Ahead of us is a magical time of Christmas, preparations and Christmas shopping, in which, of course, gifts for our loved ones become the key! This is the time when we think about others and what could make them happy, what they dream about and what will bring a smile to their faces when they unpack their Christmas present.
But this is also where many campaigns appear on TV and on the Internet regarding dogs as unwanted Christmas gifts. Campaigns warn against buying a dog for Christmas and show unpleasant statistics of animals abandoned after Christmas. In this article, we will consider whether a dog is a good idea as a gift and, if not, why not? We will cover a few points to keep in mind and consider when we begin considering such an idea.
Pets as a gift are mainly given to children, but it often happens that the gifted person is an adult, more than once they are elderly and lonely people whom the pet is supposed to keep company or force to exercise. Good intentions, but are you sureanimals as a giftare a good idea? Will the recipient be satisfied for sure and, what is important, will he or she cope with unexpected care of the pet? And are the dog’s needs sometimes forgotten in all of this?
In this article, Niketrainers.com.co will tell you:
Why is an animal not a good gift idea?
I think that no one needs to be told how much responsibility it is to care for an animal. Larger or smaller, depending on the species – but even caring for a fish requires proper knowledge so that it does not run out of anything and lives in conditions appropriate for its species. In the case of dogs, this responsibility is huge and the future guardian of the four-legged dog should definitely decide on his own that he wants to take this responsibility on himself.
A common argument is that a dog is sometimes given to a person who we know thinks of a dog is financially secure and ready to take on such responsibility. But in my opinion, this is still not quite a good argument. Dogs are different, they have different characters, there is a huge range of purebred dogs and a huge number of different dogs in shelters. Regardless of where the dog comes from, proper adaptation to the lifestyle and possibilities of the future caregiver is crucial when deciding whether to buy or adopt a dog. I believe that you shouldn’t make this decision for someone else. After all, the debated person is to feel good with the dog and live together for the next several or several years.
An even worse situation is giving a dog to someone who has never mentioned a desire for a pet. They are often lonely, mourning or depressed, and the pet is to keep them company and improve their mood. Sometimes it is also just to force you to move more often and go for walks. But doesn’t that sound like forced happiness? How can we be sure that the dog will actually improve the mood of a given person, not only worsen it by imposing new, unwanted duties on the head when it is difficult to cope with and without a dog? What will happen to a pet when the recipient cannot cope with it? Will we take it under our care for the next several years? Unfortunately, it happens that such a dog, at best, goes to a new family, undergoing the stress of another change of environment,
What about the kids? Isa dog a gift? Is it a good idea for them? Theoretically, a conscious parent knows that taking a dog will not be the child’s responsibility, and many responsibilities will fall on him. Paying the vet, buying food, and often most of the walks. Therefore, to a large extent, the dog is a gift for the whole family, not just for the child. Of course, I understand that parents want to surprise their child with a huge surprise, knowing that this is one of his greatest dreams. However, they must remember that after a period of euphoria, discouragement and weariness with daily duties often come. Therefore, such a decision must be really well thought out, and I personally think that it is worthwhile for the child to participate in this process, so that they know what is associated with the presence of a dog in the home and that they can respect its needs and consciously participate in caring for it. Visiting the kennel together or taking introductory walks in the shelter can be a great lesson for a young person. That is why I think that, instead of a surprise, it is worth making a family decision about a new family member.
A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR AN ANIMAL Why is this a bad idea?
There is one more reason why a dog as a Christmas present is not a good idea. In many homes, the holiday season is full of hustle and bustle. The Christmas Eve itself and Christmas are often guests at home or our visits to the family. In all of this, let’s imagine a dog that has just changed his whole life by turning a kennel, shelter or foundation house into our apartment. Shouts of joy, many hands wanting to stroke or play with the dog, confusion, noise. These are not the best conditions to start a new life and get used to changes. The dog should have time to get used to it and gradually meet new people, a lot of time to sleep – Christmas often deviates from such conditions.
What if everyone is ready to take the dog under their roof?
In fact, when the whole family makes a joint decision about a new four-legged family member, it is not wrong to make a gift for yourself and your dog. But let it not be a living surprise in a box, but a joint initiation of the process of buying or adopting a dog. All household members should participate consciously. Additionally, it would be a good idea to do it a few weeks before or after Christmas so that the time at home is more relaxed and the dog can slowly adapt to the new conditions.
I hope that I was able to describe and close the topic of four-legged Christmas gifts! Enjoy the festive madness. I wish you that this time will be special, warm and family-like for you.