A new puppy this Christmas would be the ideal gift for a lot of dog lovers, but you have to ask yourself if it is really the right thing to buy. It is unfortunate that there are so many dogs in the shelters, but this is often because people cant cope after they bought the dog as a Christmas present, thinking it would be ‘fun’ without realising the hard work that goes into owning a dog. Worse still, they might just turf it out onto the streets. Naturally, this is a harrowing thought for pet lovers out there, but it is still a reality.

The moral of this day really is that a dog is for life and not purely for Christmas. Boyfriends buying a puppy for a girlfriend should carefully consider it to make sure the dog will be brought up in a suitable environment and that it is going to get enough attention. However, the best advice is to never buy a pet as a Christmas gift. The issue is that break-ups in the home are inevitable and the pet gets dragged into it and often associated with the person who bought it, so naturally they get viewed in a bad light. There are some people that will mistreat the dog and it can be rescued in very bad condition. It is sad that this happens, but pets should never be associated with the person that bought it. Remember, the dog is part of the family too.

Many people would agree that what we need is a better dog health care advice, so fewer dogs end up in shelters by the New Year. Love your dog and learn about what it needs to stay healthy. Regular food, playtimes and walks will help to keep your dog happy and healthy. Spend some time with your dog and swot up on dog health care tips so that the chances of it ending up onto the streets are less likely, as you understand what it takes to care for your pooch. There are so many abandoned pets in the country that its time people started to learn about what it takes to raise a dog, so more end up with loving homes rather than no home at all. Pets only make good Christmas presents when the dog health care is considered, and if not, don’t buy one.