Please - No Christmas Puppies

The fantasy of surprising your loved one with an adorable puppy under the tree on Christmas morning may seem like the perfect gift...but is it really? Humane societies, shelter workers, veterinarians, the American Kennel Club (AKC), reputable breeders and rescue groups across the country resoundingly say NO! A reputable breeder may have puppies available for Christmas, but if they do, it's just a coincidence and not a planned occurence. Breeders don't plan on making money on Christmas puppy sales. In fact, reputable breeders don't plan on making money at all - because they don't. They're in it for the love of the breed - not for greed and profit. Most of the puppies available for Christmas sales are from puppy mills or back-yard breeders. These kinds of breeders have an extremely poor track record when it comes to screening for congenital defects in the parents, and to socializing developing puppies while most do not perform any health testing at all.

A puppy isn't just for Christmas - It's for LIFE !

Animals should never be given as gifts at any time of the year and the holidays are, in fact, the worst time to bring a dog of any age into your home and your life. New puppies and dogs require extra attention and a stable environment which the holiday season does not permit. Caring for the puppy's round-the-clock feeding and housetraining needs as well as finding time to comfort and re-assure an insecure pup in the middle of the holiday chaos is an impossible task. Please consider the potentially hazardous and no-win scenarios to which you will be subjecting a young Christmas puppy: Doors left open with people coming and going giving a new dog the opportunity to run away - a devastating situation for your pup and your family not to mention your loss of money. Puppy will be constantly underfoot and could be stepped on causing an injury resulting in a broken paw or leg or even an internal injury causing a slow and painfull death. Housetraining will be difficult - at best - with daily routines interrupted to accomodate holiday festivities. A situation that will add extra time to the overall housetraining process and unnecessary stress for you and your dog. Also, remember - winter weather generally does not provide the optimum conditions for housetraining. Numerous additional household safety hazards for your puppy with the holiday decorations, gifts and festivities. Puppies love bright objects such as wrapping paper, ornaments, ribbons and childrens toys - frequently chewing and often swallowing these. The all-important introduction and transition period to forge the bond between you and your pup will be seriously compromised. Puppies need to have the best start possible in a family or bad habits will develop. Holiday activities will impair your ability to adequately supervise the interaction of the new puppy and your children - the risk of a sick, frightened, injured or confused pup biting your child is very probable Puppies given as gifts are usually impulse purchases from pet stores because reputable breeders do not sell puppies during the holiday season. A dog is not a toy that can be returned or discarded, the result of making the wrong choice when selecting a living being as a gift is tragic. Ask any shelter worker or rescue volunteer about the influx of ill, untrained and unwanted dogs in the holiday aftermath. No matter how much you think your loved one would enjoy this puppy "surprise", you should never presume to make this decision for another person. Getting a puppy is a lifelong commitment. Given that Danes are likley to live for an average of 10yrs or longer, this is a major decision requiring emotional stability and financial responsibility - a decision that should not be taken lightly. This is an important decision that needs to involve the entire family and can not be made in a hurry. It takes time to research the breed, choose a reputable breeder and select the perfect pup. We highly recommend you give a "Puppy Gift Package" instead of a live pup under the Christmas tree. This can be a fun gift to create and a fun gift to receive. The gift package can consist of a wide variety of items such as a crate, a gift certificate entitling the recipient to the "dog of your choice", a stuffed dog complete with a big red bow, gift certificates for the first veterinary check-up and puppy socialization classes, dog toys, bowls, leash, collar, brush, comb, books about dog care and dog breeds, video on dog training, donation to a rescue group or shelter - be creative and have fun. You may discover by your loved ones reaction on Christmas morning that the idea of a new puppy and the accompanying responsibility is less than thrilling and definitely not wanted. However by giving the "Puppy Gift Package" nothing is really lost. All the items can be returned to the mall or donated to your local shelter or rescue group. Then, together you and your loved one can pick out something they prefer. On the other hand if a puppy is really desired, your "Puppy Gift Package" will be greatly appreciated. Then after the holidays, when life has returned to a normal routine, you and your family can thoughtfully begin the process of selecting the right dog and giving your dog the best start in life. A dog with a good introduction to its adoptive family is much more likely to become a long term companion rather than just another tragic statistic. Still not convinced ? - A couple poems below might better explain it

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
With no thought of the dog filling their head
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap
knew he was cold, but didn't care about that

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But Santa Claus - with eyes full of tears

The unchained the dog, once so lively and quick
Last years Christmas present, now painfully thin and sick
More rapid than eagles he called the dogs name
And the dog ran to him, despite all his pain

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Let's find this dog a home where he'll be loved by all."

I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year
For Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear
The gift of a dog is not just for the season
We had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons.

In our haste to think of a gift for the kids
There was one important thing that we missed.
A dog should be family, and cared for the same
You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain.

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,
"You weren't giving a gift! You were giving a life!"

- Author Unknown -

'Twas the Night Before Christmas (At The Shelter)

'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town
every shelter is full ~ we are lost but not found

Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare
we hope every minute that someone will care

They'll come to adopt us and give us the call
"come here, Max and Sparkie ~ come fetch your new ball!"

But now we just sit here and think of the days
we were treated so fondly ~ we had baby ways.

Once we were little, then we grew and we grew
now we're no longer young, and we're no longer new

So out the back door we were thrown like trash
they reacted so quickly ~ why were they so rash?

We "jump on the children," "don't come when they call"
we "bark when they leave us," "climb over the wall."

We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed
now we suffer the consequence of the error they made

If only they'd trained us, if only we knew...
we'd have done what they asked us and worshipped them, too

We were left in back yard, or worse ~ left to roam...
now we're tired and lonely and out of a home

They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-by...
"Maybe someone else will give you a try."

So now here we are, all confused and alone...
in a shelter with others who long for a home

The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat
with so many to care for, they can't stay to chat

They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer...
we know that they wonder how long we'll be here

We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads...
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds

Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears
our friends filled with emptiness, worry and fear.

If you can't adopt us and there's no room at your inn
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin ?

We count on your kindness each day of the year
can you give more than hope to everyone here ?


Be sure to check out the story of:
How The Danes Saved Christmas