Are you thinking of surprising your children with a dog under the Christmas tree this year? You might want to press pause on that idea. Here are five reasons why:
- It’s not fair to the dog. Bringing a new rescue dog into your home isn’t something to do on a whim. Think of it from the dog’s perspective: he’s in a new place, with new people. He’s probably scared. Add to that all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, with friends and family coming and going, and you are not setting the pooch up for success.
- It should be a family decision. Dogs are a huge responsibility, and it’s important that everyone is willing to commit to caring for a new four-legged family member. That’s worth a discussion ahead of time, including everything that having a dog entails, before surprising your family.
- The dog might not be a good fit. It’s always best for the family to meet a potential new pet before taking it home. You want to make sure the pup matches your family’s temperament. For example, if you’re couch potatoes, you probably don’t want to adopt a high-energy puppy. You also want to see if your current pets will get along with a newcomer. At Poodle and Pooch Rescue, we always make sure potential adopters meet our rescue dogs before making a commitment.
- Adopt, don’t shop. If you are looking for the perfect pet, rescues like Poodle and Pooch are the best option. But you don’t want to rush that process just to hand over a new dog on Christmas morning. Take your time to find the perfect companion for your family.
- Dogs are family members, not toys. Setting your family up for a lifetime commitment to care for a new pet is a big deal, not like the latest toy that will discarded or outgrown just months after getting it.
Do This Instead
If you really want to give your kids a dog this holiday, there are easy ways to build excitement and delight them without having the pet under the tree, including:
- Use festive paper to wrap a dog bowl, toys and treats as clues.
- Create a lovely gift certificate announcing that the family will be choosing a dog together.
- Give a book on taking care of dogs.
- After Christmas breakfast, go online and look at pet rescue sites so you can begin the rewarding journey of owning a rescue dog.