Santa and Puppies Don't Mix!

Is there anything cuter than those commercials with roly poly puppies tumbling out of a box under the Christmas tree? They pop out and get into everything and, just in time, Santa shows up with a Dust Buster to clean up the mess! Ahhh, but this is the real world and not Madison Avenue!

The reality is that separation from its mother and littermates is traumatic enough, not to mention, new enviroment, water and food! That's a lot for puppy to handle and it should be handled as a priority and not as part of the confusion of Christmas day. Kids are busy with their new toys - blinking, whirring, popping, Mom's in a frazzle trying to get dinner on the table and bracing for the onslaught of relatives....which leaves Dad, who probably doesn't want to be bothered with cleaning up puppy messes. Still, if a family plans well, a puppy can be a great gift for the family.

Here's what I recommend:

• Either get the puppy a week ahead and let the little fella get his share of attention and have a chance to get accustomed to the household and develope a routine.
• If puppy is a surprise gift for the kids - get a toy stuffed pup and wrap it up. It should come with a "Redeem me at "MightyFine Rhodesian Ridgebacks" certificate. Then in a couple of days, after the hysteria has worn off, Mom and Dad can take the kids and pick up the puppy. This can be a lot of fun, especially since it extends the holiday season for the kids!

Everyone should be able to enjoy Christmas!

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