Every holiday season is filled with images of adorable puppies peering over the edges of stockings or playing with ribbons. But, unfortunately, these images don’t show the reality of bringing a puppy into your home during the holidays.

A puppy is likely to chew on new gifts or piddle on the carpet. A young child may accidentally feed a new puppy chocolate or sweets, which may cause the puppy to require immediate, unexpected veterinary care. Simply put, the holidays may not be the best time to introduce a puppy to your home.

Please think about the following concerns before bringing a puppy home for the holidays.

• A puppy is for life, not just for the holidays.

• A puppy requires care every day of its life, which could likely be 10 years or more.

• New puppies need time and attention. Squeezing in 15 minutes with a new puppy in between holiday parties and visiting family won’t be enough.

• New puppies love to chew and play. If not properly supervised, your new puppy may chew on gifts and holiday decorations.

So what can you do if your favorite family member has his or her heart set on a dog? Sit down and talk about the pros and cons of adding a dog to the family before the holiday season. Visit the AKC Web site at www.akc.org for more information. If you decide to add a dog to the family, a detailed book about dog breeds, such as The Complete Dog Book or The Complete Dog Book for Kids, makes an excellent gift.  Your family can discover together which breed is best for you and allow yourselves ample time to find the right dog for you. Be sure to consider both the positive and negative consequences of adding a new puppy to your family during the holidays.

Thank you and happy holidays from the American Kennel Club and the Wilmington Kennel Club !!!

This article is a timely reminder from the AKC's Public Education Corner, and we thank them for producing this invaluable information!

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Modified on Thursday, January 06, 2005 11:41 PM