There is hardly a feeling more joyous for your kid than when they see a small snout protruding from the birthday present. The very first puppy the get is a festive occasion but if they aren’t ready for such a responsibility, then things could go south fast. That’s why there are several factors when it comes to choosing the right puppy to give to your child. In fact, here are 6 tips to make sure this dreamlike gift doesn’t backfire on you.
Pedigree or not
For most parents, there is no question whether the puppy should come with a pedigree. However, a pedigree dog is not necessarily a good thing. Its veterinarian bills are much higher than for a cross-bread dog and more than often their food needs to meet certain high criterions. Even if we take the financial factor out of the equation, there is no guarantee that your kid will love a puppy with a pedigree more than a cross-bread dog that you adopt from the street.
A rescue puppy
Speaking of animal adoption, getting your child a rescue dog is a socially responsible move. However, there is one problem with it and that’s the fact that rescue dogs tend to be older. There are few rescue dogs that are puppies and the sad truth is that most of these mutts are dogs what were some child’s unwanted birthday present.
Once in the street, they are forced to fend on their own but because of their age, this is virtually impossible. The puppies that do survive grow up to be fierce animals that are all but suitable for interaction with children.
The puppy’s health
Once you narrow the choice down to a couple of puppies, don’t forget to look for obvious signs of good health. These include a glossy coat, the lack of itching, and no scurfy skin. Just like humans, the dog should have alert eyes that seem to keep track of everything that is happening around them.
If a puppy is obviously weak or sick but has that sad look in the eyes, you should muster the mental strength to say “no” to it and pick a puppy that is physically healthy. After all, your child is going to play with this animal so you don’t want a sick pet transmitting a disease to them.
Putting an ID tag
The first time your kid sees the puppy, a ribbon would be a nice touch so they are aware that it’s a present. However, after you as a family decide to keep it, the puppy should wear an ID tag that states they are yours. An ideal option for such purpose is getting the custom pet id tags that can easily be found online and which design is up to your family members to create.
A puppy with a good temperament
We wrote about the importance of physical health but the dog’s temperament is important as well. In general, genetics is a pretty good lead to how the dog will behave. If its parents were mild-tempered dogs, then it is highly unlikely that a dog from their litter will possess a bad temper. Furthermore, the breeder should have enabled plenty of human interaction for the puppy so it is fine with humans caressing it and playing with it. The last thing you need is a puppy which has never seen a human as it can harm your child.
A lively dog is not a good choice
The final mistake prospective owners make is selecting the liveliest puppy from the bunch. While the abundance of energy is a good thing, a “hyperactive” puppy will prove too much for your kid to handle. The puppy you select shouldn’t be shy by all means but it shouldn’t be impossible to control as well. Like in humans, those dogs that have a balanced temper are the best choice.
If you stick with all of the 6 pieces of advice listed here, you significantly increase the chances of your child keeping the puppy you gifted them. There will be a noticeable spark both in the kid’s eyes and the puppy’s look, and from there on you’ll know that your family is getting an extra member.
