Hi im not sure if i should buy a puppy to suprise my boyfriend??

Question

im not sure if i should buy suprising my boyfriend a puppy .. is that good idea or not?? please tell me

Answer 1

a puppy is a living breathing thing that demands a ton of attention. I don't think this sort of gift is a good idea without approval of the receiver. If you really want to do it, ask him first and talk about it and make sure - it is a life long choice (the dogs life) and it changes a lot of things - you need to potty train it, make sure you are home to let it out to potty, train it not to chew and deal with it when it does... the list is endless.

I love animals, but I do understand the commitment and time that goes with owning one. To many times people get puppies for a gift or spur of the moment and that puppy ends up in a shelter or just being ignored and miss treated.

Answer 2

Never give a pet as a surprise gift!

When you're BOTH ready, find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money. The best breeders will be members of their breed club, promoting healthy dogs with great temperaments. They should ask you a bunch of questions to make sure their puppy will be getting a good home. If all a "breeder" seems to care about is whether your check will clear, you can be sure he won't care a week later when the pup is dying from distemper or parvo and you want your money back.

Whatever you do, DON'T go to a pet shop, a flea market or buy one sight-unseen off the Internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are often kept in deplorable conditions - spending their entire lives in small wire-bottomed cages. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there.

These so-called "breeders" have now figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.

BEFORE you get any dog you should read some great books on training. (Try not to pick books randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also!) These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Answer 3

Let me give you the best advise possible for this question. I have worked for the SPCA for many years and have found that people want puppies with the greatest intentions. But puppies aren't puppies forever and that is one of the main reasons why shelters are so over crowded. You really have to be 100% positive that your boyfriend not only wants a puppy but can also care for the puppy adequately. Puppies are so soft and cuddly and so darn cute it is so hard to not want one, but that is my opinion because I am an animal lover. My advise to you is this, get a gift certificate for the puppy and let him pick it out. With him choosing the puppy he will not feel as if a huge responsibility has just landed on his plate. He may even tell you that he is not interested in having a puppy and then you just get your certificate refunded. He may find that the thought is what counted and that you truly care enough about him to get him something that is so special, even if he doesn't want the puppy. Puppies really should never be given as a gift because they aren't toys they are living, breathing beings. They have thoughts and feelings and I would really do some serious soul searching before I ever even thought of doing something as huge as adding a new family member for a boyfriend. I really hope this advise helps you with your decision. Good Luck!

Answer 4

That would be a NO!!!! Unless he's sure he wants one, has raised a puppy or two before, and has been making active plans to get one. Puppies (and kittens) are like babies, and they're a lifetime committment. You don't suprise someone with that unless there's absolutely no question, because it's WAY not fair to let an animal attach to a human only to be given away. It's like adopting a baby in terms of committing to time, effort, expense - not to mention emotion. You don't get to change your mind, really, with a baby -- and you shouldn't with a pet, either!! And if you['re not sure you can care for it in the best way possible -- don't get one!!!

Answer 5

A puppy is not a good "suprise". Puppys take lots of work and time. Also, a dog needs to be selected by the owner so that a good match is made. If you bring a dog to someone that doesn't want them the dog just gets it's little heart broken when the person gives it away or doesn't love it but keeps it out of guilt.
Go with your BF to help him find a dog he wants... when he wants one.

Answer 6

It's never a good idea to suprise someone with a puppy. They may not want it, or have the time to spend training it. Always, ask if they want a dog. It's a life long commitment.

Answer 7

NO never suprise anyone with a puppy there are not gifts.
People getting a new pet should be involved with the decision and be ready for it. They should be able to pick out the pet they want not the one you do.
Never give pets as gifts and never as a suprise. Or you may find out that your BF does not want one or does not want the one you did.

Answer 8

Has your boyfriend talked about wanting a puppy? Have you two discussed this responsability? It's not a sweater, a CD, or a stereo - you can't return it if you don't like it (or if you do, it's really awful for the dog...it could end up in a shelter or worse.) Don't surprise him with it unless you know it's what he wants. And even then, be prepared that he might say no. Be careful! That cute little puppy will grow up someday.

Answer 9

It's a really, really, really bad idea to buy a dog as a gift for someone. It's even worse if they haven't said that they're DEFINITELY going to get a dog in the VERY near future. First off, you're not sure if he wants a dog or can take care of it. Second, the dog is a living thing. Even if your boyfriend really does want a dog - do you know what breed? What age? What size? It's a reallly personal thing. Maybe you could offer to _buy_ the dog for him, but he should really pick a puppy for himself if he wants one.

Answer 10

Better idea would be to surprise him by taking him to your local dog shelter to find a nice calm adult dog that needs a good home. If you buy him a dog without discussing it first, it could backfire on you and more importantly, the puppy too...

Alternatively, talk to him about what breeds of dog he likes most, then go online to find a breed-specific rescue organization. This way, you will know a lot about the dog's temperament and history before you even meet the dog. Best of luck!