The Pawlidays are filled with anticipation to see what Santa Paws brought. Toys and electronics gifts can be exciting, but the best gift comes with puppy kisses and puppy breath!
Maybe your partner or children have been dropping hints for months (maybe even years!) that they would love to add a puppy to the family. Now is your chance for gifting a pet you know will bring joy.
Surprising a loved one with a puppy can be one of the best presents they’ve ever received. However, you should be aware of some considerations you should think about when giving a puppy as a gift. Surprise someone you love with a new puppy in these clever ways for the most memorable holiday ever!
How to Surprise Someone with a Puppy
Giving a puppy as a gift can be one of the best presents that keeps on giving! Giving a puppy as a present should never be done on a whim. Bringing a puppy into your home requires careful thought about your living space, your lifestyle, who will be taking care of the puppy day-to-day, financial factors, and more.
Do they even want a puppy?
You may think giving pets as gifts is a fantastic idea. After all, who could say no to that wiggly little bundle of joy with a cute button nose and puppy breath? Not so fast! Your idea of gifting pets may not even be on the recipient’s radar…or taken with the same enthusiasm as you have.
However, if the person who will be taking care of the puppy is different from the recipient such as a parent for a child’s gift, that person needs to be ready for a puppy as well. No one wants a pet they are not ready to care for, no matter how sweet and heartfelt the sentiment.
Are you and your recipient ready for a puppy if they do want one?
Ask yourself questions to see if you are ready for a puppy before making arrangements to bring it home. This is crucial to evaluate the recipient’s ability to handle a new puppy for a long time. Remember that you are gifting a puppy with a long lifespan, so the recipient needs to be able to care for the new puppy throughout its lifetime.
Do you know what dog breed will best suit the recipient?
You have to evaluate which dog breed is the right choice for your intended recipient. Sometimes, it pays to drop some hints or fish around for information to see what dog breed your recipient may have their heart set on.
However, their desire for a certain breed has to be a reasonable one. If your loved one is in love with a large dog breed but lives in an apartment with breed restrictions, it can be downright cruel to gift a pet a person cannot keep due to such restrictions.
If you know the dog breed is a high-energy dog but the entire household leads a low-key lifestyle, now is not the time to find a dog that is a mismatch for exercise needs.
Most importantly, if your recipient will not be the person taking care of the dog, you really do need to clear it with the parent or puppy caregiver to see if they recommend a particular dog breed suitable for the recipient.
Is the home prepared to handle a puppy, especially during the busy holiday season?
Once you have prepared your house in general, keeping a puppy safe during the holidays can be a real challenge. Learn how to prepare your puppy’s first Christmas to go above and beyond what you need to do during the non-holiday season.
Puppy safety during the puppy gift reveal
Anytime you set up a creative way to surprise someone with a puppy, you absolutely must consider the puppy’s safety. Follow these tips when giving a puppy as a surprise gift:
- Never leave a puppy unattended for a long period of time
- If placing a puppy in a box even for mere seconds, ensure an adequate flow of fresh air
- Take your puppy to the bathroom before the reveal
- Make sure your puppy is securely placed where they can’t escape or harm themselves in the blink of an eye
- Keep the surprise short and sweet
- Expect boisterous reactions, and have a plan to make the puppy feel secure after all the excitement
- Have all food and necessary accessories available at the time the puppy is gifted
- If your surprise involves a car, never leave a puppy alone in a running car or in the heat
- “Clean as you go” by placing ripped-up wrapping paper, bows, and boxes out of the way in a trash bag or a nearby storage container
- Consider stacking presents or placing presents in a laundry basket to easily remove them from the puppy’s area right after the big reveal
How to Surprise Kids with a Puppy
There are so many creative ways to give a pet as a gift, but here are 4 fun ways that will really make an impact for the big reveal. As always, follow safety guidelines and common sense for each of these methods.
For maximum excitement, time the presentation until right after all the presents have been opened and the recipient thinks that’s all they got for the holidays!
1. The Tried and True Gift Box Method
A classic way to give a puppy for Christmas is in a traditionally wrapped or decorated box. A few short minutes before the big reveal, safely place your puppy in a decorated box under the Christmas tree, one that looks like any other present.
The gift recipient’s face will be priceless when they open it and a puppy pops out! Move over, Lego sets, game consoles, sweaters, and dolls! A new favorite present has come to town!
2. Scavenger/Treasure Hunt
Create a clever scavenger hunt leaving clues all over the house, or make a treasure map. The ultimate prize is the cute new puppy!
It’s best to have a trusted adult or older sibling hide alongside the puppy, and don’t make the hunt too long or overly complicated.
3. Santa Paws Surprise
Have a willing friend or relative dress like Santa Paws and make a special visit with a new puppy!
4. Pretend to Go on a Ride
Enlist a friend or relative to sit in a car with a puppy on their lap. Tell the recipient you’re going for a ride. When they open the door – Surprise! There’s a puppy, not an errand to run!
Surprise Someone this Holiday Season with a Pawrade Puppy
Let us help you play Santa Paws this holiday season with one (or more!) of our puppies for sale from Pawrade. We love connecting pawsome families with puppies from one of our trusted, pre-screened, reputable breeders to bring joy to your loved one.
