Puppy ownership is serious not seasonal, avoid gifting pets this Christmas

Gift-giving requires careful thought on the best presents to delight loved ones, and the worst possible idea is buying a surprise dog.

Here are the six most important considerations when gifting pets in the silly season.

On average a dog lives for 13 years, so new pet owners should prepare for impacts on their lifestyle, work commitments and travel plans in the long term.

RSPCA ACT chief executive Michelle Robertson said it needed "to be a well considered decision."

Owning a dog was a serious commitment and included caring for the dog through the puppy stage and into old age.

Dogs should have an environment to thrive in, so training the dog to understand the rules of the house and helping them feel comfortable inhabiting the space was crucial.

"Pets make us better, but we have to choose the right pet for our lifestyle," Ms Robertson said.

A large or energetic dog should be exercised for at least 30 minutes each day, which is a significant time commitment.

"Every single day you need to be able to give some of your time, not just for their physical needs, but their emotional needs as well," she said.

Dogs cost a lot of money, from food and toys to grooming equipment and training plans, all of which should be on hand as soon as the dog enters the new home.

There can be a substantial medical cost associated with owning a pet, this can include vet bills, medicine and pet insurance.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Dogs have boundless enthusiasm and capacity for destruction so committing to persevere with a pet through these behaviours was not a choice to be made on behalf of a loved one, Ms Robertson said.

When shopping for a dog you will probably be tempted by the cost and immediacy of puppy farms, but you need to be wary.

The conditions of these puppy farms can impact of the physical and mental health of your dog so consider adopting from an animal shelter or buying from a registered breeder.

If the new owner can't provide adequate care, the dog may be surrendered to a pet shelter and if they were unable to find an appropriate new family the dog faced the prospect of euthanasia.

New owners tend to keep puppies while they are cute and playful but discard them after destructive behaviours start to emerge from poor training, Ms Robertson said.

Consider buying a thoughtful book or organising an exciting adventure, but do not gift dogs for Christmas.