Why Should You Get a Puppy for Your Family for Christmas?

What is the best time to add a new puppy to your family?

Is a Doodle puppy such as a Bernedoodle or a Cavapoo the best gift for your loved ones this Christmas?

Why Christmas is the best time to get a new puppy?

If you are looking for answers to these questions, you are in the right place. Keep reading to find out why should you get a puppy (or gift a puppy) this Christmas.

Undoubtedly, puppies are pure love. You can get a puppy at any time of the year but now is a popular and ideal time of year to surprise your loved ones with a cute and adorable puppy. Most kids have asked Santa at some point for a puppy under the Christmas Tree and many couples want to add their home a new family member. So, is Christmas (or New Year's eve) a good time to add a puppy to your life?

Whether it is the right time depends on whether you are ready for a puppy, regardless of the Christmas Holiday. If the answer, after carefully considering the long-term responsibilities that a dog entails, is "Yes", then let's discuss the specific timing.

Puppy To-Do's

You will likely have more people in your home or will be visiting others. There are benefits and disadvantages to this. Puppies should be safely socialized with new situations, sounds, people, and experiences in their developmental stages. But it is also a fact that they are not fully vaccinated until around 16+ weeks of age, so it is important to be careful when having family members over to meet the new puppy. We recommend asking them to take their shoes off (and put them up out of reach of a licking, inquisitive puppy) and ask them to wash their hands- just like if you had a newborn baby. Preventing tracking unwanted germs on their shoes is an important safety measure.

Make sure that any new people understand that a puppy is still a baby and needs gentle, loving interactions that build up confidence and social skills. Positive interactions will help your puppy be a more confident puppy when meeting new people throughout its life. Socializing is so important for Bernedoodles and Cavapoos! They can be somewhat shy if they are not introduced to new people and experiences when young, so lots of positive, new experiences are key!

Puppy and Children

Be careful with small children visiting that they are sitting on the floor when they hold a puppy. Puppies can be squirmy and can easily wiggle out of small arms so the rule of holding a puppy in our home is that "bottoms on the floor" before holding a puppy- that way if the puppy jumps out of their arms there is no risk of falling.

Puppies need some timeout too

Puppies can also need some "time out" from a busy household of people. Make sure that they have a safe, quiet place (like a crate or playpen) away from everyone that is their resting area when they need to sleep. A high-value treat in their crate with nobody near them is a great way to respect their need for space.

Why Christmas (or winter) is the Best Time to get a Puppy?

Another benefit to getting a puppy in winter is that you can work on the "at home" phase before the warmer months and more active Summer activities arrive. By the time Spring and Summer are here your puppy should be fully vaccinated (and safe to go out and do everything with you) and fully housetrained and ready to travel with ease. Spend the winter months working on house training and manners and they will be ready to take on the outside world by Spring and Summer.

What Puppy Should I get?

So, if you think, you are ready to get a puppy but not sure which breed to get, a Bernedoodle or a Cavapoo would be an ideal match for you. Why Bernedoodle or Cavapoo? Because both breeds are friendly, well-tempered, and affectionate. They are sensitive and are a wonderful addition to any family. The best part is that if you are looking to get a puppy that could become a therapy dog, both of these breeds are capable of becoming excellent therapy dogs.

Where to get a Bernedoodle or Cavapoo Puppy?

Rocky Road Doodles. We currently have several Bernedoodle and Cavapoo litters that are available to go to new homes, as well as, many puppies would be ready to join your families around Christmas. So, to find your best match, visit this page for available Bernedoodle or Cavapoo puppies.