Cute social media shorts showing delighted puppy recipients of Christmas morning have been doing the round these last few years. However, if you are considering buying a puppy for someone in your life as a Christmas present or a gift for any other occasion, be sure to read the information below beforehand.
Is the recipient ready for a long-term commitment?
A puppy is for life not just for Christmas is a phrase that everyone needs to bear in mind when considering giving one as a gift. Yes, all those adorable TicToks with a delighted child or older person opening a gift box to find a cute puppy inside are charming. Yet, they only show a few seconds of the story. Indeed, the reality is that once the novelty of getting a puppy wears off, they are a great deal of work, cost a lot of money, and take up lots of time and effort.
What that means is a puppy is rarely a sensible idea for a Christmas present. What you could be doing is saddling a loved one with a responsibility that they cannot maintain, something that can result in heartbreak as the puppy has to be rehomed.
Can you find a trustworthy breeder?
If you have considered the factors of cost, effort, and time and think that getting someone a puppy for Christmas is the right move, then it’s important to find one in the most ethical way possible. This means either adopting a previously abandoned puppy (or an older dog) or finding a reputable breeder. Indeed, your selection of breeders can make all the difference, so you need to be sure that you choose one that has a good reputation online. In this way, you can ensure that the puppy you get is as healthy and happy as possible and minimize behaviour problems later on.
Do they have enough space in their home for a puppy?
Another crucial consideration you must think about before you buy someone a puppy as a gift is whether they have enough space on their property. If they live in a small apartment, investing in a large dog like an Alsation, Doberman, or Great Dane is just not going to be practical. Similarly, it’s wise to consider whether they have an outside space, as puppies need to be taken to do their business in the middle of the night and not everyone is OK with going down multiple flights of stairs to the street to allow this to happen.
Is there another gift that would suit them better?
Last, of all, it’s very important to remember that a puppy is not a gift just for Christmas. Instead, it’s a lifelong commitment and that is a pretty big responsibility to give to someone as a gift. Indeed, before you go out and buy a puppy it’s a good idea to think about whether there is another Christmas gift that would be more suitable. For example, if the recipient loves animals, what about paying for an adventure experience where they get to meet animals up close and learn about conservation issues? Sponsoring a rescue animal can also be a great pet-themed gift, especially as they come with plush toys, pictures of the animal, and regular updates, but do not require any financial or time investment on the part of the recipient.
*This is a collaborative post
