Puppy under the Christmas tree logistics

[Anonymous]

Our puppy was finally born and will be 12 weeks and ready for pickup on December 22 or 23. I feel like every kid who’s ever wanted a puppy has dreamed about it being under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Our little kids know we’re getting a puppy but we’ve been waiting a while.

Assuming dh and I could get the puppy on the 23rd, what do we do with it for all of Christmas Eve? We have local grandparents that can help, but they for sure wouldn’t want a puppy overnight. My kids are pretty oblivious and gullible though. I’m sure we could sneak it into a wrapped box on Christmas morning without them knowing.

-was it a happy surprise?
-did they want the other gifts under the tree once they saw the puppy?
-would kids prefer to go to the breeder to get the puppy?

Had anyone done this before and have tips? It’s been a long time since we’ve had a puppy- 20 years!

[Anonymous]

How old are the kids? Mine enjoyed going to breeder to get the puppy (and we got the first pick of the litter - so they got to choose an actual puppy from 5 or so breeder thought would be good for us)

[Anonymous]

How old are the kids? If they’re 3 and 5, I think it would be easy to sneak the puppy in overnight and back out in the morning and have the grandparents watch during the day.

If your kids are older, like 7 and 9, it might be good to save the “puppy in a wrapped box under the tree” just idea for cute photos, but bring the kids to the breeder’s. This could be a teachable moment about what a big responsibility this is; you’re making a commitment to care for this dog for the entirety of its life and that’s not something that should be taken lightly. You can include your kids in all the preparations for the puppy. The breeder can explain what the puppy needs from them (how to handle puppy, how their behavior will affect puppy) as well as what to expect in terms of the puppy’s behavior. I think it’s a good lesson that an adorable new puppy is not a toy you just go out and buy and then you play with it when you want to and ignore it when you want a break.

[Anonymous]

I get the impulse to do this because your pick up day is so close to Christmas. But I would caution against it.

The puppy is not a toy - he’s a member of the family. And the kids should respect it as such.

Also, the puppy needs to settle into his new house and routine from the get go for a successful integration. He’s leaving his the only people/pack he’s ever known to join yours and live in a totally foreign environment. If you want to bond correctly, he needs to connect with you all right away. 12 weeks is on the older side for getting a puppy. Those first 100 days of puppyhood are absolutely key for how he responds to people/kids/other animals.

I would take the kids to the breeder with me to pickup the puppy. It can still be their special memory of Christmas time this year. They don’t need a puppy in a box on Christmas morning.

[Anonymous]

Please don't.

[Anonymous]

Do NOT put the puppy in a box for Christmas morning. The last thing you want is a stressed, scared new dog freaking out on your kids.

If you do anything, I would try to get your parents to keep him. Give your kids a couple of presents to unwrap, then have your parents ring the doorbell and have the puppy there for the kids.

But I also like the idea of taking the kids to the breeder.

[Anonymous]

To echo previous post. It’ll be easier to establish a routine for the puppy if it is picked up and starts off on the right foot in your home rather than spending some days away and back and forth and being out in a box. It’s just a lot and sure to include lots of accidents. Just surprise them early with a trip to something boring but go pick up the new puppy!

[Anonymous]

You’re suggesting you leave your brand new puppy who has not bonded with anyone with a grandparent who’s gonna have to take them out every hour to two hours and then come spend time with your family on Christmas Christmas Day and establish a new routine, new bonding, etc?

[Anonymous]

the puppy will be terrified.

[Anonymous]

OP I asked this kindly, but have you ever had a brand new puppy as an adult?

[Anonymous]

There are so so many things wrong with this entire post. I’m sad for the world we live in.

[Anonymous]

Aw, I think it’s a fine idea if thought through. We got our puppy for Christmas when I was four and my oldest sibling was nine. It is my earliest memory. Our family tradition was always that our big gifts would be at the end of a string. So we’d follow the string through the house and find an envelope with tickets to a vacation or Broadway show tickets. One year we followed the string to our new puppy’s crate in the laundry room. My parents picked him up the 24th. Im 40 now so obviously don’t remember the logistics, but I’m sure he was not in his crate for long, I imagine there was a little parental prodding to find the string gift first.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Kids are 8, 6 and 4.They are very responsible and know about puppies because they’ve helped train the local grandparent’s puppy. They for sure know it’s not a toy.

We can take them to the breeders and that was our original plan, but we won’t get to pick out the puppy. There were only 2 girl puppies and we’re not local. Local people get to pick out the puppy at about 6 weeks. We are first on the list though so the breeder is going to pick one that suits our family. I’m not sure that picking up the puppy would be that exciting. It’s a long road trip and puppy would be on my lap, not theirs. Puppies don’t travel well either. I had one that vomited every 30 min for hours.

It’s a small breed. Small breeds don’t leave their moms until 11 or 12 weeks usually.

[Anonymous]

Awful.

Puppies are not toys. They are A LOT of work.

They need to be taken out every 20 minutes. You have to sleep near them. They are constantly nibbling with sharp teeth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aw, I think it’s a fine idea if thought through. We got our puppy for Christmas when I was four and my oldest sibling was nine. It is my earliest memory. Our family tradition was always that our big gifts would be at the end of a string. So we’d follow the string through the house and find an envelope with tickets to a vacation or Broadway show tickets. One year we followed the string to our new puppy’s crate in the laundry room. My parents picked him up the 24th. Im 40 now so obviously don’t remember the logistics, but I’m sure he was not in his crate for long, I imagine there was a little parental prodding to find the string gift first.

My earliest memory was my puppy wrapped up in a box on my 3rd birthday.