Christmas SURPRISE
Before you wrap up that cute dog for your loved one, proceed with caution
Thinking about surprising a loved one with a dog for Christmas? Be careful. I know. I’ve done it. Before I give you my listicle-worthy bullet points of wisdom, let me tell you a little about why I chose to surprise a loved one with a dog for Christmas. If you don’t care about the back story, feel free to scroll down and miss the fun.
My fiancée and I had just moved in together and she would not stop telling me how much she wanted a dog.
“How about this one?” she would say, turning the phone to a litter of German shepherds or yellow labs on Craigslist.
“No way,” I would say.
First of all, I have a prejudice against German shepherds. A few years ago, while I was running off the stress of the day, a 100-pound police dog wannabe chased me down and bit me square on the butt. Second, I couldn’t afford to shell out $800.
But she really wanted a dog. This is just a phase, I told myself.
It wasn’t. She really wanted a dog and, secretly, I kind of did, too. I had grown up with fuzzy, awkward golden retrievers and I loved them.
One day, when my fiancée was showing me a picture of Dallas, a Shiba Inu mix cuddling and playing with a trainer at the local shelter, I burst out in laughter, cackling shamelessly in her face.
Guys, gals –– I probably don’t have to tell you this, but don’t laugh in your loved one’s face when they tell you they want something. It doesn’t end well.
I wasn’t trying to mess with her. I had been sneaking off to the shelter to look at dogs. When I came across Dallas, it lurched at the chain-link fence, teeth chomping like an overcaffeinated bear trap. I jumped back and literally screamed in the middle of the dog shelter.
“Oh, she just doesn’t like men,” the shelter staff told me.
Good to know.
I took one more lap around the dog kennels. I stopped by what I thought was a puppy, curled up in the corner and one of the few dogs not barking.
“That’s Baby Girl,” a staff member told me. “I’m not sure why she hasn’t been adopted yet. She’s so sweet.”
Baby Girl was a 4-year-old rescue. She was shy, but cuddly; comfortable around people, but not other dogs; gentle, but protective. With a chipped tooth, a giraffe neck and bat ears, people tended to walk by the oddly proportioned, yet adorable, 40-pound pit bull mix. I fell in love with her right away.
A few days later, I adopted her, and surprised my fiancée with a Christmas dog.
Her first reaction: I love it! Second reaction: Let’s name her Ella!
Third reaction: We’re never gonna get an apartment with a pit mix.
Today, my fiancée and Ella are inseparable. But the first few months were tough and I would have done a few things differently if I could go back. Without further ado, here is the listicle you came here for. Here is my advice to people considering whether to get a dog for a loved one for Christmas.
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: As I learned with hellhound murder dog Dallas, looks can be deceiving. A dog that looks sweet in a picture or video might be actively plotting to kill you.
LET YOUR LOVED ONE HAVE A SAY: This is tricky, especially if you are planning on a surprise, but surprising someone with a dog they didn’t choose could feel more like a burden than a gift. You can still surprise him or her, just say you’re taking her to see the new Sharknado movie or something. Then, drive straight to the shelter and tell your loved one you found a dog they might like.
GO TO THE SHELTER: For one, it’s
cheaper. interacted Two, with someone that dog has who already doesn’t have a financial stake in whether or not you adopt. I have often found the staff at shelters to be forthcoming when talking about a dog’s strengths and weaknesses. COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE: If you do choose to show up at the door with a surprise dog for your loved one, make sure you know exactly what he or she wants. In my case, I knew my fiancée wanted her dog to be medium-size, wellbehaved, quiet, gentle and obedient. The only reason Ella worked for us is because I got as close to those criteria as I could. MAKE SURE YOU BUDGET FOR DOG ACCESSORIES: You can expect to spend $100-$200 on a collar, leash, dog bowls, heartworm medicine, food, treats and lots of toys for your dog to shred all over the floor. It’s not much of a Christmas gift if your loved one is immediately obliged to spend $150 of his or her own money.
LEARN HOW TO TRAIN A DOG: If you’ve never trained a dog before, you’re probably doing it wrong. When I first got Ella, she would shake and panic when she saw other dogs. After a few sessions with a trainer, some diligent training and plenty of doggy socializing, Ella no longer panics at the sight of other dogs. Rather, she sprints full-speed at them and gives them a friendly body slam before sniffing their rear ends. Trust me, it’s progress.
THIS ISN’T ABOUT YOU: The best and worst thing I did when picking out a dog was getting attached before I brought it home. On the one hand, I already liked Ella. I didn’t need time to warm up to her. But my fiancée did, and it was her gift. So, at first, it caused us some stress. I had made a major life decision for us without consulting her. I’m glad everything worked out, but in retrospect I would probably go with the Sharknado play action fake.