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Many people seem to feel that nothing says “Christmas” better than a puppy bought as a present.  The sad reality is that nothing could be further from the truth, most especially for the puppies themselves.

The Element of Surprise is a No-No

Surprises are fun, and many people love to be surprised, especially around the holidays.  However, surprising someone with the gift of a living breathing being that needs attention, let alone food, shelter, and veterinary care can be less of a surprise, and much more of a burden.

Surprise!  You have approximately $800 worth of veterinary bills annually, $100 worth of food to feed every month, and poop to pick up daily!  Merry Christmas!

Seriously, though.  It should never come as a “surprise” to someone who will function as the primary caregiver to a puppy.  It is unrealistic and unfair to that individual.

Buying on a Whim

Puppies bought on a whim are most often bought at flea markets or pet stores.  Not surprisingly, anyone willing to give a puppy to someone they don’t know well is probably someone who puts their wallet before the best interest of the pup.

If you’ve been living with the illusion that all puppies are created equally, let me squash it for you.  There is a tremendous amount of socialization and learning that happens even before you get your puppy at eight weeks old.

If for nothing other than selfish reasons, know this: puppies raised in puppy mills and farms are already at a greater risk of having behavioral issues, due to the circumstances of their birth.

Not fair, you say?  Correct.  But until people wake up, and start taking the decision to own a dog with more responsibility than buying a pair of shoes, we  will continue to have puppies that are given up to shelters just as easily as they are bought.

Many rescues, and any good breeder isn’t going to allow you make a dog buying decision on pure whim.  This is because they know they will get that puppy back, and probably have a harder time placing him because he will be older and because of the unsettling experience of moving from place to place.

Is it ever alright to buy a puppy for Christmas?

I’ve given this some consideration, and tried to imagine a circumstance in which it would alright to give a puppy as a Christmas gift.  Here a few reasonings, and my opinion on them.

• Reasoning:  My kids are 6 and 8 and I promised them a puppy by this age.
  • Answer:  Are you prepared to by the primary care giver to a puppy?  Further, are you prepared to act on the puppy’s behalf because 6 and 8 year old children should not be unsupervised with a dog? It would be a better experience to help your kids understand the responsibility of owning a dog by helping out a local rescue.

• Reasoning: I am buying my puppy from a reputable breeder.
  • Answer:  This is easy – no reputable breeder allows someone to purchase a puppy for someone else.  Next!

• Reasoning:  My family has discussed purchasing a dog for the past year, we carefully selected a breeder, and after being selected by the breeder as an appropriate family for her puppy, we decided to surprise the kids on Christmas morning by driving to the breeder to pick up our puppy, who just happens to be eight weeks old on Christmas.
  • Answer:  Bingo!  There it is, people, the perfect scenario to purchase a Christmas puppy.

Please, before you make what should be a life altering decision to either adopt or buy a dog, take the time to be sure that you are ready for the responsibility.  It being Christmastime should be the last factor in your decision.

“Yeah!  I’m so happy!” says your friend.

“Hey, what’s the good news?” you ask.

“My daughter is having a baby!”

“Congratulations!!  How old is your daughter?”

“She’ll be thirteen in two weeks!”

Right here, you might think you’ve stepped into the Twilight Zone.  Because who in their right mind would be happy about such a thing?

Well, that is the reaction I have when told a dog who is less than two years old is having puppies.

Much like a human female’s menstrual cycle, dogs come into heat when they are barely into adolescence.  This is not a stamp of readiness to breed, just as a young teen girl having her period is not an indication that their bodies are ready to bring life into the world.  It may be physically possible, but far from ideal.  And in many cases, the body is not at all ready for such a grueling undertaking.

And yet, people do this all the time to their young female dogs.  Sometimes out of irresponsibility, sometimes out of greed, and sometimes out of sheer ignorance of the canine reproductive system.  It is my hope to give people a basic understanding in this article about the responsibility that comes with having a female dog that is intact (not spayed).

