Yes, it’s that time of year again.. already! I thought I’d take a moment to talk to all of you out there who may be considering getting a puppy for Christmas.  A puppy is a commitment for 8-15 years and a decision to add one to your family is one that should not be made in haste.

Consider wrapping a collar, leash, food bowl, books on raising puppies, and an IOU with the promise to take the time for your family to pick out your puppy after the holidays. Go to a shelter, apply with a rescue organization or find a REPUTABLE breeder – one who does health testing on the dogs they breed and breeds only dogs that conform to breed standards and have breed-appropriate temperaments.

As cute as they are, puppies chew everything, poop and pee wherever they want, and require lots of exercise and training. Puppies aren’t for everyone! If you are considering adding a dog to your family this holiday season, you may want to consider the possibility of adopting a young adult or grown dog.

If you do make the decision to add a puppy or dog to your family, you have the following options.  No option is the perfect choice for every situation, but I urge you to consider all your options before you head to a pet store.

OPTION 1: RESCUE or BREED-SPECIFIC RESCUE
This is often the best option for many families. In general, rescued dogs are usually more than six months old, are house-trained, are past the chewing-everything stage, and are forever grateful to be placed in a loving home.

A rescue organization is one that places dogs in temporary foster homes where they can be evaluated for temperament and health issues, and matched with a family that suits their needs. Have your heart set on a specific breed?  Locate a breed-specific rescue that is dedicated specifically to accepting and placing only one breed of dog.

These dogs will already be spayed or neutered, up to date on their shots, and in some instances, microchipped – a huge cost savings to you.

OPTION 2: SHELTER
An estimated 6-8 million dogs are surrendered to shelters each year. Half of those dogs are never adopted and see their last days in those same shelters.

It’s a big misconception that all shelter dogs have “baggage” or are broken. The majority of these dogs are perfectly wonderful companions who’ve found themselves in a shelter through no fault of their own – their owner may have passed away or lost their job, or perhaps needed to move into housing that does not allow pets.

These dogs will often be spayed or neutered, up to date on their shots, and occasionally microchipped.

There are purebreds, mixed breeds, ‘designer dogs’ – dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages just waiting for someone to give them a second chance at happiness.

There are currently over 13,000 shelters and rescue groups and over 350,000 pets available for adoption on Petfinder.com.   You can even search for a dog by age, sex and breed.

OPTION 3: BACKYARD BREEDER vs REPUTABLE BREEDER
If you decide you REALLY must have a puppy, please take the time to find a REPUTABLE breeder. A reputable breeder will breed only one or two breeds at the most. They will do breed-appropriate health testing on all of their dogs before breeding them. They will be selective in who they allow to purchase their puppies and will help you pick a puppy with an appropriate temperament for your family.  They will require that you sign a contract that you will spay or neuter your pup and will agree to take the dog back at any time in the future, for any reason.

How do I find a reputable breeder? Click here to read about how to locate one.

A backyard breeder is one that breeds purely for profit, taking little to no consideration for temperament or breed standard.

Breeders to avoid:
- those who bred their family pets just because they’re cute
- those who breed because they want to get back what they paid for their dogs
- those who list multiple litters for sale in online ads
- those whose dogs are not a part of the family and are kept in kennels, runs, or cages
- those who do not have the parents on the premises, or refuse to show you the parents
- those who sell their puppies to the first person who offers them money, without any concern for matching the dog to the type of lifestyle you lead

OPTION 4: PET STORE
I know it’s tempting to go to the pet store and pick up that cute puppy in the window, but do you know where that puppy came from? If you’re in a pet store, you can be reasonably assured that the adorable little puppy you’re considering was born in a “puppy mill” – a high volume breeder that breeds many different breeds, purely for the sake of profit, with no concern for the health, breed standard or temperament of the dogs it breeds – and chances are, his mom and dad have never seen a loving or kind home and likely never will.

These dogs may be inbred and may have genetic deformities. They may have illnesses such as parasites or respiratory infections. They may have trouble being housebroken because they’ve lived in their own waste in a cage. They may have poor bite inhibition and be “nippy” because they’ve been taken from their littermates too early. They may be hyperactive and noisy – because they’ve not been allowed free exercise they may develop habits such as running in small circles and excessive barking. They may also have long-term immune problems due to being overloaded with pesticides and antibiotics.

Even if YOU are lucky and YOUR puppy turns out “okay”, a large percentage of the others will not, and YOU helped provide the incentive for them to be born by buying the one who came before them.

Now, you may feel the urge to ‘rescue’ that puppy, but by giving your money to a pet store, you’re only opening up a slot for another puppy to fill. The reality is that no responsible breeder would ever place one of their puppies in a pet shop. A breeder who has placed a puppy in a pet shop has disqualified himself as a responsible breeder.

In addition to the hefty price tag that pet store puppies carry, don’t forget that you will have to get your puppy shots and, in a few months, get them spayed or neutered.

Should you decide to add a puppy or dog to your family this Christmas, I hope that this post will help you make the best decision for your family.  Remember, puppies are not stocking stuffers!  They are living, breathing creatures who deserve to be treated with kindness and loved their whole lives through.

LuLu, Wally and I wish you the best this holiday season!

“Rescue.  It’s good for your heart.”