The classic image of a puppy wearing a big red ribbon under the Christmas tree is something many people will try to replicate this Christmas.
- Dogs require a lifelong commitment, says AKC breeders
- Breeders: Christmas is a stressful time for you, and a new dog
- Take time to find the right dog, breeders say
At last weekend’s AKC National Championship in Orlando, breeders we spoke to had a special message for those people: please don’t.
“Christmas is the worst time of year to introduce a new dog,” said Lori Norman, an AKC beagle breeder from South Florida. “You have electrical cords all over your house, you have a Christmas tree with all its electric lights and bulbs and they’re going to knock it down.”
If the Christmas season is stressful for you, imagine what it’s like for a dog who is now in a strange home with strange people -- especially a puppy.
“People tend to be tied up with family. They’re cooking, they’re socializing, they’re doing Christmas things. Nobody is watching the puppy,” said Norman.
According to a 2015 National Survey on Rehoming by ASPCA, pet problems are the most common reason owners rehome dogs and cats across the country.
Those problems can include behavioral issues, health issues and other things the owners may not have realized when they got the pet – like how big it would actually get.
That last issue is something that can come into play in Central Florida, where housing is the most common reason pets are rehomed, according to Orange County Animal Services.
What a dog needs
For Lorna Menaker, a border collie breeder, these issues really come down to the owner though. She says people need to know what they are getting into when they get a dog, down to whether they can even have one in their home in the first place.
“Dogs are not throwaway things,” Menaker said. “They are a lifetime commitment."
“People have got to take responsibility for the dog they bring into their lives,” she added.
The amount of time you can give a dog during a day is also not just an issue pet owners have at Christmas. Pets can get bored, or they can have separation anxiety. That can lead to destructive behavior.
In Menaker’s case, she works with the highly intelligent and active border collie, a herding breed. She does not recommend leaving a border collie home alone if you work an 8-5 job and no one is home at all during that time.
“The problem is they need mental stimulation,” she said. “They need a job to do, and if they don’t have one to do they will go self-employed – which means destroying your house.”
All dogs also need training, something that will take time, patience and maybe even money if you go to obedience classes.
How to get a dog
Breeders say instead of getting a dog for Christmas, do a certificate or some sort of IOU-style present, promising a dog to come after the holidays.
But even then, don’t get any kind of dog unless you do your research.
“First of all, [people] need to determine what it is they’re looking for in a dog in their lives,” Norman said.
“Find the right dog for your family -- the right personality, the right characteristics,” Menaker said.
So are you looking for a couch dog? Are you looking for a dog that will be active outside with you? Do you have a home with a yard? Do you have time to stay home with a dog? These should all be factors in finding the right dog for you – whether you go with a purebred dog or a mixed breed from a shelter, where you may not know what kind of dog you have.
“There are a lot of dogs in shelters that people can take, a lot of good dogs looking for homes,” Norman said. “They should go to a shelter and find a dog that appeals to them, find a dog that works for them.”
If you are looking for a rescue or a shelter, there are sites like PetFinder.com that can connect you with shelters or rescues that have dogs in your area.
More shelters are moving toward matching people based on a dog's personality, rather than breed. One of the most notable is Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, which instituted the Pawgwarts program two months ago. They sort dogs based on houses, ala "Harry Potter." You can learn more about it on the Pet Alliance website.
Also, every national dog breed club has rescues that they work with, and can help you find a dog in your area. You can find links to different national dog breed clubs on the AKC website.
If you want a dog from a breeder, a purebred dog, you should make sure you have a breeder of merit through the AKC, Menaker and Norman said.
“When you buy a dog from a reputable breeder, they’re going to be there for you every minute of the day, every day of that dog’s life,” Norman said.
While not every breeder, or even every AKC breeder, is designated an AKC breeder of merit, you should always look for a breeder who will do certain things:
- Health test their dogs. A good breeder will know exactly what problems their dogs might have healthwise.
- Make sure the puppy you get from them has the right temperament for your lifestyle.
- Help you get into training or other activities to help you keep your dog active.
- If there is a problem, they take the dog back – even if the problem has something to do with the human.
“Most breeders will not let their dogs go to shelters,” Menaker said. “They will take them back.”
To pick a breed that’s right for you, try the AKC Dog Breed Selector on the American Kennel Club website.