Giving away a dog to a loved one can make for a very exciting Christmas gift indeed. But with the Holiday Season just around the corner, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide which breed of dog to get as a Christmas gift.

No matter what kind of Christmas pet you decide to get for your dear ones – a puppy, adult or senior dog, here are ten of the most popular pets to get, along with their grooming and exercise requirements, and their suitability as ‘family pets’:

1. Labrador Retriever

Retrievers are very patient, affectionate and loving animals, making them not only the perfect Christmas pet gift but also a fantastic family dog!

They are very energetic and require a good 30-60 minutes of exercise each day. Having a smooth, short-haired double coat means grooming is relatively simple.

2. Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is very easy to care for; so much so that some owners never quite get round to house training them. This is because their faeces are very small and easy to clean up; this can lead to owners letting their dogs get away with it. This is a terrible mistake, and will mean your Yorkie never becomes house trained.

Apart from that, the Yorkie is the perfect dog for people who live in apartments; they can be exercised in the home, are agile and clever, and like to do tricks for their families.

3. Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels are very gentle and loving dogs. They are also a very trustworthy breed and generally great with not just children, but also elders and other pets. As such, they make for an excellent Christmas pet gift!

Just make sure to ask the owner to take them for daily walks as they love exercise! Regular brushing and combing is very important though – some coats may have a lot of ‘cottony’ hair while others are silky and flat-laying. The ears must be checked and cleaned out regularly while bathing or dry shampooing may be necessary from time to time.

4. Border Collie

This is a highly adaptable breed of dog and ideal for an environment where there’s ample room – e.g. a country farm or a city home which has a fenced yard. Border Collies demand a lot of physical and mental stimulation. They are a fast and agile breed, so they need to be taken on long and brisk daily walks.

They require regular combing and brushing as well and extra care is needed once the soft and dense undercoat starts shedding. The ears and coat must be checked regularly for ticks and bathing, and dry shampooing must be done when needed.

5. Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus are famous for being a very friendly, highly adaptable and generally good-natured breed. They get along great with children, adults and other pets in the house. They are also somewhat fragile and get hurt easily, so adults need to supervise those ‘play sessions’ with children.

A Shih Tzu requires a daily walk as they love playing outside, otherwise they may exhibit behavioural problems. Daily grooming can be done using a regular bristle brush while the eye and ear passage require regular cleaning, as Shih Tzus have sensitive eyes.

Great company and great gifts – the above breeds should make for an adorable gift this Holiday Season! Perfect-Pets has an extensive range of Essential Guides covering the most popular dog breeds. Visit: www.perfect-pets.org. Get a 50% discount enter XMAS50OFF at checkout.