A puppy should never be a surprise gift for Christmas, birthdays, or even a lockdown cheer-up present. This is not fair on the gift receiver, the household where the puppy will be living, or the on the puppy itself. Dogs have a lifespan of 10 to 13 years and this is huge responsibility to give to someone who is not expecting it.
This responsibility doesn’t just include the amount of daily care and training a puppy needs, but also the financial commitment. According to the PDSA, even the smallest breeds, like pugs and chihuahuas, are estimated to cost between £4,600 and £8,900 over their lifetime.
A new dog in someone’s home affects the entire household. Puppies are highly energetic and will cause some form of chaos before they are trained to behave properly. This can a strenuous