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Santa -I Want a Puppy
By J Gardener
Uh-oh. The holidays are fast approaching, your child is at the age where she
knows what it means, and she's already making wish-lists. And the wish you
feared the most is the one at the top. She wants, she craves, she'll die if she
doesn't get-a Christmas puppy! Whatever fears you harbored about preparing for
the Magical Morning just got magnified, ten-fold. As if your life isn't hectic
enough, your angel now wants to add an eating-pooping-barking machine to the
household.
You want to please your child during this, the first holiday season she'll
probably remember, but you know-you really do know-that a puppy for a small
child isn't the best plan for Christmas day. Especially for the puppy.
Millions of families go through the same gyrations every year. Many families
go ahead and bring a new puppy-or cat, or bird, or fish-into their homes on
Christmas morning. And every year, a large percentage of them wind up taking
their pets to animal shelters a few weeks later, realizing that they've made a
mistake.
A puppy-or a cat, for that matter-isn't like a new doll. It can't be hidden
in a closet until the moment of surprise, and it can't be played with for a few
minutes, and then put back in its box, until tomorrow. A puppy's first day with
its new family is a traumatic time; it's been removed from everything familiar
and brought to new surroundings. To put it at ease, a new puppy requires
constant quiet, soothing attention-something probably in short supply on
Christmas morning in a household with a small child.
A new pet can be a great gift for a child, during a less stressful and busy
time of the year, but a lot of preparation is recommended. A child needs to be
taught that any pet requires a great deal of care, attention, and training. Is
your child ready for that responsibility?
Is your daughter allergic to dogs? You should schedule a visit with an
allergist, before you bring home a puppy.
What breed of dog does your child want? There are many breeds-even large-dog
breeds-which are great with small kids. And there are other breeds-even
small-dog breeds-which are too hyper-active or nervous to be left with small
children. A veterenarian can offer great first-hand advice about what kind of
dog to choose.
In order to avoid the hassles of house-breaking, you might want to look at an
older dog-one that has a history of good behavior around children. Many local
animal shelters can notify you, if they take in such a pet.
Do you have room in your home and room in your yard for a dog? Many breeds
require a great deal of exercise for their physical and mental well-being. On
the other hand, there are even certain large breeds which exercise very
little.
For the sakes of your child and your puppy, take the time to do research
before you act. A puppy can grow into a valued family member which will bring
joy to every member of your household.
If you've decided that fulfilling your child's wish for a pet is the course
to take, consider this-instead of hiding a puppy in the garage until Chrismas
morning, give your daughter a picture of a puppy, from Santa, along with a
promise to help her choose her new friend, after the holidays. Your sanity-and
your puppy-will thank you. About the Author Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. For additional tips on how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with personalized letters from Santa Claus.
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