Your family has holiday gift-giving on the brain, and your kids keep asking for one thing: a new puppy. As cute and companionable as they are, it’s pretty tempting to give in, whether or not you have previous experience with dog ownership. Should you get a puppy to put under the Christmas tree this year, or should you consider an alternative (like an older dog)? Here are some key considerations before giving a puppy as a gift, especially to kids.
Puppies Require Round-the-Clock Care
Consider your family’s schedule. Parents often agree to adopt a puppy as long as their kids commit to that puppy’s daily care, but this isn’t entirely practical. A puppy can’t wait until after school to have all its needs met. Depending on her age, your puppy may need to go out to use the bathroom every two to four hours. She’ll also need to eat three times a day and get plenty of consistent, safe socialization and training to encourage good behavior.
Your kids probably can’t fulfill all these needs on their own. If the whole household isn’t prepared to participate, a puppy may not be the right choice.
Puppies Aren’t Always “Fun”
There is no denying that puppies are cute, but that doesn’t mean they’re always fun to be around. They have a lot of learning to do, and without the guidance of their littermates and older dogs, this can lead to some frustrating behavior. For example, a puppy might chew up your kid’s favorite shoes or bite when trying to initiate play.
Younger kids or kids who are primarily used to older dogs may find these behaviors scary or off-putting. Make sure to set realistic expectations and assess their readiness to navigate undesirable behaviors.
Adult Dogs Can Provide a Calmer Alternative
Is adopting a puppy your only option? Chances are that your local shelters are full of dogs who are one year old or older who are looking for their forever home. Many families find that skipping those difficult puppy months altogether is a better alternative.
That’s not to say that older dogs are never challenging. You will still want to invest time and effort into training, and you may need to contend with behavior-impacting conditions like anxiety. That said, adult dogs may have more energy regulation, which can make training and care less chaotic.
How to Prepare for Your New Puppy
You’ve considered the pros and cons of adopting a puppy and concluded that it’s the right move for your family. Here are some of our top tips for preparing to adopt a puppy:
- Stock up on puppy basics before you bring your puppy home. This includes food and dishes, toys, a crate for crate training, and a six-foot training leash. You may need to get size-specific items, like a collar and harness, until you can bring your puppy to the pet store for sizing.
- Set expectations. The surprise of a new puppy can be overwhelming. You may want to have plenty of conversations beforehand about what life will be like with a puppy and what you expect from yourself, other adults in your household, and your kids.
- Register for training classes. The sooner you start professional dog training, the better!
Ready to get registered for training? Learn more about ADU’s dog training programs today.
