Dreaming of a new puppy this holiday season? Here’s what you should know before making the commitment.
By Siddhika Bhat, certified dog trainer and behaviorist, founder of Wagabonding: Dog Training and Beyond
This article is especially dedicated to those who are spending days dreaming about Christmas mornings picturing a puppy under the tree, tail wagging and eyes sparkling, ready to bring boundless joy. As much of a broad smile this may bring to your face, bringing a puppy home for Christmas requires thoughtful consideration. Puppies might seem like the ultimate holiday surprise, but they come with a lifetime of responsibilities. Before you decide to bring a puppy or dog into your home this holiday season, it’s crucial to weigh pros and cons.
Christmas puppies – A Joyous Phase Followed by a Long-Term Commitment
Raising a pup is a long-term commitment that extends well beyond the holiday season. Puppies quickly grow into adult dogs, needing care, love, and attention throughout their lives, which can span 10-15 years or more. Beyond their playful barks and wagging tails, puppies grow into dogs that rely on you for their every need, through all of life’s seasons. Treat this article as a comprehensive guide to preparing yourself for a Christmas puppy. Making an informed decision will benefit both your family and your dog.
Time and Lifestyle Considerations
Is Everyone in My Family Ready for a Dog?
Getting a dog requires consensus from the entire family, as everyone will share the responsibility of caring for the new addition. Merely loving dogs and being excited about the idea of getting a dog does not imply readiness to raise one.
Dogs thrive in environments where they’re loved and understood by their owners. A newly welcomed dog requires patience, willingness of the pet parents to go sleepless for nights, the commitment for years of care, the budget for vet bills, food, and supplies and the inclination to train. Are all family members aligned on these responsibilities and ready for the energy a puppy brings?
Daily Time Commitment
Assess your family’s readiness by discussing roles and expectations. Potty training the pup, teaching the dog to co-exist and thrive in a human-dominated environment, walking them, feeding them, playing with them, grooming them, keeping track of their health are just a few of the things you’d be required to do on a daily basis.
Dogs demand time and attention. Puppies especially require intensive training sessions and constant supervision to ensure they grow into well-behaved adults. Consider your daily schedule. If you are a working professional who needs to be out 8 hours a day, do you have enough time to dedicate to your dog’s needs?
It may so happen that your current situation at work allows you to operate from home. Make sure that you can provide the attention and care you’re promising your dog right now on a long-term basis
Lifestyle Compatibility
How does a dog fit into your current lifestyle? If you commute to work frequently or work long hours, owning a dog might require significant adjustments. If you are an outdoorsy person with ample time to take your dog for adventures, by all means, go ahead and get a high energy dog! But if you are more of a homebody and enjoy spending your time snuggling into your couch, a low energy lap dog would be more suited to your lifestyle. When your lifestyle aligns with your dog’s needs, it creates a joyful, balanced companionship for years to come.
Owning a puppy is a joyful experience, but it also comes with added responsibilities and costs.
Financial Implications
Initial Costs
Welcoming a dog into your home involves various upfront and immediate expenses such as the cost of purchasing the puppy itself, initial vet visits for vaccinations and acquiring essential supplies like beds, crates, leashes, toys, food and food bowls. Be prepared for these initial costs to ensure your new pet has everything they need from day one.
Ongoing Expenses
Expenses such as dog food, grooming, insurance are recurring in nature. These costs vary depending on the dog's size and breed but are consistent in order to maintain your dog’s health and happiness.
The breed of your dog is a huge decider of the cost of maintaining them. For instance, the monthly effort and investment required in grooming a long-haired Yorkshire is way more intense than that of a Labrador.
Furthermore, if you are someone who would love to pamper your pet, the list of items under the “ongoing expenses” category would only multiply.
Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is vital for unexpected medical issues or accidents. They almost always come unannounced. Veterinary bills can quickly escalate, so having financial reserves is crucial to provide your dog with necessary care without creating too much of a dent in your wallet.
