Planning On Buying Parents A New Dog… Which One Should I Buy For Them?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
I’m planning on buying my parents a dog this Christmas (they really want one). They need a calm, easy-to-train, quiet dog that doesn’t require much exersise and but does have a little bit of a playful side to it. It also has to be really, really small! I’ve narrowed it down to these breeds… so which one do you think I should buy for them?
Japaneese Chin
Havanese
West Highland White Terrier
Bichon Frise
Toy American Eskimo Dog
Please explain WHY I should get them that dog breed and what they’re are really like. Serious answers only, please! I will be choosing best answer.
Related Havanese Training & Care posts:
Japaneese Chin!
Here’s a very serious answer. Let your parents pick. Dogs as gifts can be a big problem. There really has to be a connection between the individual dog and the owner and they have to really want the dog and they may have specific ideas about what breed they want or if they even want a dog right now. Give them a gift certificate that you make up yourself for any dog of their choice and then go with them and let them pick. You can help them research breeds and breeders too as part of the gift.
All of those dogs would be a great gift for your parents. But I think a dog is a little to personal to guess on what kind of breed your parents would want. Maybe get into a casual conversations about dogs and ask them what there favorite breed was and if the got a dog what kind would it be. Then that way you would know and they would never suspect that they would be getting a dog for their Christmas gift. I would also suggest a Shih Tzu.
A pet is something that should be chosen by the new owners. While it’s great that you will be buying the dog for them, they should be the ones picking out the dog. I like Havanese, Westies or Bichons, but the other choices might be fine-I just don’t know anything about them. Havanese are very sturdy for little dogs, playful and silly but not hyper (the ones I know anyway). This is a personal choice for anyone though, so they should be in on the decision. Good luck!
Howabout this idea…
Buy them some dog supplies.. bowls, toys, collar/leash, crate, bed, etc.. along with an “IOU” for a dog. Let your parents choose the breed that they want!
Its better to wait until after the holidays to get a dog/puppy anyways. Holidays are such a stressful time with baking, decorating, visiting friends/family, etc.. its best to go pick out a dog after the holidays are over (sometimes you can even find puppies in the shelter after the holidays too!)
When you were choosing a dog did you think about them having to be groomed? That will cost them about $30 to $40 every 4 to 6 weeks.
How about a Papillon? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papillon_(d…
The Havanese, Westie & the Bichon all need regular grooming & the Eskimo dog needs lots of brushing.
Of the ones you chose the Chin would be better for them & not have the grooming cost.
And, it would much better for them to choose the pup. I would not want someone to choose a puppy for me. I would want to pick the one I wanted.http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?…
I don’t know about any of these breeds, but I do have a suggestion for you. When you do pick a breed, type that name in the search engine, and join a club. You can join clubs of your breed, and ask those people questions about the breed. They will know special health issues and training tips and stuff for that breed. So while you can ask questions here, you can ask them there too, and you will have a ton of help.
First of all, do you know if they even want a dog? A dog is a 15 year commitment of time and money. And maybe they want to travel and do things, and the dog would be an inconvenience.
Secondly, you should let them choose which dog/breed they want. A dog is a highly personal thing.
NO good breeder would ever sell you a dog as a Christmas present.
you should definatley get them a maltese.. in my neighborhood almost everyone i see walking then is over the age of 55 so im pretty sure there better for an older crowd… dont get a toy american eskimo dog, my friend has one and everytime it does something it whines… its there breed… they never stay quiet
hope you get the right one
I’m sorry but none of those choices are good.
Shih Tzus are the best dogs in the world.
They don’t shed, they are playful but they can entertain themselves easily. It would be smart to get a doggie door if they can’t always make it to the door or whatever. They are cuddly. They are hypoallergenic. They understand you when you talk to them.
Bichon frise.
there fluffy and adorable. I’m sure your parents would love the bichon frise!they love to cuddle.they are house dogs. they don’t usually need to be walked and they dont need much exercise.there a little playful.Good luck to finding your parents a good dog.
REMEMBER dogs are for life not just for christmas!!! But if you are sure they want one i would say the west highland white terrier because they don’t need a great deal of walking and they are so cute!!!
There is no such thing as a small, quiet, lazy dog…
Consider a miniature poodle.
Bichon Frise They are cute and have everything that your parents want
While you have really good intentions, it’s never a good idea to buy anyone a dog because a dog is a very, very personal choice. What would be a much better idea if your parents want a dog, is to research some breeders for them of those breeds you think they’d be interested in – that way you’re doing some of the leg work for them – then you can go with them when they pick out a puppy and pay for it. That way the gift is from you, but they are picking out the puppy that they want – the one that’s special to them.
