Please follow the guidelines below before making the lifetime commitment to a new dog:

1. Know Your Breed: This is always the toughest. When going to the shelter to choose a puppy, or even an older dog, talk to the staff, and ask for assistance in choosing the right dog. Knowing that a Border Collie mix needs a lot of exercise and mental stimulation should be known prior to adopting one in a household that lives in an apartment with no yard. The same holds true if you are planning on buying from a breeder. Dog Breeders know that puppies are purchased as holiday gifts. Prior to buying from any breeder make certain that you do your homework! Know everything you can about the breeder, visit them, see how they raise their own dogs,as well as the puppies.

2. Who is going to care for the dog! Nine times out of ten, after a few weeks of owning the new puppy, the newness has worn off, and the child no longer wants the responsibility to care for the dog. Now it's mom and dads responsibility. Please be mindful that although your hearts are in the right places when adopting the puppy, you as the adult will ultimately be the caretaker.

3. Pets cost money! The average care for a dog on a yearly basis including food, and medical expenses, averages about $1200.00 per year per dog. This number does not include emergency medical care, toys or other expenses that occur when owning a pet.

4. Training: If you are going to purchase a puppy for your six year old, know that you will be the one doing the training. Certainly training a dog should be a family commitment, however, please realize before you adopt that you as the adult will assume the role of "Leader of the Pack"

5.Time! Puppies and new dogs are time consuming. Like having a new baby, puppies need attention. They need socializing, they need mental stimulation, they need to bond with their pack. They are not acquired to be put in crates all day, or left tied out when you go to work. Because you as the adult will be the primary caretaker ask yourself if the timing is right! Do you have the time needed to care for a dog!!!!! Another question to ask yourself, who will care for the dog when you travel or go on vacation? While pet sitters and boarding kennels are a great option, they can be costly for a frequent flier.

My final note:

Prior to acquiring a Christmas puppy please make certain that your decision was made after covering all the bases listed above. Over the years I have seen to many dogs returned to shelters after the holidays, or given back to breeders because the child did not want the dog, or the dog was to much to handle, or the wrong breed was purchased. So, please pass this along to anyone that you know might be thinking of getting a Christmas Puppy.

I found this article floating across the interwebs, so I decided to include it here on HCASF.org for all of you to read. With shelter populations growing across the nation, please consider adopting a dog or cat from your favorite animal shelter organization this holiday season. This article was originally written by Ellen Carey of the Greater Coastal Canine Academy. Ellen can be reached at 252-491-8234.