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If the puppy is going to be a gift to a friend, consider their ability to afford the pup. All dogs, small to large, are expensive to provide for, and for those who are on a tight budget these expenses can put a real strain of their finances. This often results in many puppies and young dogs ending up in a rescue shelter. You, and I am sure the person who receives the puppy, do not want to see this happen, so look closely at this part of the owning a puppy equation.
One last thing we should look at is the time factor. It makes little sense to gift a pup to someone who travels several days a week for their career or job. Nothing is going to turn a cute, good-natured pup into an unruly beast faster than lack of attention, and an owner not having the time to spend bonding with and training the pup.
Those of us on this site own and love our dogs. So consider the question: is a puppy the right gift closely before rushing out and adopting the cute puppy in the window.
Finally, if after careful consideration, you feel the gift of a puppy is the right choice, find the newest little family member through a rescue organization or your local shelter, or purchase from a reputable breeder after meeting the dog parents and seeing the kennel in person. DO NOT purchase a puppy from a pet store as this practice directly supports the puppy mill industry. For more information about pet store puppies and where they come from, click here.
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Okamiko
says:I personally think that if you are not living in the household that the pet will be in, you should NOT be giving a live animal as a present, mostly because of the factors that this article mentions that you should make sure of. I also think that rather than going out and getting the animal yourself, a card announcing the intent should be given instead. That way, the person getting the pet can be involved with the choosing of their new companion.