We all know the song, “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth,” but as long as I’ve been a parent (or a teacher, for that matter), I’ve never heard a child ask for teeth. What I have heard is the phrase, “I want a puppy for Christmas.”
As a parent, it’s hard to ignore this request. Everyone can imagine Christmas morning: the children rushing down to the Christmas tree, and sitting under it in a well-ventilated box is a puppy. The kids screech in delight, gush about how much they love their new puppy, and how much they love you. The rest of the morning is a blur of opening presents, with the warm, fuzzy feelings that the puppy brought still abounding throughout the day.
Unfortunately, that feeling doesn’t last very long. Sure, the initial excitement is there, but that Christmas present comes with a lot of long-term commitments that can make the present a little less shiny by the end of the week. Puppies require a lot of care. They need to go out several times a day, will whine at night until they adjust, and there will be months of training that need to occur.
Why Christmas Might Not Be the Best Time for a Puppy
Okay, you’re probably thinking to yourself that a puppy, regardless of the time of year, is always a big responsibility, and if you’re ready for one, what does it matter when you get it? Usually, I would completely agree with you, but unfortunately, a puppy for Christmas can take the responsibility and blow it up significantly.
Christmas is a busy time of year. Children are home from school for the holidays, and you spend much of the time rushing around for last-minute presents or visiting friends and family. This means there will be less time to take care of the puppy during this period. You won’t be home as much as usual, and you’ll be tired from dealing with crowds and family dramas—because let’s face it, there’s always some drama! The last thing you’ll want to do is deal with a puppy.
Even if you’re not out much over the holidays, Christmas can still be a very stressful time. Your routine is often off, and this can be stressful for a puppy. Not only is he separated from his litter and dam, but he has no routine. His feeding schedule will be inconsistent, the time you can spend with him will fluctuate, and he won’t know what’s happening. This can throw off any house training that you’re trying to establish and lead to long-term issues for both your puppy and your relationship with him.
On top of that, Christmas is a time when there are more hazards in the home than usual. The puppy will have more things to get into and chew. People are less aware of dangerous items like chocolates, and puppies can easily swallow something toxic, which may lead to serious vet visits—or worse.
If you’re still set on getting a puppy for Christmas, I recommend finding one that is ready just after Christmas. Instead of placing a puppy in a box under the tree, place all the gear you’ll need for the puppy. Your children will still be able to unpack all the little items, and you can include a picture of their future puppy. You can explain that Christmas isn’t the best time to get a puppy, but he will be arriving on a specific date.
The children will be just as overjoyed, and the warm, fuzzy feelings will last for weeks as you prepare your home for the newest arrival. You can mark on the calendar when your Christmas puppy is expected home and even arrange a visit with the breeder so your children can meet the puppy before the big day.
This is an excellent way to get a puppy for Christmas without having to worry about the negative aspects of puppyhood during the holidays. You’ll also have more time to prepare, making it less of an impulse decision. You won’t have to worry about the puppy ending up in a shelter after the holiday—something that is very common for Christmas puppies.
In the end, you’ll have a wonderful Christmas and a lifelong companion if you simply wait a few weeks. Trust me, it’s worth the wait, and everyone will have a merrier Christmas—including the puppy.