Choosing the Right Dog
What Kind of Dog Would Fit in My Lifestyle?
Understanding your lifestyle can help you figure out what type of breed and routine fits best. Assess how many hours a day you spend at work, errands, hobbies, keeping yourself fit and so on. Now try to analyze how a dog can fit into it. Can your dog be a part of your hobbies? Can you involve your dog in your fitness regimen? Can you include your dog in your errand runs? While it is important to make time for your dog, it is equally important for you to make sure you’re not giving up on the things you love doing on a daily basis.
Active families may prefer energetic breeds, while those with a more relaxed pace might opt for calm companions. Research different breeds to understand their behaviors, exercise needs, and temperament.
When researching your breed, anticipate if their potential behavioral problems may cause hindrances in your daily life. For instance, Border Collies make excellent family dogs, but have a tendency to herd. If you have a toddler at home, don’t rule out the possibility of your dog wanting to herd your child.
Adopting vs. Buying
Animal shelters are full of dogs of all ages and sizes looking for a home to call their own. Adoption is not only an economical option, but also a life saving one.
Having said that, when adopting an older dog from a shelter, try to gather as much information on their behavioral issues, their past, life history and so on. This will help you be more empathetic and aware while raising them. Adoption is no doubt a noble deed, but raising a dog with baggage requires tremendous amounts of patience, know-how and resilience.
When opting for a breeder, conduct thorough research and ask them to provide detailed lineage and health information. Be sure to meet the puppies as well as the parents to thoroughly know their temperaments, living conditions and health conditions.
Both options have unique benefits and challenges. Consult a qualified trainer or a behaviorist to guide you through this journey.
Age of the Pup
Deciding between a puppy, an adult dog, or a senior pet highly depends on your capacity for training and energy. Puppies require more work initially but can be trained and molded into your ideal companion. Adult dogs may be typically calmer with prior training (or behavioral issues), while senior dogs offer a mellower presence.
Allergies and Fear towards Certain Breeds/Sizes of Dogs
Allergies must be accounted for before getting a dog home. Some people might be allergic to dog fur, while others might have a fear of some breeds. While there are numerous heart-warming stories out there of “Dog Moms and Dog Dads who initially never wanted a dog and love the dog the most now,” it may not be the best idea to count on that to happen in your home too. Understanding and addressing these concerns are essential before committing to a new pet.
Opt for hypoallergenic breeds such as Poodle, Maltese and so on if you have people allergic to dander in your home. You could also consider fostering a dog temporarily to gauge your readiness to have a dog long-term. Read up on “foster fails” to explore this idea.
A puppy’s care requires time, training, and routine, including feeding and daily attention.
Preparing Your Home and Yourself for a Puppy
Dog-Proofing
Puppies have a knack of getting into trouble! Make your home safe for a curious pup by securing hazardous items, covering electrical cords, and designating areas for safe exploration and play. This preparation is crucial to prevent accidents and create a welcoming environment for your new pet.
Make sure that the size of dog-friendly areas in your home is enough to raise a curious and playful dog. If you have high value items in your house at every nook and corner, think twice before getting breeds like Huskies, Labradors and Golden Retrievers.
Essential Supplies
Your home must be equipped with essential supplies such as dog food, treats, food and water bowls, toys, a comfortable bed, grooming tools, and a sturdy leash and collar before you welcome home your pup. Once you have your puppy home, all of your time will be invested in and around your pup. Keep these supplies ready for a smoother transition.
Gearing Up Your Family
Prepare each family member for the dog’s arrival by discussing responsibilities and safety protocols. Every person will be responsible for at least one task such as walks, playing with the dog, feeding the dog, etc. Making life adjustments for the dog has to be everyone’s responsibility. If someone is not ready and showing resistance, discuss it as a family and consider an alternate time to get a dog.
