It's The Worst Possible Time for a Puppy

Your child's nagging and the incredibly precious holiday
commercials have finally broken through your defenses - you've
decided to relent and get Junior a puppy for Christmas. 

Don't do it.

Not for Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or any other occasion.
Acquiring a puppy is an event on its own. Don't even try to cram
it in with other celebrations.

A wonderful holiday gift for your child is the promise of a
puppy. Set a date; spring vacation, when school is out, when you
get back from camp; a date when you'll have time to devote to
acclimating your new family member. For the holiday, give your
child some tangible puppy items with that promise: a bowl, a
toy, and most important of all: some books about dogs; training
dogs, caring for dogs, dog breeds.

Finding the perfect puppy for Junior should be Junior's project.
Give him the tools to research different breeds. Every breed of
dog was developed for a specific task and that instinct lives on
- even if most dogs' only jobs today are to be wonderful
companions. Dogs come in sizes from tiny to huge, with fur from
non-existent to plush. Help your child assess your situation and
decide on the right dog for your family.

If Junior isn't old enough to do the work - Junior isn't old
enough to have a dog of his own.

If the puppy is supposed to belong to Junior, then Junior should
understand what's involved in caring for her dog. The cuddling
and playing fetch may sound great - but is she aware that
scooping poop is also part of the deal? Check with your local
dog training facility - is Junior old enough to participate in a
class with her puppy?

Dogs and children can be a wonderful pairing. With the right
preparation, a dog can be a child's best friend.