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As the holiday season approaches, the hunt for the perfect holiday gift begins. Along with the gift seekers are the purveyors of gifts. Many of these are quite appropriate gifts. Among those are toys, clothing, sporting equipment, and accessories for homes, cars or boats. Then there are the folks trying to sell you a puppy as a present, a totally inappropriate “gift.”
The “breeders” of these potential gift puppies sure do make it appealing though don’t they? “Looking for the perfect present? Nothing is sweeter than a cute, furry, bundle of joy under the tree this Christmas. Make this a Christmas to remember. Pure bred (name your breed) puppies available,” the signs will say.
Why is a puppy inappropriate for a present? Puppies need to have consistency in their lives. Regular feeding times, regular potty-break times, regular times for training. The holiday season is the worst possible time to try to do this. The vast majority of families are NOT on a regular schedule themselves with Christmas pageants, holiday shopping,parties, house guests. How can you expect a puppy to be on a regular schedule?
Puppies are chewers, they are babies, they are teething. Holiday decorations provide an interesting array of items on which they can chew. Most, if not all are hazardous to puppies; some are potentially fatal. Electrical cords for decorations are an electrocution hazard; holiday foods can cause a variety of health problems including vomiting, diarrhea, and inflammations of the pancreas. Chocolate is toxic and can result in everything from irregular heartbeat to death. Ornaments and ribbons including tinsel and angel hair are potential choking hazards, can cause bowel obstructions, and if the ornaments are glass, they can result in external and internal lacerations. Do you really want to deal with veterinary emergencies at what should be a happy, festive time of the year?
You say the kids really, really want a puppy. If that is the case, here is a suggestion. Buy the travel crate, a book on the breed you want, grooming supplies, leashes, collars, food and water bowls, and a book on training your puppy. Wrap those up as the presents under the tree. Wait until AFTER the holidays to get your puppy. Buy from a reputable breeder, one who screens the parents for health problems, one who sells on a contract. Rescue a dog from a shelter after the holidays, talk to purebred breed rescues. Don’t buy from a pet store; they are outlets for puppy mill products.
Sandra A. Dunlap
