How to Bring a Puppy Home for the Holidays

December has come and with it many holiday videos of puppies popping out from under the tree and jumping all over excited children and adults alike! Your family is begging for a puppy for Christmas! Unfortunately, these videos do not show the realities of pet ownership!  The best way to give any pet as a gift is to make it a planned gift. A new pet requires a great deal of time and attention from his new family. Your family should be discussing pet ownership and everyone should be on board with taking on the responsibility and training of a new puppy.

What you need to know when bringing a pup home for the holidays.

• Introducing a new pet on Christmas day is too overwhelming. It will probably be a stressful day for you, imagine how it might make a puppy feel.
  • The noise and busy atmosphere of the holidays may frighten your puppy at a time in his life where he will not understand what is going on. Trauma of leaving the only home he’s known and entering a new one during the hectic holiday will maybe too much on him and may even have a lifelong effect on his temperament.
• Many dogs get forgotten about in the hustle and bustle of the holiday excitement.
  • To be successful in training and housebreaking, your puppy needs consistency and a routine schedule. Many people will not be able to provide this over the holiday. Many people will be heading out or having guests over to celebrate. Are you going to be able to take your puppy out to do his business on time? You don’t want to have to be cleaning up little messes he will leave behind when you miss his afternoon walk.
• Children and adults will be underwhelmed as they open other gifts.               
  • Bringing home a puppy 5-7 days before the holiday, or even just after, will help you avoid the “New Gift” Syndrome many kids and adults have. The excitement of new gifts is lost quickly after being opened. Bringing your pup home prior to the holiday, or just after, allows your whole family to be involved in the responsibility your new family member brings!

Best ways to “give” a puppy for the holidays:

• Wrap a photo of your new puppy or make a collage of him since birth.
  • Royal Flush Havanese will be more than happy to help with this!
• Make a special package:
  • His crate
  • Training instructions from our Havanese Blog!
  • Grooming supplies
  • Bed

You can find a complete list of items you will need for your puppy on our Puppy Care Page!

Remember, at Royal Flush Havanese we do endless research and provide all the support we can to do not only what’s best for our pups, but what’s best for you and your family! The first few months of a dog’s life are crucial. Bad habits are easier to prevent than they are to break later on! By avoiding bringing your pup home on such a hectic day, you are helping to provide a calm relaxed beginning with him in his new home! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or need assistance with bringing home your Royal Flush Havanese!