By now, your local puppy store is in high holiday gear. They want to convince you that puppies make the perfect holiday gift. What could be cuter than a new puppy on Christmas morning?
Actually, it would be hard to make a worse choice!! Reputable breeders are loath to sell in December, because thy know that by February the puppy is likely to find himself relinquished to a dog shelter or, if he's lucky, returned to the breeder. The holidays are a busy, stressful time. If you're like me, you're already exhausted. It's a time when we struggle to meet our on-going commitments, along with preparing for the holidays. It's certainly not a time to take on the work of a new puppy!
A couple of weeks into January, the kids will be back in school and mom and dad will be rushing off to work every morning. The weather will make you want to hibernate. Just when everyone could use a break, adorable puppy will be soiling the carpets, chewing on furniture, stealing food, throwing up on clean clothes, and acting generally out of control.
If your family is ready for a dog, Please! wait until February or March when things will have calmed down, and Spring is on the way. Winter weather makes house training difficult, if not impossible; and the spirit of the season prevents you from making a realistic decision about a new dog. In the Spring your family will have more time outside, and a greater inclination to train the new family member. If you don't train him, he will quickly metamorphose from cute puppy to black sheep!!
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