The Basics of the Female Dog’s Heat Cycle

Female dogs may come into season as early as 6 months of age.  Some may not have their first heat cycle until 18 months of age.  Female dogs have a heat cycle typically every 6-9 months, though there is variation.  Females in heat will bleed, though the amount varies, and there is the possibility of what is sometimes called a “silent” heat, meaning that very little to no blood is observed.  During the heat, which can last from 2-4 weeks, a female will begin to ovulate.  Ovulation may not happen until two weeks or later into the cycle, though others will ovulate around one week.  She is not fertile during the entire 2-4 week period.  Typically she is only fertile, or in “high season”, for roughly 5 days.  Again, there is variation between girls, but what doesn’t vary is that once the female has ovulated, her eggs, if not fertilized, will begin to die.  Approximately 6 days after ovulation, the eggs are dead and fertilization cannot happen, though she may still be accepting of a male dog, and may still appear to be in heat.

It is vitally important that if you do not want to have your female dog get pregnant, that she is watched closely during her heat cycle.  She should not be taken for walks, nor left out in her yard unattended.  Male dogs are notoriously good at getting to females in season, especially older or experienced stud dogs who become familiar with the scent of a female in high  season.  I have heard stories of six foot fences jumped, doors literally dug through, and dogs who traveled a ways to get to the girl.  It is best to keep your female safely in your sight when outdoors.

To Spay or not to Spay?

Setting aside the moral concerns, what about health concerns?  How can you possibly know what an adult dog’s joint health will be when her joints aren’t even fully formed?  Yes, that was a rhetorical question, because you can’t.  And with so many of our breeds having joint issues of some kind or another breeding a young, physically immature dog is just plain irresponsible.  Taking it one step further, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (Offa.org) won’t allow certification for joint testing until two years of age.

So, at the end of the day, it is huge responsibility to own a female dog who is not spayed.  If you think it would be appropriate to “let” her have a litter of puppies before she is spayed, see my article on “Why NOT to have a litter of puppies” that may help you make a good decision there.

Of course, there are additional risks to having an intact female, other than just pregnancy.  Female dogs can develop severe uterian infection, known as pyometra.  The condition is notoriously hard to diagnose, and can be fatal.

But when is life ever easy?

So, right about now you may be thinking that you are getting your girl spayed, and the earlier, the better.  In fact, that has been the general attitude of many vets and pet parents for a couple decades now.  However, more and more research points to the fact that doing what’s best for your girl may not be as easy as we once thought.

An increasing body of research is indicating health risks by spaying too early.  Among the risks:

• Incontinence
• Joint injury
• Hemangiosarcoma and Osteosarcoma (two very deadly and devastating cancers)
• Increased behavior issues, including anxiety

All of a sudden, it doesn’t seem like such an easy decision, does it?

So, here is what I recommend to people I believe are prudent, responsible dog parents, and are not going to have a girl end up with puppies due to negligence:

Just wait until she’s at least one year old to have her spayed, maybe even 18  months.

Will she maybe have a heat cycle (or two) in that time?  Very likely.  Is it a pain to deal with the mess?  Sure.  Will you get irritated having to watch her every time she goes outside.  Yep.

If you don’t think you can stand those simple rules while your girl is in heat – you should get her spayed, sooner rather than later.  Because shelters absolutely don’t need more dogs to place.

But here’s the thing:

Dogs aren’t just here for our entertainment or our convenience.

When you commit to bringing a dog into your life, I believe it is something you should take to heart, and take quite seriously.  They are living, breathing beings with emotions, too (and yes, emotions in our dogs are a proven scientific fact.).  If you are not ready to be committed to their health and well being, perhaps you should reconsider your decision to have a dog in the first place.

