The holiday season is just around the corner and you’re wondering what gift to give your loved ones this year. Giving a cute puppy as a birthday, Christmas or housewarming gift can be a nice gesture for people who have been wanting a furry friend to keep them company. Personal preference, life situation, and family status are some factors to consider when choosing a pet. There is nothing more rewarding than receiving a well-trained pet as a gift from someone you love because it means the person took into consideration everything that mattered to you most.
1. Understand The Breeds
Different breeds have different types of coats, some shed less than others. Puppies with short and fine hair coats don’t usually trigger allergies as much as those with a thick undercoat. Dog breeds with easy-to-manage coats are perfect for children or people who suffer from pet allergies. Some of those breeds include the Poodle, Bichon Frise, Maltese, Shih Tzu, and the Portuguese water dog.
As we mentioned, when gifting someone a puppy, it’s even better if it’s already trained. This can sometimes be difficult to determine since a trained puppy is not the same as a trained adult dog. However, as the gurus from Pride and Prejudoodles point out, things to look for in a well-trained puppy include understanding basic commands and being crate-trained among other things. These are especially important if you’re gifting a puppy to someone who’s not a dog expert.
Hypoallergenic breeds are also convenient for dog lovers since there are some breeds that people with allergies just can’t live with. If the person you’re gifting has no dog experience, hypoallergenic dogs are perfect options for them because they don’t shed or cause allergies as other breeds do.
2. Reach Out To Breeders
Asking for referrals is also a good idea if you want to find out more about puppy breeders. It’s best to reach out to the breeders personally, go over your preferences, and make sure they understand what it is you’re looking for in a pet.
For example, let’s say you need a female dog for a show. The breeder should not only have a female puppy of the breed you’re looking for, but also one that’s been trained. However, if this is just a pet and not a show dog that you want, then going for a male or female dog from any litter would do just fine.
It’s also good to check out the place in person. A lot can be determined from the environment alone. If you’re dealing with professional and reputable breeders, then the facilities will be clean and the puppies will look healthy and well taken care of.
3. Make Sure Your Loved Ones Are Ready
Before gifting a puppy, it’s important to make sure that the person you’re giving the gift to is ready for all of the responsibilities that come with owning one. Puppies require much more than just love and affection—they need to be taken care of regularly and taken to the vet more often than adult pets.
You should also check with their family members if they’re all on board with having a puppy at home, as well as any rules that may apply such as breed or size restrictions. While a puppy might have one owner, the entire household will need to pitch in when it comes to taking care of the new family member. This is especially important in case a lot of the family members work long hours.
Some breeds require more attention and expertise than others. For example, toy breeds are very fragile and need to always be watched when playing. On the other hand, larger dogs can break things in your home with their big paws, so it’s best to make sure everyone in the family knows not to leave their toys and belongings lying around where a dog could get hurt or destroy them.
4. Start Shopping Early
It’s normal to be excited when you finally find the perfect puppy for your loved ones, but it’s best to control that excitement and start shopping early—possibly months before the holidays or your friend/family member’s birthday.
The reason being is that you should give the person plenty of time to prepare for a new pet. It’s not as simple as just bringing home a puppy and being able to settle down in one place with it. There are vaccinations, licenses, training classes, and other things that need to be done first before you can start living happily ever after with your sweet little fur baby.
While purchasing an already trained puppy does help shorten that time, you still have to allow the person a couple of months to prepare for their new pet.
5. Where To Go
There are a number of different places to purchase a puppy from. If you’re looking for a reputable breeder, then your best bet is going to be from an actual store or pet store that specializes in selling puppies.
Wherever you go, the way to determine if the place is reliable or not is by looking at the puppies. If they’re caged, then it’s best to steer clear of that place because this means that their dogs aren’t getting enough attention and exercise. Another thing to look at is how the dogs are being treated. If they’re all barking loudly, then it’s a clear sign that they haven’t been properly taken care of and socialized with their own kind.
However, if you find a place with clean and spacious cages for each dog, inside which they can roam freely and interact with each other or even play with toys, then you’ve found a good breeder. Ask the employees some questions about the puppies. A good breeder will be able to answer questions about the dog’s loves and dislikes, as well as their eating and sleeping habits.
When you gift a dog to someone, it’s important that you do your research. You want to make sure that the person is ready for such a big responsibility and that they won’t end up selling or giving away the dog after a couple of months. Also, pay attention to where you buy your puppy from, but also what the upkeep for the dog will be. Make sure you know all of the rules and regulations in your area when it comes to owning a dog before buying one. After you’ve done all that, prepare to make someone’s special day even more memorable.