Dawsonville, Georgia—Sweet, cute and cuddly; puppies are universally appealing. And while a wonderful puppy might seem like the perfect gift for your child, remember that so many of them end up at animal shelters. A 2014 study of animal shelters reported that 54% of the dogs turned in were six months to three years old and over 15% of them were under six months old.
“Be completely certain that the person wants a puppy or a dog,” said Robin Edwards, dog behavioral therapist. “A puppy is not some battery-operated toy or cell phone app you can play with, then turn off.”
If someone on your gift list is asking for a dog, think about giving them a gift certificate for one instead. Wrap a can of dog food or a fancy dog collar and include a note saying that “the puppy is included”.
You must consider that adding a puppy to your life is, on average, a 15-year responsibility. Raising a happy, well-balanced puppy requires a great deal of time and effort. A new puppy is not the right choice for every dog-lover. Older dogs can be just as great, if not better, than new puppies. Consider that most senior dogs tend to be calmer, have more predictable behaviors, and are already housebroken.
If the intended recipient seems ready for a puppy, be sure he understands that the gift comes with a very large time commitment and important responsibilities. “If it’s your child who wants a puppy, you as parents must be realistic and accept that you will be the ones dealing most with the headaches, not the kids,” said Edwards. Most children are not prepared to apply themselves to taking care of a dog until they are at least fourteen years old.
In any case, whoever ends up taking care of the puppy, give him the best chance for a long and happy life. We suggest the following tips:
- Do a lot of proactive research. Understanding what to expect during a puppy’s early stages of development during his first year will help you be prepared for his changes in behavior and specific needs.
- Give your puppy leadership, boundaries and consistency.
- Make sure the entire family agrees to the house rules about caring for the dog. Decide together how every family member will work and socialize with the dog.
- Understand that there are ongoing costs. Plan for them. Food, vet visits, training and other necessities are going to be there.
- Purchase a dog crate and use it. A crate is a needed tool for housebreaking your new puppy. It can also manage his location and keep him safe from other things around the house. It also provides your young dog with a secure and safe place when you are busy or out of the house. Your dog will quickly accept his crate as a safe place throughout his life.
- “Puppy-proof” your home. Puppies are always curious and will want to check everything out. Move things like electrical wires and outlets, plants, and anything you don’t wanty broken out of his reach. Also, lock away toxic chemicals and other things such as antifreeze, fertilizers, alcohol, detergents and tobacco.
- Get baby gates and use them. Baby gates are a great training device to shut off restricted areas of the house to help your puppy learn where he shouldn’t wander. Gates also remove his ability to get to dangerous places like pools, balconies and open doors.
- Get dog-appropriate toys. Toys like the puppy-sized Kong™ are best for his chewing and focus. Never give your puppy old clothing or shoes as toys. He won’t understand that it is OK to chew on old clothes, but not the new clothes in your closet
- If you are unsure about what you are doing, think about getting a professional dog trainer to help. A few lessons to get you on the right track from the start can safe a lot of mistakes down the line.
“You owe it to your new puppy to give him every opportunity to develop a loving relationship with you and your family,” said Edwards. “Be calm, patient and consistent. Your puppy learns through life experiences and simple association.” For more information, Bruce and Robin Edwards from Home Dog Training are willing to answer your questions.
Dawsonville, Georgia—Sweet, cute and cuddly; puppies are universally appealing. And while a wonderful puppy might seem like the perfect gift for your child, remember that so many of them end up at animal shelters. A 2014 study of animal shelters reported that 54% of the dogs turned in were six months to three years old and over 15% of them were under six months old.
“Be completely certain that the person wants a puppy or a dog,” said Robin Edwards, dog behavioral therapist. “A puppy is not some battery-operated toy or cell phone app you can play with, then turn off.”
If someone on your gift list is asking for a dog, think about giving them a gift certificate for one instead. Wrap a can of dog food or a fancy dog collar and include a note saying that “the puppy is included”.
You must consider that adding a puppy to your life is, on average, a 15-year responsibility. Raising a happy, well-balanced puppy requires a great deal of time and effort. A new puppy is not the right choice for every dog-lover. Older dogs can be just as great, if not better, than new puppies. Consider that most senior dogs tend to be calmer, have more predictable behaviors, and are already housebroken.
If the intended recipient seems ready for a puppy, be sure he understands that the gift comes with a very large time commitment and important responsibilities. “If it’s your child who wants a puppy, you as parents must be realistic and accept that you will be the ones dealing most with the headaches, not the kids,” said Edwards. Most children are not prepared to apply themselves to taking care of a dog until they are at least fourteen years old.
In any case, whoever ends up taking care of the puppy, give him the best chance for a long and happy life. We suggest the following tips:
- Do a lot of proactive research. Understanding what to expect during a puppy’s early stages of development during his first year will help you be prepared for his changes in behavior and specific needs.
- Give your puppy leadership, boundaries and consistency.
- Make sure the entire family agrees to the house rules about caring for the dog. Decide together how every family member will work and socialize with the dog.
- Understand that there are ongoing costs. Plan for them. Food, vet visits, training and other necessities are going to be there.
- Purchase a dog crate and use it. A crate is a needed tool for housebreaking your new puppy. It can also manage his location and keep him safe from other things around the house. It also provides your young dog with a secure and safe place when you are busy or out of the house. Your dog will quickly accept his crate as a safe place throughout his life.
- “Puppy-proof” your home. Puppies are always curious and will want to check everything out. Move things like electrical wires and outlets, plants, and anything you don’t wanty broken out of his reach. Also, lock away toxic chemicals and other things such as antifreeze, fertilizers, alcohol, detergents and tobacco.
- Get baby gates and use them. Baby gates are a great training device to shut off restricted areas of the house to help your puppy learn where he shouldn’t wander. Gates also remove his ability to get to dangerous places like pools, balconies and open doors.
- Get dog-appropriate toys. Toys like the puppy-sized Kong™ are best for his chewing and focus. Never give your puppy old clothing or shoes as toys. He won’t understand that it is OK to chew on old clothes, but not the new clothes in your closet
- If you are unsure about what you are doing, think about getting a professional dog trainer to help. A few lessons to get you on the right track from the start can safe a lot of mistakes down the line.
“You owe it to your new puppy to give him every opportunity to develop a loving relationship with you and your family,” said Edwards. “Be calm, patient and consistent. Your puppy learns through life experiences and simple association.” For more information, Bruce and Robin Edwards from Home Dog Training are willing to answer your questions.
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