Managing a Multi-Pet Household
If you already have pets, think about how they will fit into the dynamic. Is your existing pet comfortable around other animals? Have they been socialized around puppies before? Many times, an only dog is the reason for the addition of another dog into the household. This may lead to other problems like the dogs not getting along, the dogs getting along with each other more than the humans, picking up undesirable behaviors from each other, being bored together and so on.
Ensure everyone understands their role in caring for and interacting with the new family member along with the existing one.
Training and Socialization
The Importance of Early Training and Socialization
Training a puppy as soon as you welcome them home gives you a chance to start on a clean slate. This means, what you train is what you get. Start with basic obedience training and boundary setting immediately to establish good habits and set expectations. Focus on housebreaking, basic cues, crate training and independence training to help your dog integrate seamlessly into your family.
Socializing your dog in a variety of environments and living beings is crucial for developing confidence and reducing fear. Regular exposure to new environments, sounds, and experiences in a controlled manner will help enrich your dog’s social skills and overall well-being.
Seek professional help if training challenges arise. Dog trainers and behaviorists offer valuable expertise in resolving behavioral issues and ensuring your dog grows into a well-adjusted adult.
Holiday Considerations
Coping with Holiday Stress While Raising a Dog
The holiday season, while exciting, can be stressful for both humans and pets. Festivities bring people together, which means more gatherings, loud music, decorations and more commotion in and around the house. This can especially be stressful for a little puppy who is fairly new to their environment.
While you may look at this as socialization, remember that such experiences may overwhelm your pup, thereby making them fearful and less and less excited about human gatherings. Prepare your dog for holiday gatherings by creating a quiet retreat where they can escape the hustle and bustle. Monitor their stress levels and provide comfort and reassurance during chaotic moments.
Managing a Dog with Travel Plans
If you plan to travel during the holidays, consider your dog’s arrangements. Whether bringing them along or using a pet sitter or boarding service, ensure their needs are met to keep them safe and comfortable.
If you plan on traveling for over a week or 10 days during the Holidays, do so before you bring your puppy home. They are having a hard time transitioning from their previous place to your home as it is. Adding another transition would get too overwhelming for them and cause a lot of confusion in terms of bonding, potty training, socialization, etc.
Gifting Considerations
It may be tempting to gift a puppy during the Holiday season and may seem like a wonderful surprise, but it’s often not the best idea. Puppies require years of care, attention, and financial investment. Unlike other gifts, they can’t be easily returned if the new owner isn’t ready or able to take on such a commitment. A puppy’s needs must align with the owner’s lifestyle, including their activity level, schedule, home environment, and personal preferences. The person receiving the puppy may not have the time, resources, or energy for a young, active pet.
Furthermore, choosing a dog is a personal experience. It allows the human to connect with the puppy and make sure they feel comfortable and bonded with each other. This is an essential step in building a loving, lasting relationship. Don’t take that away from someone and do not let anyone take that away from you.
A Dog is Not Just for Christmas
Statistics show that dog abandonment rates spike after the holiday season. This seasonal surge happens because some people receive puppies or dogs as holiday gifts or bring home a puppy for Christmas without fully understanding the commitment involved. Puppies, in particular, require consistent training, socialization, and care, which can be overwhelming if unexpected. After the holidays, people return to busier routines, which can make pet care feel more demanding or difficult to manage.
Bringing home a puppy for Christmas can be a truly magical experience. They bring joy, companionship, and countless memorable moments, but they also need time, patience, and commitment. Before bringing a dog home for the holidays, take the time to reflect on your family’s readiness and assess your ability to provide the time, resources, and love that a dog requires throughout their life.
By making an informed choice, you’re not only enriching your family’s life but also giving a new pup the happy, stable home it deserves. Remember, the joy of a holiday surprise lasts a day, but a well-cared-for dog can bring love and loyalty for many years to come.
Siddhika Bhat, Certified dog trainer and behaviorist and founder of Wagabonding.
For more information on training your puppy, check out these articles:
Common Misconceptions About Dog and Puppy Potty Training
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month: Making a Difference One Dog at a Time