No Christmas Puppies, Please!

"No Christmas Puppies, Please!" by Ruth Ginsberg (1993) is an great article that points out some excellent reasons puppies should not be a choice for Christmas gifts.  In case you skipped it, here's a condensed list of the highlights:  

• "Groups as diverse as, and often at odds with one another as, the Humane Society of the United States, canine behavior experts, the American Kennel Club, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, Animal Rights Activists, breed rescue groups, veterinarians, obedience training instructors, and most reputable breeders of sound, healthy dogs, are in strong agreement that live puppies should not be given as Christmas gifts."
• Developmentally 7-12 weeks is the best time for a puppy to leave his mother and litter to be introduced into his new family.  During this period fears and lifelong personality traits are established.  All of the excitement and busy-ness at Christmastime equals the worst time to put a puppy through this transition.
• Most children associate the puppy as just another gift under the tree.  Puppies are live beings in need of care and love; not a toy to be tossed aside when their owner grows bored with them. 
• Your breeder should not allow you to take the puppy home on Christmas morning.  If so, she does not have the puppy's best interests in mind, and you should get your pup from someone else!
• According to studies, the majority of puppies and kittens never reach their 2nd birthday.  Puppies grow up and have needs.  Owners either do not understand the need for proper socialization, training, and care, or do understand, but avoid their responsibilities.  These owners become disenchanted because their puppies are too much trouble, have behavior problems, cost too much, etc.  Some of these dogs wind up living in abusive homes, or are completely neglected.  Others die from lack of proper care or are euthanized, either at the owner's request to a vet or after they've been dropped off at a shelter.  Many run away, are hit by cars or dumped and left to whatever comes.  Once in a while they move from home to home with each new owner giving up because they don't have the patience or knowledge to deal with whatever behavior modification is needed.  (Mrs. Ginsberg's section regarding this is well worth your time to read!) 

As an alternative, follow the article's advice.  Get a toy dog, supplies, books, local veterinary and training information, and wrap them all up.  The excitement of a new puppy is still part of Christmas but not lost in the festivities.  After the new year, when things settle down, start researching what's involved in raising a puppy.  Once you've decided, as a family, that you have the time and desire to provide for the puppy's training, health care, and emergencies; then is the time to consider which breed is best for your family.  At that point you will be ready to look for a rescue, consider adoption, or find a responsible breeder.

Rather than the impulsive Christmas puppy that has the likelihood of ending up a disappointment, wouldn't you prefer a lifelong member of the family?  With commitment from every member of the family, proper research, and time invested in your puppy you'll have just that!

I still recommend you read Mrs. Ginsberg's article.