Thousands of pets that are given as gifts during the holidays end up being surrendered to animal shelters or just abandoned because the recipient was unprepared to take on the responsibility. During a time that is synonymous with giving, we need to be aware that not everything makes for a great present, especially animals.
If your family decides to get a dog, whether for Christmastime or any other occasion, Heidi Ganahl, CEO and founder of Camp Bow Wow, the nation's largest doggy day care and overnight camp, suggests the following tips on how to choose the best dog for your family.
• Be sure your new pet correlates with the ages of those in the household. A good rule of thumb: The new pet should fit the current physical capabilities of the caretakers with a perspective for what the next 10 to 15 years will bring.
• It is not advised to bring a pet 5 months or younger, or toy-size, into a home with young children. As young pets like to teethe and play, a young child may risk being bitten by a playful pet or may accidentally injure a toy-size pet. A better choice for a household with young children is a medium to large pet older than 5 months.
• If there are elderly members in a household, a strong, vigorous adolescent pet is not advised. Large breeds also demand more physical upkeep, something that an older person may no longer be fit for.
• As most families are extremely busy, figuring out who will take care of the new family pet while the others are working, at school or away is a key point to consider. The best decision to make before buying a new pet is to designate a primary caretaker who will be responsible for it when the fray of life picks up.