Is Giving a Dog as a Christmas Gift a Good Idea?

Gifting a puppy or adult dog to our loved ones isn't always as good an idea as we might think, since it becomes a huge responsibility that everyone involved needs to take on.

At SoyUnPerro, we want to guide you a bit before you make this important decision, so its care and needs don't catch you off guard later.

You might also be interested in: The Best Dog Breeds for Living With Children

Is It a Good Idea to Give a Puppy to a Young Child?

If we look at the positive side — like the fact that it'll teach the child responsibility and how to care for an animal — we might easily think giving a dog to a child is a great idea.

But it isn't. Children are children, and they only think about playing and having fun, which is completely normal. They shouldn't be responsible for a dog, since they're not mature enough to be.

So if you're thinking about giving a dog to your kids, you need to be clear that the dog is, and always will be, your responsibility. Taking it out for daily walks, looking after its health, paying for its vaccines, and worrying about its diet are and will remain your obligations.

You'll also need to look out for both the dog's and your kids' safety. It's just as important to properly train a puppy as it is to properly teach your children to respect it and not play rough with it.

Think it over carefully first, because a dog lives an average of twelve to eighteen years — it's a long-term responsibility that can't be avoided. And if you do decide to go ahead, remember some breeds aren't recommended for family settings with young children.

Giving a Dog to Another Person

Setting young children aside, we might think about giving a puppy or adult dog to a loved one, like our partner or our parents or siblings.

You should know this isn't a great idea either, even if you know it'll thrill them, since gifting a dog means gifting a huge responsibility. On top of that, choosing a dog is a very personal decision — everyone has different tastes.

Not every breed suits every person — some are small, some huge, some calm, some very active... some aren't even recommended for very hot or very cold climates, and even apartment size matters.

Want to give a dog to a loved one? Go with them to choose one at an animal shelter or pound (they're free and need a home), and let that person be the one to choose their own dog.

Important Tips About Adopting — Buying a Dog

It's very sad, but a large percentage of dogs given as Christmas gifts spend their second Christmas in a pound or shelter because they've been abandoned.

That's how harsh life can be for these dogs — from having a family to finding themselves in a situation no living being should have to face.

That's why it's so important to keep all this in mind before making this important decision, because a dog is part of the family, not a toy.

• A dog lives many years, during which it'll need you to take it out for walks several times a day and dedicate time, affection, play, and care to it.
• A dog needs training and socialization — it's not a toy that already comes fully trained.
• A dog comes with a significant annual expense — its food, its mandatory vaccines, and its vet checkups aren't free.
• A dog isn't an animal you leave alone at home all day or chained up — it's part of the family and needs to be with the family.
• Most dog attacks on people happen to children, because kids see things in cartoons on TV and then think it'll be funny to try the same with their dogs... it's YOUR responsibility to train both the dog and your kids.
• Don't buy a dog — you'd be fueling indiscriminate breeding for profit. Adopt a dog instead — shelters and pounds have dogs of every age (puppies, medium-aged, adults) and every breed, size, and mix... they'll only ask you to cover the cost of vaccines and the microchip (completely reasonable, since these are mandatory).