I work at a humane society so I know firsthand how sad it is to see a huge influx of impounded dogs after the holidays...I hate it...knowing these were the "bad puppies" who had one too many accidents...or barked at night too much...after all, a new Christmas play thing or toy shouldnt inconvenience a family. (Sarcasm)


Our shelter did a program called the 12 Strays of Christmas in which 12 dogs had a reduced adoption price. It was a great idea to help adopt out some dogs that would ordinarily be passed by without notice...older dogs, black dogs, etc. But I did raise my concern with the idea that with a lower price tag,, people may buy more impulsively. I really hope every dog we adopt out is going to a furever home.

Me too! The reason I got my first yorkie was that my daughter just loved dogs & had been begging for one for a year, after starting school & making new friends & going to their homes & seeing most of them had dogs. But, I knew, while getting a dog would give her the joy of being raised with one, I would be the one caring for it long term....so I picked the only kind of dog I wanted and my daughter was "surprised" with a puppy one day when she came home from school.

If you, as a stranger, had ran into me at a store & spoken to me back at time, I too would have said I got a puppy for my daughter...but in fact, there was actually alot more behind it. I'm hoping it's similar for the couple at Petco. After all, people usually just give short flippant remarks to strangers they run into at stores.

I am hope that is the case too, I know I tell people that I am getting my child a puppy... Only those that know me really know that my child is also a yorkie :p and that I am using the he needs a playmate excuse to get another lol
But I really hope that if they are smart enough to be out buying supplies at Petco that they also know what all they are instore for.. I hope for that puppies sake.

There is a marked difference between a thought out puppy purchase and an impulse. Puppies purchased on impulse are usually not a good idea regardless of the date on the calendar.

So true, we got our Razz man Dec 30th; but we are adults and we planned for him coming into our home then. Of course there was no out and about NY Eve, we had a few close friends in, for dinner. We had a whole week home with him, as we took extra vacation time to make sure we did. We had checked with our vet's business hours and knew in advance we could take him in on the 31st for his wellness exam.

His breeder actually came to our home a good two wks before for dinner, and she went over our plans for his safety, as we had one very large male, a large cat, and another large puppy on the way about 4wks later. We had the requisite gates available a number of crates, and an Xpen for him.

That whole week we used to bond with our human family and other critters. And a rush visit to Rens, as I had failed to get winter booties, and a warm coat for him. That was after our first walk, where as game as he was, he was frozen! I have a pic of baby Razz cuddle in my winter jacket...what the pic doesn't show is the whole time I was holding him to get him warmer, he was struggling to get out and walk and run with his big bro. We also learnt the Yorkie walk.... Look down before moving and start with a shuffle:) Oh yes the harness I bought him was too big, and that first walk in the park, he snuck out of it...thank God I always carry an extra lead and with a little ingenuity I fashioned a collar/lead for him. Did I mention he didn't know Come yet? So we called Magic to us and of course he followed to be scooped up and leashed up lol lol.

So while we did our best to plan in advance for his arrival; still it was a learning experience for all ... and there were things we just knew would come up that we hadn't anticipated. Like the warm coat and booties. Owning a large double coated breed we just were not used to winter coats for dogs. And our and our breeders focus was more on the pups physical safety.

We learnt we needed to create an outdoor potty area for him and keep it free of snow.

We had loads of time, to take frequent car rides, mini walks, and Magic and Razz to bond as a pack. We had puppy proofed our home, and then meant for us taking down our tree early; so there would be no accidents with the tree. WE took him with us for swimming, well actually to observe Magic swimming in the indoor pool while I held Razz. Another exercise in wiggle wiggle - Moms I need to go IN IN IN! About 6wks later he got his wish as he had his final shots.

While we did not have young or even old children, we did have one large dog albeit obedience trained and with a history of being good with his wee training buds (Yorkies), but still different as this Yorkie is in his home now.

