Puppies and a holly jolly Christmas

Dec 23

Written By Jennifer Masters, MA, MS, RVT, KPA CTP

Puppies bring such joy to the world! There is nothing like a cute roly poly bouncy puppy to welcome in the day! The big question is do I get that cute puppy on Christmas Day or wait?

The majority of dog trainers and other animal professionals will say that puppies should never be given as a gift on Christmas. It is an admonishment that is often said to cause guilt and shame for those that dare think of welcoming a new puppy on Christmas.

I don’t like such broadly parrotted recommendations of NO puppies for Christmas. I say that overall it simply depends on whether it's a good idea to welcome your new family member on Christmas or not.

For some families Christmas is wild, busy, and chaotic.

For other families Christmas is a quiet peaceful time of year.

For the families that are busy with visitors or visiting and the chaos just won’t quit, well maybe you put a cute stuffed puppy with your future’s puppy collar and name tag in a beautifully wrapped package as an IOU for a few days after all the wild busyness settles down.

For families that celebrate Christmas in a smaller, quieter manner, then there is nothing wrong with welcoming a puppy on Christmas. I do recommend that you have all agreed as a family and researched what it takes to give your new family member a great start at life!

And the adults need to agree to be the responsible party for the puppy right from the start. You legally are anyways, but the adults do need to wholeheartedly commit to the puppy! As an adult you will do most of the caretaking, but you can absolutely have your children learning how to properly care for your new bundle of joy right alongside of you!

If you do decide to bring a puppy home on Christmas then make sure the puppy is the priority. The day will need to be set up for the puppy. Make sure you have his food and water bowls available so he can get substance. Puppies will not only need to eat and drink during the excitement of the day, they will need to start potty training and crate training that day along with having a quiet place to get plenty of rest. You will have to be your puppy's advocate to protect him from family members that don’t understand how to manage their own excitement and joy over the new cute family member.

Make sure you buy your puppy plenty of gifts, too!

Also make sure wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons are picked up so puppies don’t eat them.

And make sure the Christmas tree ornaments are out of reach of the puppy.

And the cords for the tree’s lights are not accessible for the puppy to chew on.

And make sure the family members' presents are put up out of reach of your new puppy!

I know, so much to think about, but it is simply puppy proofing your environment to keep your puppy safe, which needs to happen from day one no matter what day you bring your puppy home on!

A baby Darby working on her potty training

One thing to really think about is that bringing a puppy home on Christmas comes with potty training in the winter. Absolutely, it is doable, but it does come with another level of commitment. You must be willing to go out with your puppy each and every time so they learn where the proper place to potty is right from the beginning, even when it is cold and snowing!

A courageous puppy goes out in the cold and snow during potty training, make sure you are courageous right along side your puppy!

For some families that have more low-key Christmas breaks, then it is the perfect time to welcome their new family member as they have the time to get the puppy settled in before they have to all go back to work and school. Just make sure you are spending time each day getting your puppy used to the crate and used to you coming and going so when you all go back to your normal life it is not a huge shock to the puppy. And once everyone goes back to the normal routine make sure you will have someone that can come home at lunchtime to give the puppy a potty break and some lovin!

Lots of things to think about for sure!

Only you and your family know if it would be a good time of year to welcome a new puppy. Just think through it and create a workable plan before you move forward with it as your new family member is a life-long commitment.

A puppy and her boy having fun playing with her stuffie

And absolutely make sure you put training with your puppy into your plan!

Working on leash skills right from the beginning.

Getting a new puppy is a lot of work, especially the first year, but it is oh, so worth it! As long as you are ready for the fun and the work then go ahead and welcome your new puppy during the holiday season! I have welcomed two puppies into my life during Christmas because it was a time of the year when I had plenty of time to give them a good start in life. I have to say my Christmas puppies have made for memorable holidays!

If you welcome a new puppy for Christmas I would love to help you create an amazing connection with your new family member-contact me today!

new puppy

Jennifer Masters, MA, MS, RVT, KPA CTP

I LOVE DOGS!!!

Dogs leave me in awe constantly. The dog-human connection fascinates me. Training with dogs lights me up inside! There is no better connection in life than that between a dog and their person in sync. Teaching others to train with their dogs is an honor. Watching the person open up to seeing the potential in their dog is the purpose.

I have committed my life to dogs. I study dogs through self-directed learning and through formal educational programs.

I have attended three schools for dog trainers and completed numerous continuing education opportunities about dog training and behavior over the years.

I have been a credentialed veterinary technician for over 23 years.

I completed a BS in Business Administration with the sole focus of opening a dog training business.

I completed a MA in Applied Psychology to be able to better help the human side of the leash!

I recently completed an MS in Adult Learning and Leadership to learn how to create dog training programs and curriculum that benefit not only the dog, but their humans, also!

My commitment to dogs and their people is that I will continue to increase my knowledgebase so I can provide them with access to the best dog training and behavior education possible. I will also share my own perspective on dogs and the lives we share with them.

Above all else, my best teachers have been dogs, mine and others. I have learned so much while training with dogs. How to focus and give my full attention to another as the dog gives theirs back, that is the essence of the dog-human connection. When two beings are training together and communication is flowing subtly, there is true magic in those moments. Also, in the day to day of our life together when time seems to stand still I become open to the lessons they have to teach. Lessons of how to listen to others and how to just be together. Our relationships with our dogs is about togetherness, whether training with our dogs or about simply being with our dogs. Our time together might be fleeting, but it is oh so precious. Dogs taught me these things and so much more. I am filled with so much gratitude for dogs and the lessons they so willing offer to teach me.

I hope you join me on learning about and with dogs!

Puppies and a holly jolly Christmas

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