Tag Archives: is your child ready for a puppy?

A Puppy for Christmas?

Today I heard one of my friends talking about possibly getting her five year old a puppy for Christmas. She had a number of reasons why she felt like this year was the perfect year to let her son have the puppy he’s been asking for. Are you thinking about doing something similar for your child(ren) for Christmas or some other special occasion?

I’ve thought about it myself, but after doing a little bit of research, I have decided against it. Below are just a few things to think about before you bring home that little puppy on Christmas morning. How responsible is your child? If you are purchasing the puppy (or any other live animal) for your little one, and giving it to him/her as his/her own pet – then you need to take an objective look at how responsible your child is. At five, is your little one really old enough to care for a puppy like it should be cared for? And remember, a puppy doesn’t stay a “puppy” for long. They grow and get bigger and at a much faster rate than your child will, too. If you are still having to remind your child to brush his teeth, put clothe in the dirty clothes hamper and pick up toys before bed, then he/she probably isn’t ready for the responsibilities associated with caring for a puppy. Have you researched dog breeds? The worst thing you can do is call about an ad in the paper listing puppies for sale. Even if they are Golden Retriever pups, that particular breed may not be right for your family. Buying a family dog is not something that should done on a whim. To ensure everyone in your family loves the dog and that the dog will find it’s “forever”…