Some animal advocates say, please, don't get or give a puppy for Christmas. There will be too much stress on the animal, too many things going on in the home to give the young pup the attention it deserves and, especially if it's a gift to a child, too many other things to grab that child's attention.
Far better to introduce a puppy - or any new creature - when families are in their more normal day-to-day rhythms. Good points all.
On the other side are usually those who run shelters or rescues. If a puppy or any animal is introduced into a family willing to accept the responsibility, what greater gift could there be than taking in and loving another living creature?
I side with the shelter/rescue advocates. They do a good job of screening applicants and if they think someone is trying to adopt just to "please" a child, it's an adoption that's not likely to happen. If you buy from a breeder or some other source, they have the right to say, "Let's wait until after the first of the year or until the spring" if they suspect your motives are good, but the timing isn't quite right.
If you are thinking about a pet as a Christmas gift, make sure you've thought this through and that your whole family is ready to embrace - and care for - this brand new member of the family.
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