*WARNING* contains the c word, judgy pants giving me a wedgie!

[GreggsOnLegs]

I know I'm bu, but someone I know is buying their dd a dog for Christmas.
I really don't like the thing of buying pets as presents.

It depends on a lot of things, how old is the dd? Is the pers

My brother got a dog as a present. She is 4 at christmas and big part of the family.

Hmm, on the one hand YANBU - you're right that buying any animal should be a considered decision by someone fully cognizant of the needs of the animal and how this will impact on their family.

On the other hand, YABU if you don't know whether the person you know has considered the above - perhaps they would be buying a dog anyway, but have decided to buy it for their DD as a gift to help instill responsibility for the animal in her?

Sorry, damn phone! Is the person buying the dog actually going to take care of it? Is it a surprise? Will be dd be expected to then train it etc?

I think buying pets as surprise presents is generally a bad idea, you need to think very carefully before getting a dog they are a huge commitment

Our dog is six, we bought him for our twins for Christmas six years ago. He's awfully cute!

I think if you're going to get a pet, then just get one.
Not as a present.
There dd is 6 and I think her dm wants the dog more than her so has talked her into it. It's a family pet.
Her db will be opening a pile of presents on Xmas day but still have the dog as a pet iyswim.

I have no problem with animals being bought as pressies but Christmas time is chaotic enough without trying to settle a dog in who will maybe be slightly stressed enough.. With it all being new.

• their dd

Rescued two guinea piggies as a B'day present for my DD 4 years ago and they are sat next to me now, eating carrots. If it is the mother or father buying a pet, in full understanding that it will be them that has to do the majority of the work, I really don't see the problem. I agree that Christmas is too chaotic to introduce any pet into the family, but if they collect the animal either before or after Christmas, then why shouldn't it work?

The real issue is being given an animal as a present by someone outside the immediate family, someone for whom the work, expense and responsibility of owning a pet will not fall on them. I think a dog from an DN or DGP sounds like a recipe for disaster, but this isn't the case, is it?

Pets cost money. From what you may pay for the pet itself, to the injections, vet costs, food, pet things - the whole lot.

It's nice to say, if you want a pet get a pet, but not as a present. But for a family on a budget, this may mean choosing between the costs of a pet and presents for DCs.

If the family has thought about the costs and implications of having a pet carefully and are not doing it on a whim, then why not get the pet on a special occasion and make it a present. Saves money and makes for a very happy Christmas day.

I think I would be less judgmental if they decided to get less for their dc this year and each other and buy a family pet, as a joint pressie.
But their dd is having little else for Christmas because she's having the dog.

I have no problem with the idea of a pet as a present, provided that the child actually wants it and one or both parents is prepared to take full responsibility for it.

I wouldn't give a pet actually on the day, especially Christmas as it is far too chaotic. Ds had rats for Christmas several years ago, but on the day he just got the cage and a ton of accessories and spent time setting it all up for them, we didn't pick the baby rats up (from a breeder, booked months in advance) until new years day.

I understand the reasons for The Dog Is For Life Not Just For Christmas campaign but if people are going to be useless pet owners they'll buy them at any time of year. Same goes for if you're going to great.

I gave my friend a kitten for her birthday. My other friend's cat had an unplanned litter.

She really wanted it, it wasn't a surprise and she was a very responsible person.

If her birthday hadn't coincided with all that I'd have put them in touch anyway. As it was I decided to make a present of it by paying for innoculations and a toy mouse.

be great.

A lot of breeders and even shelters won't home an animal around the Christmas period.

We all know the phrase 'a dog is for life not just for Christmas' unfortunately some people still don't seem to understand this.

I have no issues with it either, I got a hamster for my birthday when I was about 8, I looked after her, bred hamsters and loved her even when she ran on her bloody wheel all night.