We've all heard that giving or getting a pet for Christmas is not a good idea. But if you have fallen into that situation because that puppy was just so cute and you fell in love... well... let's make the best of it. Here are a couple of tips to help you through the excitement and into the hard reality.
1. Try not to give your new puppy too much attention or excitement and try to get into as much of a normal routine as soon as possible. If you set unrealistic expectation for your puppy you could cause some unexpected behaviors when everyone goes back to work and the kids go back to school and puppy is left alone for the first time.
2. Buy a training book or give obedience training or puppy class gift certificates to the recipient of the puppy.
3. Have fun with your puppy in positive ways. Make basic manners fun for the whole family! If the puppy runs up to anyone, make a game out of seeing how fast puppy will sit before petting him. Once kids realize how they can train their new dog, they tend to get a real kick out of it and can show off their perfect puppy to friends.

Happy Holidays