Don’t Box Me In! I’m a Puppy, Not a Present!

After deciding to bring a new pet into the family, many people think that the holiday season would be the perfect time to tie a bow around their little furr ball and unleash him on his new family. Anyone who has ever successfully raised a well-trained animal, however, knows that the worst time of year to bring a new pet home is before or during the holidays.

Even the most courageous animals are intimidated by new situations and when they arrive at a new home, it must be a quiet haven where everyone can focus on the new arrival’s needs until he is settled. It is impossible to teach a new puppy or kitten that he can’t use the kitchen floor as a bathroom, eat the Christmas tree, or climb up the living room drapes when all of the adults in the household are busy cooking, wrapping gifts, going to parties and preparing for houseguests. A puppy or kitten will quickly become destructive or timid and prone to biting if he has not been properly acclimated to his new surroundings from the moment he arrives. A confusing, commotion-filled first few weeks will make training and socialization much more difficult.

However, responsible would-be pet parents can still give their child, or themselves, a new pet for the holidays and avoid all of the negative consequences that usually accompany a puppy or kitten given as a gift, by following a few simple guidelines.

One of the most efficient ways to give a pet as a gift is to have the pet picked out before the hustle and bustle of the season sets in. In order to find the breed of dog or cat that is right for your family, try using Animal Planet’s online breed selectors at http://animal.discovery.com. Once you have selected a breed, contact the national breed club for a list of trusted breeders in your area. Or, type the breed’s name into the search bar at www.petfinder.org to find pictures and descriptions of animals in need of good homes. When you have chosen your pet, make sure to get a photo and leave a deposit with the breeder or rescue to put your pet on hold. Every reputable breeder, and most animal shelters, will hold an animal for up to one month, usually at no charge, until their new family is prepared to bring them home. Once you have your sale or adoption agreement in hand, it’s time to go shopping!

New pets require a myriad of supplies and these should be purchased well before their arrival. Bowls, collars, food, a bed, a crate, toys and grooming implements can be presented as gifts before the new pet comes home to build suspense. For young children who need something more tangible to unwrap, purchase a stuffed substitute for their new pet, dress it in the new pet’s collar and leash, put the plush in the pet’s crate, wrap the whole package in holiday wrapping and bows, and affix a card with the pet’s photograph inside. For older children and adults, the pet’s picture in a card, with a coupon for “1 Puppy” or “1 Kitten,” should have a similarly thrilling effect. If you don’t have a pet picked out yet, simply purchase all the supplies and instead of having a specific animal’s picture in the gift card, just put a puppy or kitten “coupon” in the card. Plan to take a trip to a shelter or a breeder’s home after the holidays where your family can choose a new pet together and prepare to pick him up when the household has settled back into a normal, non-holiday routine.

Animals, especially young ones, are very sensitive to their environments, and nothing they use or interact with should change in the first year or so with their new family. The time between your pet’s purchase or adoption and his homecoming is a perfect opportunity to decide where they will fit into their new family’s lives, what times they will be walked and fed, which vet they will go to for their first check-up, and where and with whom they will sleep. Not only will scheduling their arrival until after the holidays make your new pet happier and more comfortable, it will also make the holidays less stressful for everyone in the family. By the time your puppy or kitten arrives, all his new family will have to do is enjoy him.

– Sabrina C. Mashburn