Razzle is not so much of a lapdog, as he learnt from Magic, that the big dogs sit at Mom's feet. So he sits at Mom's feet. I swear he thinks he is a BRT:D
Truly he shows little interest in Yorkies, but let a large black dog go by and he wants to play with them! Razzle went dock jumping with a whole parcel of BRT's last year, and was in his element. None of those big dogs phased him at all! That is both good and bad news, as you experienced YOrkie owners know.
I do so wish he had some more caution in him. He expects everyone to love him. And thinks nothing of jumping up into the Blackie's faces. I do so wish that Magic or even Zoey had disciplined him for this. Lord knows I have tried and continue to try to break this habit of his!

So true!

Many puppies given as Christmas presents go on to live happy long lives with those families. In fact, I think more do than don't although yes, it's true that many are given away or rehomed but there are many that aren't. When my son was 3, we gave him a puppy for a birthday present and she lived with us until she was 12 years old and finally passed away (she was a collie) We were all heartbroken but especially my son who was almost 15 at that time and had lost his best friend.....

There are many problems associated with buying a puppy as a surprise present. I do believe those who do have the best intent and may be a little under educated. However, if you know the type of person you are buying for well it can turn out to be a great gift. In the end the purchaser needs to be willing to take over the care of the puppy if things don't turn out as planned.

I agree. I would definitely buy my son a puppy for Christmas or his birthday, however in doing so I would make sure I thought out the purchase/adoption long and hard beforehand. I would only do so if I was personally ready and able to take full responsibility for the puppy myself. I'm really hoping this is what the people the OP ran into have done. :)

No one should give a child a puppy as a present unless they are prepared to take care of them and want them as much as the child. My nephew wanted a small house dog for his birthday which he got. 6 months later everyone was tired of her. She took too much time attention and work. And his parents didn't really want a house dog. That is how I got Kiki! I've loved her since day 1 and she is our baby! But she was lucky I talked my husband into having her. Even though he acts tough he brought her a few Christmas presents! She is spoiled now!

I would like to think that most of the Christmas puppies that are in new homes this year will all live happily ever after lives but anyone who has experience in the area of rescue or shelter activity will tell you that a very large percentage will either end up at a shelter or re homed at least once.

It all comes down to the level of forethought and responsibility of the people making the purchase. Sadly, we have seen, especially in the small dog area, way too many people buying dogs for the wrong reason. Puppies are cute as heck but the care it takes to raise one properly is not a reality at the time of purchase for some people. Many people here on YT are what I think of as "dog people." They have experience in the area of raising a puppy or at least have the desire to learn because they are committed to doing it right.

Apparently there is a whole other world of people out there that do not think the same way. There are thousands of dogs put down daily in this country due to the irresponsible actions of humans. The world is far from a perfect place, especially for the defenseless ones that cannot speak for themselves.

Although Troy was not a Christmas present, it was my intention to get him as a Christmas present. I had been in contact with several breeders around the time I purchased our yorkie. My intent was as a gift for my then 6.5 year old daughter.

We did talk about yorkies prior to my purchase and I do think a year's worth of thought went into it. I brought Troy home in October of 2009. He was of 14 weeks old when I brung him home and was ready so it just made more sense to come home 2 months before Christmas.

I tell my story, just so people know there are people out there who have put some serious time and thought into the idea of owning a pet. Lets not judge a family just because their puppy came home around Christmas. I am not naive to the fact that many are irrational purchases and that many puppies end up in shelters after the holidays and the amazement wears off.

Something I forgot to add....any breeder who stands behind their breedings will take back a dog ANY TIME during the dog's lifetime. The last place I want one of mine to end up is a shelter or rescue.

Mika my 14 year old Maine coon was a Christmas present that I had waited over 1 year for and she was planned out very carefully. Just saying not every Christmas present pet is irresponsibly purchased.

Some people on here are very quick to judge! Not all puppies bought at Christmas time are ''Christmas puppies'' that will end up in a shelter or a lifetime of neglect and torture! While I agree in some aspects that Christmas puppies for children are not the best idea, most parents buy there child a puppy knowing that them as the parent will be the one doing all the hard work and training. Its harsh to judge everyone on the same principles. To make a statement like ''wonder how long before it end up in a shelter'' is very closed minded. My Poppy was not a Christmas present BUT she was a present to me and she is the most spoilt little girl ever hehe! :)