The holiday season is just around the corner. Before you put a puppy or kitten on Santa’s list, make sure your family does some homework to prepare yourself, emotionally, physically and financially for this important decision. Here is a check list you can use as a preparation guide to ensure success and to help avoid an impulse purchase or adoption.
• Family Dynamic: Have you and your spouse/significant other discussed the prospect of a new four legged furry bundle, and are you both on the same page? If yes, proceed. If no, stop and regroup. (Hint to husbands: moms don’t like to be surprised with a puppy…)
• Primary Caretaker: No matter how old your kids are, an adult should plan to be ‘in charge’ of the puppy’s or kitten’s care. Your kids can help, but they are just that,kids, and relying on them to bear the brunt of the burden will often time lead to discord and frustration.
• Commitment: Have you considered that you are making a 15-20 year commitment to that dog or cat once they enter your home?
Have you envisioned whether your life in 10-15 years will continue to be suitable for a companion cat or companion dog?
• Important Factors: Have you considered and discussed the breed type, size, shedding potential, exercise requirements, temperament,
overall food and medical expenses, pooper scooping and litter box cleaning requirements, training needs early on, time alone vs. time with family members during the day? There are all important variables to work through before you bring home a new furry friend.
• Children: If you have children under 10, you will be training not only the new puppy, but your kids as well, on a daily and protracted
basis. Do you have enough time and are YOU of the right temperament to undertake both tasks?
• Timing: Bringing home a puppy in December is very different than bringing one home in May or July.The days are short and the nights
are long and cold, so you might choose a breed that you can wee wee pad train inside your house instead of outdoors.
All of these decisions are crucial to ensure successful integration of your new puppy or kitten into the family for the long term. The Holidays are a very exciting and joyous time of year and we wish to ensure that a new puppy or kitten is the right decision and will contribute to that joy and happiness, now and into the future.