Puppy Dog Gifts
Also: Dog Lover Gifts, Breed Dog Gifts
I think it is worth starting by saying a puppy as a gift, whether at Christmas or any other time, is not a good idea. Countless puppies end up in homes where they are badly treated and not cared for. A puppy does make a cute looking gift, but there is a practical side to owning a dog that means many end up as unwanted pets. An unwanted puppy may be dumped, not fed properly, kicked around by adults and children alike, and neglected health wise.
However, there are millions of caring dog lovers who have puppies, and you may want to buy the puppy, or more likely its owner, some sort of gift. Buying a puppy gift is much like buying a gift for a dog lover who has an adult dog. Again, if you know the breed of the puppy, it does increase the options open to you to buy a well targeted gift for the puppy owner. You can see some suggestions on the breed dog gift page.
You can also look at the dog lover gift page for other ideas. Just remember if buying dog clothes for the puppy, it is going to grow rapidly..gif)
If you want to come up with a gift that will be practical rather than pretty or ornamental, then a Wizdog Dog Potty (pictured left) may go down very well. New puppy owners will no doubt be thinking of house training their puppy, and this revolutionary product could well be something they have not heard of.
You can get the Wizdog, here. Incidentally, the Wizdog is also suitable for grown dogs, not just puppies.
You will find an very nice range of breed dog gifts, for grown dogs and puppies alike, if you click here.
As part of our policy of providing useful information on each gift topic, the article included below offers tips on how to prepare your home for a new puppy.
How To Prepare Your Home for a New Puppy
While excitement and anticipation may be predominant when it comes to bringing home a new puppy, preparing for his arrival should also rate highly on the list of pre-puppy thoughts. Just as you would need to prepare a home when you have a baby, pet owners also need to take special precautions when “puppy-proofing” their home.
Before you start preparing the inside of your home for a puppy, you should take into consideration the yard and garden. First, you should check fences and gates to be sure there are no holes large enough for him to get his head stuck in, or worse still escape. Watch out for litter and/or trash cans, which can be tipped over, giving your new puppy the chance to eat things that he should not. You should know where you are treating your lawn and garden with pesticides, and then forbid your puppy from going there. In addition, make sure that all chemicals and other harmful products are put away out of your new puppy’s reach.
Next, you will need to investigate your home and pretend that a small toddler is coming to live with you! Like toddlers, puppies will find everything new and exciting. They do not know when something is dangerous, and cannot tell if that “interesting” remote control is a dog toy or not. Remember, this is all new to them.
In addition, when preparing your home for the new puppy, you should keep these tips in mind:
1. Be sure all electrical and cable wires are either in a space your puppy will not be, or hide them under rugs or carpets. Do not keep wires where your puppy could chew and gnaw on them.
2. Just like a toddler, your puppy will explore every element, including low cupboards. Just when you thought having a puppy was easier than a child, he will learn to nudge those cupboard doors open! Consider installing locks or sort through them and only keep safe objects in low areas.
So far, so good, right? Well, that’s only if you remember that in reality your puppy has the mind of a small child. Soon you’ll be getting ready for afternoon walks to the park, 3 a.m. trips to the bathroom, (more officially, outside) and lots of cuddling. So, while preparing your home for your puppy, think of him as a member of your family. Buy him a bed made from plastic, which is more resistant to chewing. Line it with comfortable bedding—washable of course—and then place it in a special place just for him. Make sure it is somewhere he will be safe and comfortable.
Preparing your home for your new puppy is a lot of work, so you may consider buying a puppy pen until everything is taken care of. Just like a baby’s playpen, a puppy pen will offer an area for him to play without roaming the house. By doing this, you are also saving your furniture and other objects from being chewed on. Don’t worry—he’ll eventually grow out of this chew everything phase.
Another important thing to bear in mind when preparing your home for your puppy is any stairs that you may have in the house. If you have an open basement or second floor, use baby gates to confine his run area to prevent harm. Babies and puppies alike are not aware of danger and don’t realize that they could fall down steps and hurt themselves.
Finally, the most important thing to think about while preparing your home for the new puppy, is to remember it is just like a child; it will be happy and content with lots of cuddling, attention, and definitely a lot of wet kisses!
