Every year, families across the country dream about a puppy under the Christmas tree. And honestly — we get it. There are few things more magical than a child’s face when they meet a puppy for the first time. If that moment happens to be Christmas morning, even better.
But before you put a bow on a puppy, there are a few things worth thinking through. Not to talk you out of it — but to make sure it goes as well as it possibly can for everyone involved, including the puppy.
The Case For a Christmas Puppy
Let’s start here, because the internet is full of warnings about holiday puppies that we don’t entirely agree with.
Christmas is actually a great time to bring home a puppy for many families. Schools are out, schedules slow down, and everyone is home. That means more hands to help with the puppy, more time for supervision, more people for early socialization, and a family that can be fully present for the transition rather than scrambling around work and school schedules.
A puppy needs time, attention, and consistency in those first days and weeks. If your family has that to give over the holidays, that’s genuinely a good thing.
The Case For Planning Ahead
Where holiday puppies go wrong isn’t Christmas itself — it’s impulse. A puppy purchased on a whim because someone saw a cute one available, without thoughtful preparation, is a puppy set up for a harder start.
The families who have the smoothest experiences are the ones who applied months in advance, thought carefully about which puppy was right for their lifestyle, prepared their home, and had the right supplies ready before pickup day. That preparation doesn’t happen overnight.
If you’re reading this in early December hoping to have a puppy by Christmas, you may be working against a tight timeline — most responsible breeders have waitlists, and a litter available right now may already be spoken for. But if you’re planning ahead for next Christmas, or if you’ve already been on a waitlist and your puppy is coming home over the holidays — you’re in great shape.
Is a Puppy the Right Gift?
This question matters most when the puppy is a surprise for someone else — a spouse, a child, a parent. A puppy is a 10 to 15 year commitment that changes daily life in real ways. The recipient of that gift needs to be genuinely ready for it, not just delighted by it on Christmas morning.
For your own family, where everyone is already on board and prepared — go for it. For a surprise gift to another household — a conversation first is almost always the better approach. A card that says “we’re getting a puppy and you’re helping us pick” is a gift that lands just as well and starts things on the right foot.
Setting Your Holiday Puppy Up for Success
If your puppy is coming home around Christmas, here’s how to make it go smoothly:
Designate a quiet space. The holidays bring houseguests, parties, and general chaos. Your puppy needs a calm retreat — their crate, in a quieter area of the house — where they can decompress when things get overwhelming. A puppy that’s been passed around and overstimulated all day is a puppy that’s going to have a harder night.
Assign one person as the primary caretaker. Everyone will want to hold the puppy. That’s fine. But someone needs to be responsible for the schedule — feeding times, potty trips, nap times, and crate training. Consistency during that first week is critical, and consistency requires someone being in charge of it.
Watch the excitement level. Kids especially tend to want to be with the puppy every waking moment. That’s understandable, but puppies need a lot of sleep — sometimes 16 to 18 hours a day. An overtired, over-handled puppy gets nippy and frantic. Build in quiet crate time even when no one wants to stop playing.
Keep the holiday food away. Turkey bones, chocolate, grapes, onions, xylitol in sugar-free foods — the holiday table has a surprising number of things that are dangerous for dogs. Make sure everyone in the house knows what’s off limits and that the puppy can’t get into the trash.
Don’t skip the vet appointment. Under the holiday excitement it’s easy to put this off, but getting your puppy seen by your veterinarian within 48 hours of pickup is a requirement of our health guarantee — and just a smart start regardless.
A Note From Us
We love placing puppies with families over the holidays. Some of our favorite stories come from Christmas morning pickups and the photos families send us afterward. When it’s planned and prepared for, a holiday puppy is a wonderful thing.
If you’re thinking about a Strong Oaks puppy — for Christmas or any time of year — start with our application. It’s the first step in getting to know your family and making sure we’re the right fit for each other.
And if you already have a Strong Oaks puppy coming home this holiday season — we can’t wait to see the photos.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Goldendoodle?
Family-raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. Health-tested parents, 5-year guarantee, and 30+ years of experience.