A puppy may seem like the most magical Christmas present of all, but with cuteness comes major responsibilities.
Michelle Kelly, a veterinary nurse from Letterkenny, is reminding families that a puppy is a lifelong commitment, and an expensive one too.
Michelle contributed this important message this week:
Puppies are a great addition to the family. They can give everyone a sense of purpose as they have a lot of needs and give plenty of kisses and cuddles, not to mention their soft fur and cute noses. But, the question I am putting out there is whether Christmas time is the best time to introduce a new puppy/dog into the home. Coming up to Christmas, many little children all across the world have probably snuck a little ‘P.s please can I also have a puppy’ on their letter to Santa. I have been guilty of doing it myself since the day I was able to write!
Getting a puppy is a lifelong commitment; many breeds can live up to 15 years (Bluey the cattle dog lived to the ripe old age of 29, becoming the oldest dog in the world!) There is also the financial side of things, vet bills aren’t cheap and inflation is only making things worse. Before getting a dog you have to consider everything that they need, and I don’t just mean beds and toys. The first thing that costs money is the actual dog itself, whether you buy a pup from a breeder or adopt a dog from a charity it usually comes with a fee of hundreds up to thousands of euro! Next comes food. Depending on the breed and what you decide to feed, some diets can be super expensive. Then there’s healthcare, all dogs require vaccines every year, worming treatments ideally should be given monthly, if you consider neutering it can be done within the first year (all breeds differ) and let’s hope your pup doesn’t get into the mince pies, celebrations tub or the sock drawer because this can involve a trip to the vets costing you even more money!
Dogs need a lot of time and stimulation. Most breeds have endless energy (take for example collies, springer spaniels, labradors etc.) and require daily walks and plenty of mental stimulation in order to keep them entertained, if not this can be where your behavioural issues start. There are so many ways to keep puppies entertained but if the right time isn’t spent with them in the beginning, they grow up to be super boisterous. Let’s not forget the size that some will grow to be as an adult! Puppies can be tiny at 8 weeks old but by the time they are 8 months to a year old they may not be that tiny cuddly puppy that you once had, they might be walking you down the road instead of you walking them.
Ideally, when introducing new pets to the home, it should be done calmly at a time when the household has a normal routine. Generally, Christmas time is the most chaotic time of the year with visitors coming and going and the house being busier and noisier with celebrations going on over the 2 weeks of Christmas and the new year. This can become distressing for some pets, even the ones that are already in the home. It can also mean that since there is so much going on, there may not be enough time dedicated to the puppy’s training and to helping them settle in.
After Christmas the children will be returning to school Monday to Friday and the parents are probably going to work the same days, what happens with the puppy then? Do they be put in a crate for the day and only let out once to the toilet? Are they left in the garden for 8 or more hours, and have they got a cosy bed to lie in while they stay out? There may be a doggy daycare near you but not everyone has this at their disposal. Whichever the situation, the majority of puppies left alone for hours on end will get bored and start tearing up their bed and anything else that can be chewed up. This is due to frustration and you really can’t fully blame the pup for that.
There is a massive list of things to consider when getting a dog and it is recommended that this decision is not taken lightly. Research is the key to finding the most suitable pet for you.
Michelle Kelly qualified with a BSc Honours in Veterinary Nursing from LYIT. She works full-time in a clinic in Derry. She is the proud owner of a labrador named Nala, who goes everywhere with her, even to work.
As a dog owner in the North West, Michelle says she sees a lot of misunderstanding around owning a pet. With her first hand experience in a veterinary practice, she wants to give up-to-date facts and information to pet owners and to be a person people can turn to for help and advice, especially in the local area of Donegal.
Veterinary Nurse Michelle Kelly
