We’ve all heard the saying ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’. This is aimed at those who buy new puppies as Christmas gifts with little thought to the commitment involved. But what about taking the ‘adopt don’t shop’ approach and rehoming a dog over the Christmas period. Is this acceptable? Well in most circumstances, no, it’s not a good idea either. This article will set out why that is.
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Christmas and Routine
For those who celebrate Christmas, it’s often a time where our routine goes out the window. We take time off work and school. We do lots of things we wouldn’t normally do like going on days out, putting up Christmas trees, eating lots of food, and inviting relatives into our home. Lets not forget about that period between Christmas and new year where everyone loses track of what day it is!
If you are rehoming a dog, or any pet for that matter, at a time when your routine is different to normal, this is going to be very confusing and unsettling for them. This could result in an increased amount of stress, anxiety and/or frustration; resulting in behaviours such as hiding, biting, and inappropriate toileting.
The ‘Christmas environment’ can also be very overstimulating for a new pet. Think decorations, over-excited children (and adults!), mess, food everywhere, fireworks on new years eve. Worst of all it can also mean exposure to a lot of new people.
When you get a new dog it’s important to introduce them to a regular routine
This will help them adjust more quickly to their new home. It also helps with training. They’ll know what to expect and when. Dogs tend to become very anxious when routines change. This is especially true for a new dog who will already be feeling very anxious (or even terrified) about their new surroundings. It is also important to introduce them at a time when the environment is calm and stable; and to introduce them to people outside the family gradually.
So if you belong to a family who changes routine over Christmas time, then it’s not the ideal time to get a new pet.
Snap Decisions
It isn’t always the case, but a lot of Christmas gifts are based on snap decisions. ‘The kids have been asking for a dog for ages, let’s go down to the rescue centre and get a new dog next weekend in time for Christmas.’
When you get any new pet it’s incredibly important to do a good amount of research first. The thought of getting a new pet will be exciting, and there will definitely be a temptation to jump into it (we’ve all experienced that urge), but please don’t!
There’s lots of advice out there about what to think about and research before getting a new dog, but here’s my breakdown:
1 – Current Needs
Will you be able to meet the needs of a new dog now? Will you be able to give it the food, environment and exercise it requires? Would you be able to provide both the mental and physical stimulation it needs? Is everyone else in the family aware of their responsibilities and committed to carrying these out? PDSA’s Get PetWise Quiz should help with this.
2 – Future Needs
Will you be able to meet the needs of a dog in the future? Life is unpredictable, and you won’t be able to account for all circumstances that might change. But are there any predictable changes you can think about? For example, is it likely that you will move house in the future, have children, go on long holidays, need to work more hours? And in the event of these changes will you still be able to care for your new dog?
3 – Breed Research
Some breeds are going to be more difficult to care for than others, whether due to temperament, or simply a matter of size. Some breeds are more likely to suffer certain health issues in the future. Don’t be tempted to choose a breed just because it’s trendy, or cool, or cute. It’s so important to do your research. If you see a dog you like at a rescue centre, go home and do your research on its breed (or breeds if it’s a cross breed).
4 – The Individual
So you’ve done your research and you’ve found a dog to adopt – it’s now important to find out as much about that dog as possible. Is it ok with other pets, other dogs, children etc. Does it have any behavioural needs or medical needs you need to be aware of? The Dogs Trust has a list of 19 questions to ask when adopting a dog.
Out of Hours Care
My final concern about adopting a new dog over the Christmas period concerns advice and care.
The rescue centre you adopt your dog from may not be contactable over the Christmas period, so you may not be able to get hold of them if you have any questions or concerns.
A lot of veterinary practices do not offer routine care on days such as Christmas Day, so if you require any veterinary treatment this will be treated as an emergency, and you will be charged emergency fees.
You might think the likelihood of needing veterinary care is very small, and it probably is, but believe me Christmas can be a really common source of emergencies such as chocolate and raisin ingestion and dogs eating things such as bones, christmas decorations and children’s toys that get stuck in their gastrointestinal tracts.
This is another reason for not adopting a dog over the Christmas period – but – if you are still planning to, make sure to register your new dog with a veterinary practice early on and find out about their emergency cover – sometimes emergencies are dealt with at a practice in a different location – so make sure you have all this information to hand, just in case.
Conclusion
Hopefully I’ve convinced you that adopting a dog over the Christmas period probably isn’t a good idea. In most cases, dogs aren’t a suitable Christmas present. If you are really keen to get a new dog, then wait until the new year, but don’t make any promises until you’ve done your research!
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