We all know the sense of feeling when we see a puppy for the first time (an overwhelming sense of joy) however, there are some things that might put people off owning a pet.

To best determine whether you should give someone a puppy for Christmas is something you need to consider carefully. If the person has expressed an interest in getting a dog, you will need to consider whether they are able to care for them. Looking after a pet is a huge commitment and you need to make sure that your family or friend is prepared for what’s to come.

If you are considering giving a puppy as a gift, why not consider adopting one? There are so many dogs looking for a good home! You won’t just be blessing your friend with a gift but also a puppy with a home.

There are a few things that you need to consider before giving your friend a puppy for Christmas. Petinsurance.com.au have come up with these helpful points to make the process easier for you:

  • Consider giving an adoption certificate as a gift. It gives the new pet owner an opportunity to go and choose a dog they connect with. It will also ensure that the whole family feels involved in the process.
  • Make sure that the person you are giving the pet to is able to pet-proof their home to cater for the unexpected.
  • Puppies are hard work and even if the person receiving the puppy wants one, they might not consider the fact that it is a lifetime commitment. Puppies need training and that might take a lot more out time of someone’s day.
  • Puppies need physical activity as they have a huge amount of energy. A person has to be able to have the time to play with them and take them for a walk. Also, if the person has a full-time job with no one home during the day it may cause distress and anxiety for the puppy especially in the first few months when they are getting used to their new home.
  • There is an additional cost to having a puppy. Most people just think about the food involved but there are also vet bills and if the pet parent doesn’t have time to train the puppy, they might want to take them to training classes.
  • Many people end up buying a puppy for a child, thinking it will make a good companion however, they often forget that raising a puppy is a job for an adult.
  • If you end up buying a breed that doesn’t suit the family’s lifestyle or where they live, it may cause problems, for example if a family lives in the suburbs they may end up taking a little dog for a walk each day, but they might not be able to suit the physical activity of what a bigger dog might need on a daily basis.
  • There is risk that the person who you bought the puppy for may return the puppy to the shelter, which prevent the puppy from finding another home (if they picked up bad habits).

It might be good to enlighten your friend or family member before they adopt from a shelter. The below points are pretty standard in the canine and pet parent’s world but might be too much for some people to stomach – excuse the pun!

  • Dogs eat their own vomit! This is not a gross experience for a dog, as a dog’s mum regurgitates food for their pups to help them get used to eating solid foods. Very weird for us but very normal for a furry friend.
  • Dogs go insane after a bath! It’s called the zoomies. They literally run around like crazy, jump around and roll around to get rid of pent-up energy. Although it is a part of their normal routine, knowing what to expect is important after your you put all your efforts in getting them clean.
  • They love peeing on all things! They do this as it is part of their communicative behaviour. Dogs are able to get information about each other by sniffing the urine such as whether they are on heat or how long it has been since the dog has been in the area
  • They are creatures of habit! Therefore, if you usually get up at 6am on a weekday and then try to sleep until 10am over a weekend, good luck! They like routine so you will have to try and stick to some sort of similar routine every day, understanding there are always exceptions to the rule.
  • Dog feet smell like corn chips! Dogs sweat through their paws and the bacteria it collects let of a corn chip-type smell, so if you don’t wash them often enough, don’t confuse them with your snack table.
  • They lick their genitals! Although this is perfectly normal behaviour, it isa good conversation starter at a party.
  • You will have dog hairs in your house! Some think if they get a short hair breed there might not be hair in their house, but all dogs shed. It obviously depends on which breed and how often you clean up after them but be prepared, there will be hair in places you might not expect such as your oven.
  • The stare down! A dog understands us and our routines very well. So, if you find them staring at you don’t feel creeped out. It is probably time for a walk, or something to eat or you might be running late for work!
  • They drink from the toilet! For humans, this will be horrific behaviour but to a canine it makes sense. It as a never-ending supply of fresh, cool water.

As you can see there is a lot to consider when thinking of giving someone a puppy for Christmas so, it’s best to have a backup plan if this does not go according to plan.