You’ve seen the video. Christmas morning, a box with holes in the lid, and a puppy pops out to a room full of squealing kids. And if you’ve been thinking, “We should do that this year,” we’ve got good news.
A Christmas puppy can be one of the best gifts your family ever gets. We send puppies home almost every December, and year after year, families tell us it was their best Christmas ever. The ones who have the most fun with it all have one thing in common: a little planning ahead. Here’s how to do it right.
Why Christmas is actually a great time for a new puppy
- Everybody’s home. Kids are out of school and a lot of parents take time off, so there are more hands for potty breaks, playtime, and puppy snuggles.
- It’s a natural fresh start. A new puppy and a new year go together. You’ll start your routines right as everyone’s making plans for the year ahead.
- The memories. Your kids will remember the Christmas their puppy came home for the rest of their lives. So will you.
- They grow up together. Your pup gets a whole year of growing alongside your family before the next holiday season rolls around.
A little planning goes a long way
A new puppy is a baby who needs to go out every couple of hours, chews just about everything, and might cry the first few nights because she misses her littermates. That’s all normal, and it passes quickly. A few things make those first weeks easy:
- Someone home for the first couple of weeks. Christmas break makes this one simple.
- The whole household on board. Especially whoever ends up doing most of the feeding and late-night potty trips.
- A plan for holiday travel. If you’re driving to Grandma’s, take the pup along, or plan go-home day for after you’re back.
- A budget for the basics. Food, a crate, vet visits, and pet insurance.
How to make the surprise magical
Here’s our favorite tip: surprise the kids, not the grown-ups. The person who’ll be doing the 2 AM potty runs should be in on the plan. And if you’re thinking of giving a puppy to someone outside your home, talk with them first. A dog is a 10 to 15 year best friend, and that’s a choice they’ll want to make.
Then have fun with it! A few ideas our families have loved:
- Wrap a collar, a leash, and a framed photo of the puppy. The “Wait, who’s this?!” moment is priceless.
- Put a stuffed dog under the tree with a note about go-home day.
- Make a puppy countdown calendar so the kids can count down the days.
- Plan go-home day for a calm day right before or after Christmas, so your pup’s first days at home are cozy instead of chaotic.
Puppy-proofing for the holidays
A few holiday things to keep out of puppy’s reach:
- Chocolate, grapes, raisins, and anything sweetened with xylitol. All can be toxic to dogs, and holiday tables are full of them.
- Tinsel, ribbon, and string. If swallowed, they can cause serious trouble in the gut.
- Ornaments and light cords. Glass breaks, and cords are irresistible to a teething puppy.
- The tree stand water. Block it off, and anchor the tree if you’ve got a curious pup.
- Open doors and table scraps. Ask guests to watch the door and skip the scraps.
Buy from a breeder you can trust
December is also peak season for puppy scams. Prices that seem too good to be true, sellers who want payment by gift card or wire transfer, and “breeders” who can’t send a live video of the puppy are all red flags. A reputable breeder will happily answer your questions, send photos and videos, and walk you through every step.
One of the best ways to check out any breeder is to see what their families say. Take a peek at our Instagram, where Lost Creek families share photos of their pups growing up all over the country, and read what families have to say on our Testimonials page.
Christmas puppies at Lost Creek
This year, Dorothy’s Teddy Bear English Cream Goldendoodle puppies were born October 18 and will be ready to go home in mid to late December, just in time for Christmas. Dorothy is our AKC English Golden Retriever, and her pups are known for their calm, sweet, loving temperament. We’re running a Christmas Special on this litter. You can see the details on our Puppy Prices page.
Want your puppy home sooner? We also have two adorable mini Aussiedoodle girls who are ready to go home now.
At Lost Creek Kennels, our puppies are born in our home and raised on our farm in Jacksboro, Texas, alongside our kids, goats, chickens, ducks, and plenty of dogs. By go-home day they’ve heard the noise, seen the commotion, and met a lot of new faces, so they handle a busy holiday house better than most. Every puppy comes with a microchip, health records, a 2-year health guarantee, and lifetime support from our family. And we’ll bring your puppy to you: we deliver across Texas, meet families in DFW, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, and help puppies get home anywhere in the country.
Reserve your Christmas puppy now
Christmas puppies go fast, and the families who reserve early get the best pick of the litter. Take a look at our Available Puppies, fill out our puppy application, or text us at (940) 351-0047. We’d love to help you make this a Christmas your family remembers for years.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