And buying a puppy at Christmas time is a really bad idea and no reputable breeder sells a puppy as a Christmas present because that’s such a busy time of year. It’s much too stressful for a young puppy going to a new home at that time of year. Shortly after the holiday season is a better time to bring a new puppy to a new home.
As for which breed – again, they’re all good in their own way – each individual would have their own favorite and your parents would need to choose the one they prefer. Perhaps google each breed to read up on breed characteristics, grooming needs, health concerns, exercise requirements, and decide from there.
Dogs should NEVER be given as gifts. Several dogs in our rescue group were gifts until they wore out their welcome. This should be something that is done as a family and the breed researched thoroughly before buying.
Base a dog on your parents activity level, are they active or home bodies? Do they enjoy a nightly walk for 2 hours or do they never go outside? Several dogs on that list are high energy dogs, The West Highland White Terrier and the American Eskimo. American Eskimos are not dogs for first time dog owners, they are very high energy breed that require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation and can become quite yappy. (we have one in our rescue that was given as a gift by this guy to his girlfriend, when the dog got out of control he surrendered him)
What dog do your parents want? Is there a breed they are interested in? Are your parents home a lot or out alot? there are a lot of factors that go into deciding on a dog, training, money, time, activity level etc. The purchase of a dog should not be taken lightly, remember dogs are forever, not just for Christmas. And Walking Lady is correct, most Dog magazines will tell you Christmas is not the time to bring a puppy home, it is too busy with gifts, and food, and visitors and people in and out of the house all day and it’s much too hectic to have to care for a new puppy who will become over whelmed by what’s going on, could eat something not suitable for puppies, might eat a poinsettia (which are toxic to dogs) get stepped on, let out of the house accidentally. After the new year is the appropriate time.
With that said the Havanese seems to fit your description.
Havanese are natural companion dogs: gentle and responsive. They become very attached to their human families and are excellent with children. Very affectionate and playful with a high degree of intelligence. These cheerful dogs are very sociable and will get along with everyone including people, dogs, cats and other pets. They are easy to obedience train and get along well with other dogs. This curious dog loves to sit up high on a chair to observe what is going on. It is very sensitive to the tone of your voice. Harsh words will only upset the dog and will achieve very little. Generally, harsh punishment is unnecessary. The Havanese have a long reputation of being circus dogs, probably because it learns quickly and enjoys doing things for people. Few tend to bark a lot, as they can be taught not to do this. It is not their nature to bark a lot. It is best to teach them not to bark unnecessarily while they are still young to prevent it from becoming a habit. Havanese are good watch dogs – making sure to alert you when a visitor arrives, but will quickly welcome the guest once it sees you welcome them. Some dogs may exhibit a degree of shyness around strangers, but this is not characteristic of the breed.
Remember, all dogs need exercise or they will turn into destructive chewers, barkers, or become aggressive.
Well West Highland White Terriers need lots of care
for example they:
are prone to allergies and dry skin issues
need to be brushed most often
Need special shampoos
and need there ears to be cleaned with cotton balls frequently
require hours of sleep
West Highland White Terrier puppies may be affected by a disease known as craniomandibular osteopathy
Japanese Chin:
it is loving and loyal to its owner and typically happy to see other people
a few are distrustful of strangers
will bark for the purpose of alerting the household to the arrival of a visitor or something out of the ordinary
The Chin’s coat requires nothing more than brushing or combing once every day
The face should be occasionally wiped with a damp cloth and the folds cleaned with a cotton swab
are very sensitive/allergic to corn
needs quality kibble that contains no corn will do much to avoid skin and allergy conditions
Havanese:
are excellent with children
Very affectionate and playful with a high degree of intelligence
They are easy to obedience train and get along well with other dogs
The Havanese have a long reputation of being circus dogs, probably because it learns quickly and enjoys doing things for people. Few tend to bark a lot, as they can be taught not to do this
Bichon Frise:
feisty, sensitive, playful, affectionate and adorable
Bichons may be relatively stubborn, but are also said to be patient
They may have sudden bursts of energy
Bichons do not shed
Bichons are high-maintenance
Toy American Eskimo Dogs:
prone to flea allergies and the resulting skin irritation can be difficult to clear up
Toy weight: 6-10 lb
Intelligent
Independent
loving
Overall, the best selection would be either a HAVANESE or a Toy American Eskimo Dog
OTHER SUGGESTIONS
Maltese
Dachshund
Bedlington Terrier
Or
a Beagle
Eskies are so cute!