which is why they can make such a special Christmas surprise! Your family will cherish the many wonderful memories with your new addition, including the surprise of realizing they have a new furry friend on Christmas morning.
Puppies can also give you some other… unanticipated gifts.. such as the gift of vet visits or yellow stains on the carpet. These are the not so pretty sides of puppyhood that you don’t often see shared online. It is important to remember that whoever is on the receiving end of this puppy will also need to maintain a certain quality of life for their new addition. Veterinary care, grooming costs, training fees, special diets if needed, and more can rack up over the years. If the person who you are wishing to gift a puppy to is not ready for that financial commitment, a puppy can sometimes be more of a burden then a blessing.
However, if this person has done their research and has been dreaming of their own Australian Labradoodle for some time now, this gift can be life-changing! Many of our puppies have gone on to be wonderful companions, therapy dogs, and athletes! The Australian Labradoodle is a wonderful dog for many lifestyles, and their happy-go-lucky attitudes really mesh well with most family types.
The Things You Don’t Consider
When you purchase or adopt a puppy, you think mostly happy thoughts. The things you don’t always consider are the late nights potty-training, the need for a dog-sitter when you go out of town, the cost of building a fence or investing in training, etc. While this might sound daunting, it doesn’t have to be. But you do need to have a plan for the things you don’t always consider.
If you want to get a puppy as a present this Christmas, ask yourself these questions:
- Will you or someone else be able to assist with the training and socialization of this puppy? Or will it fall solely on the person you are gifting the puppy to?
- If the person you are gifting the puppy to is no longer able to care for this puppy, financially or due to life-changing circumstances, are you prepared to give this puppy a loving, forever home?
- Is this person home enough to care for a puppy on their own, or do they have a support system behind them to let the puppy out for frequent potty breaks, take them on walks, etc.
- Does this person have the financial stability to care for a growing puppy? What about if the puppy were to get sick or have an accident, could the person provide the necessary veterinary care?
- Has this person researched what type of puppy that they would like and understand the requirements that come along with adopting an Australian Labradoodle such as grooming, etc?
If you answered no to any of these questions, now might not be the right time to surprise a loved one with a puppy- and that is okay! A new puppy should be a well-thought-out decision, and we are here to help you with that! However, if your family has taken all of these things into consideration, a Christmas puppy could be the perfect way to bring cheer to your household this year!
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