Ask The Dog Shrink
We know you mean well, but let her pick out her own dog … he just loves decorations!
Q My mother has always said she wants a dog, and I want to surprise her with a puppy for Christmas. Any recommendations?
A JUST ONE. DON'T. Besides Christmas being one of the most chaotic times on the calendar, the fact that your mother isn't going to be in on the decision--one that she'll have to live with for the next ten or more years of her life--makes your gift a potential nightmare. I've heard hundreds of stories about people who were positive that someone in their life would love to have a dog as a gift, only to find out after the dog was bought that they were wrong. The "gift" ends up in a local animal shelter. And even if you are right about your mother wanting a dog, you may be wrong about her desire to actually acquire one. Sometimes the idea of something is more exciting than the reality of owning it. Still 100 percent certain that she wants to have a dog? Fine, but how do you know what type of dog she would like? Size, temperament, energy level, grooming requirements, puppy vs. adolescent, purebred vs. shelter dog--all of these things are very personal and essential pieces of information to know when picking the right dog. In my opinion, the best Christmas gift that you could give your morn would be a book about dogs and a certificate for "The Dog of Your Dreams." That way, if she's onboard with the idea, the two of you could have a wonderful adventure searching for her perfect four-legged companion.
How do I keep my dog from destroying our holiday decorations? We decorate our family room extensively, and he always chews up something.
The holidays can bring extra challenges to all relationships, not the least of which involve canine members of the family. The big question is why he would choose the holiday as his time to explore his inner decorator. The answer, I think, is tied directly to how your life changes during this time of year. Maybe your dog doesn't get the amount of attention and exercise he's used to, so his boredom drives him to find another outlet. Dogs can't read magazines to entertain themselves, but they derive great pleasure in shredding them. The decorations that he only sees on holidays make a particularly enticing target, hence his penchant for them vs. the furniture that he sees year-round. And let's not forget the extra family or social commitments that cause you and your family to be abnormally excited and stressed out. Dogs are accurate barometers of our emotions; they feel, and become confused by, the stress and chaos that ensues. Although you can take a warm bath to decompress, your dog's options are usually of the oral variety, so be sure to offer him plenty of new (durable!) toys and monitor him closely whenever he's near the decorations. As dog owners, it's our responsibility to provide them with the opportunity to engage in activities that serve their minds as well as their bodies. And when the basics are met --a healthy diet, proper training, affection, exercise and toys that are appropriate for your dog--then everyone will have a happy holiday season.
By Kathy Santo, House Beautiful, Dec2006
Q My mother has always said she wants a dog, and I want to surprise her with a puppy for Christmas. Any recommendations?
A JUST ONE. DON'T. Besides Christmas being one of the most chaotic times on the calendar, the fact that your mother isn't going to be in on the decision--one that she'll have to live with for the next ten or more years of her life--makes your gift a potential nightmare. I've heard hundreds of stories about people who were positive that someone in their life would love to have a dog as a gift, only to find out after the dog was bought that they were wrong. The "gift" ends up in a local animal shelter. And even if you are right about your mother wanting a dog, you may be wrong about her desire to actually acquire one. Sometimes the idea of something is more exciting than the reality of owning it. Still 100 percent certain that she wants to have a dog? Fine, but how do you know what type of dog she would like? Size, temperament, energy level, grooming requirements, puppy vs. adolescent, purebred vs. shelter dog--all of these things are very personal and essential pieces of information to know when picking the right dog. In my opinion, the best Christmas gift that you could give your morn would be a book about dogs and a certificate for "The Dog of Your Dreams." That way, if she's onboard with the idea, the two of you could have a wonderful adventure searching for her perfect four-legged companion.
How do I keep my dog from destroying our holiday decorations? We decorate our family room extensively, and he always chews up something.
The holidays can bring extra challenges to all relationships, not the least of which involve canine members of the family. The big question is why he would choose the holiday as his time to explore his inner decorator. The answer, I think, is tied directly to how your life changes during this time of year. Maybe your dog doesn't get the amount of attention and exercise he's used to, so his boredom drives him to find another outlet. Dogs can't read magazines to entertain themselves, but they derive great pleasure in shredding them. The decorations that he only sees on holidays make a particularly enticing target, hence his penchant for them vs. the furniture that he sees year-round. And let's not forget the extra family or social commitments that cause you and your family to be abnormally excited and stressed out. Dogs are accurate barometers of our emotions; they feel, and become confused by, the stress and chaos that ensues. Although you can take a warm bath to decompress, your dog's options are usually of the oral variety, so be sure to offer him plenty of new (durable!) toys and monitor him closely whenever he's near the decorations. As dog owners, it's our responsibility to provide them with the opportunity to engage in activities that serve their minds as well as their bodies. And when the basics are met --a healthy diet, proper training, affection, exercise and toys that are appropriate for your dog--then everyone will have a happy holiday season.
By Kathy Santo, House Beautiful, Dec2006
posted by James at 11:55 AM
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