7 Reasons Not to Give a Puppy for Christmas

So, you’ve been imagining that warm and fuzzy feel-good moment when you hand over an adorable puppy to a teary-eyed loved one and the Christmas lights outside sparkle just a little bit brighter.

Yes, you really want to create a moment worthy of a Hallmark card but there’s so much more to consider when gifting a puppy. Taking care of a pet, young or old, requires a lot of attention. A new puppy owner must be financially, emotionally and mentally prepared.

So, take a breath and halt your Google searches for how to buy a puppy before Santa comes. Instead, read on for 7 compelling reasons not to give a puppy for Christmas:

Why a puppy for Christmas isn’t a good idea

Before reading these reasons, put yourself in the other person’s shoes as the gift receiver. You’ll feel wonderful about your amazing gift but will they…?

Now read these seven reasons for thinking carefully before wrapping a puppy for Christmas in a big red bow.

#1

When you commit to a puppy, you’re committing to a long-term relationship, which is a personal decision. Is your present receiver ready to take care of a puppy crying at night, ready to train that puppy over days and weeks, and ready to scoop up an alarming amount of poo every day (even with our puppy poop etiquette tips in hand)? What about the long term commitment in keeping it safe, fed, happy, warm, well-stimulated, etc?

#2

A person may not be ready to financially commit to the costs associated with a puppy. We’re talking about food, housing, medical care, and other items. Just like with kids, dogs require a significant amount of attention and a lot of that attention involves costs. Even just pet food and regular flea and tick treatment costs hundreds each year, if not thousands of dollars a year. Let alone vet bills when there’s an accident or illness. Now times that by a dozen years or more.

#3

It is not uncommon for people who love dogs to have dog allergies. It’s their saliva that’s the main source of allergen and we all know how much saliva comes with a doggo! Although allergies to cats are about twice as common, allergic reactions to dogs tend to be more severe. The results of dog allergies include swelling and itching, a severe asthma attack and so much more. Does your gift recipient or anyone in their family suffer from allergies?

#4

The needs of different breeds of dogs vary greatly, and some may not suit a particular person’s lifestyle. A really active dog like a golden retriever might not be compatible with a person who values couch time and is ‘allergic’ to exercise. If you’re still a keen bean to buy a Christmas puppy, read about how much dog exercise is required for different breeds. Also have a think about how often your Secret Santa person is at home, then read about leaving a dog home alone to see if they’re a match.

#5

Building a happy lifelong friendship with a puppy is every new pet owner’s dream. It should be up to the individual to decide if he or she would like a puppy, even if they love them to bits. The animal, although well cared for, may limit the way they currently live their life. For example, if they’re an eager traveller they’ll need to cough up for a pet sitter or be restricted to pet friendly accommodation wherever they go. If your friend or family member could decide for themselves, would they really get a puppy at Christmas or any other time?

#6

Consider why you want to give a puppy for Christmas. In fact, you may be the one who’d like it but aren’t ready at the moment. Let’s take some time to think about that…

#7

It is important for pets to get along with everyone in a household. Therefore, it’s up to the members of that household to make a collective decision. If there are other family members, friends or roomies living there then they’ll be affected by your decision too. Have you discussed it with everyone else? Have you considered everything else in our reasons above?

The crux of the issue? Responsibility

Of course, there’s always a wonderful chance that it will work out and the two will be inseparable. Imagine the amount of adorable puppy social media you’ll be able to fawn over…

However, there’s also a possibility they won’t have time to train and socialise their puppy or love it as much as it deserves. Having failed to do right by the furball, they may lose hope in themselves.

Are they really ready for their adorable puppy…

The reality is that there’s a good chance the puppy won’t live its best possible life. Or worse, be surrendered to a pet shelter. Especially as inflation continues to rise and living costs along with it. Read more on why Aussies are giving up their pet to a shelter.

A lot of good people give up pets because they can’t afford to take care of them, emotionally, financially or both. It takes careful planning, responsibility, and dedication to become a first time pet owner. When you think about it, giving someone a gift shouldn’t come with a raft of expectations and binding responsibilities.

Don’t put anyone in a difficult situation. Donating to a shelter or volunteering some of your time may be a better option if you want to give a dog a better life. Fostering a dog might even be an option.

Pet insurance for puppies and pup seniors

An adorable puppy is not just for Christmas, it’s for life. If you’re still planning to gift a puppy for Christmas, also give them the gift of a good life, protected with pet insurance. With PD Insurance you have a choice of three award winning dog insurance plans, all with different annual benefit limits. They cover accidents only, accidents + illness and accidents + illness + dental treatments.

Each offers up a wealth of health care benefits that in a pet’s hour of need could easily outweigh the month-to-month pennies paid towards the plan. Plus, with no lock-in contracts it’s simpler to commit to safeguarding a pet.

Find out about getting one or more months of award-winning pet cover by clicking below for a quote.