The day people bring home a puppy is an incredibly exciting day. The anticipation of bringing home a baby canine can overwhelm the senses, especially for younger members of the family. If you are not buying a dog ‘spur of the moment’ (which you never should, by the way), you can start to make preparations for the day your pup comes home weeks in advance.  If you’ve been carefully considering the decision to add a dog to your family, with the right preparation the day you bring your baby home should be fun and exciting.

Depending upon where you plan to get your puppy, your preparation may start as early as 6-12 months in advance.

• TIP: If you plan to get a puppy from a breeder, many times the best breeders have waiting lists. Don’t be deterred by this, interview multiple breeders and choose the one you see as the best fit for you, and if they have a waiting list, get on it.  You will be grateful you did, even if it means waiting a few extra months.
  

The other way to get a puppy, if you are not very specific about what type of breed you’d like, is to get a puppy from a rescue.  There are many puppies out there desperately waiting for their forever homes.  Browse for some adoptable pets in your area. Many times, rescues require a home visit, or a waiting period before allowing an adoption.  These are all in an effort to make sure that the placement of their dogs are ones that can stand the test of time.  The last thing a rescue wants is a dog returned to them.  So be patient with their criteria.

So… you’re on a waiting list, or just waiting for the right adoptable pet to become available.  What can you do to prepare your home, and your family?

Two or more weeks away

• Make a vet appointment
  • You should always have a new puppy examined by your own veterinarian with 1-3 days of receiving them.  Many breeders require this inside their contract.
• Decide on your course of action for housebreaking.
  • Will you have a puppy proof room, a crate, or puppy pads?
  • Purchase supplies for whichever method you choose.
• Research your new pup’s diet
  • If you are receiving a pup from a breeder, ask them what food the pups are on.
  • If you are rescuing a dog, many times rescues aren’t able to afford high quality foods, so plan to research a good food.  Have a lot of time on your hands?  Read this book, all about the pet food industry and choosing a quality diet for your pet.
• Make sure you have new puppy equipment
  • Bowls, toys (appropriate for pups), chewies, leash and collar, bed, etc.
• Research local trainers and their options for puppy classes.
  • Training your pup starts the moment they come home, what you teach (either on purpose or by accident) is up to you.
• Make a Socialization Plan
  • Many times people think of training and socialization interchangeably and that they are the same thing.  Not true.  And one hour per week at puppy class is NOT nearly enough socialization.
  • Talk to family and friends with and without dogs.  Ask permission to have your puppy visit.
  • Avoid places that are likely to harbor disease before your pup is fully vaccinated.  (Dog parks, pet stores)
  • A puppy’s socialization window closes around 4-5 months old, make good use of those couple months to ensure a confident adult dog.
  • Plan to take your puppy somewhere every other day or so, not just let people come over to visit.

Less than one week away

• Set up the puppy’s area
• Buy puppy’s food
• Get puppy tags made for identification purposes
• Set ground rules with children
  • Will the puppy be allowed on furniture?  Or to sleep in a bed?
  • Who will have specific puppy duties?  (Poop patrol, feeding, etc)
  • However, be careful to not let your puppy suffer to “teach your children responsibility”
• Begin puppy-proofing the house
  • It may sound silly, but crawl around the house and see what is eye level for you.  Electrical cords, furniture, all those yummy things to chew on….

The day puppy comes home

• Get puppy used to their new collar.
• Start to learn your new family member’s likes and dislikes.
• Remember, even though you intend to love and cherish this new family member, this is a somewhat traumatic event in a puppy’s lifetime.
  • It is normal for a pup to have loose stool from the stress.  (If it persists or is severe, see your vet…but you should already have an appointment made.)
  • It is normal for a pup to cry the first couple of nights without their littermates.  They will adjust quickly.  Dogs are very adaptable animals.
  • Be sure to allow your pup adequate sleep time.  Kids sometimes need guidance to allow a puppy adequate rest time.

So, if you do these things, you will be well on the way to being prepared fully for your canine companion.  It will make the day they come home less hectic, more structured and in general much more fun!  Enjoy your new pup!