by Sebastian Bennett

“There are so many pets in need of families—it would be a wonderful Christmas for a shelter dog to find himself under the Christmas tree.”

With Christmas upon us, no doubt a puppy with a big red  bow around its neck is at the top of many families’ gift lists. A puppy at Christmas can bring joy and happiness, but it can also bring anxiety and frustration as you deal with unwanted “presents” everywhere, chewed up shoes, barking and whining at all hours of the night.

“The most important factor when dealing with a new puppy is developing a good level of communication,” says Jon Bolander, owner of Man’s Best Friend, a local pet boarding and training facility. “Once the communication is established it makes solving problems much easier. Communication is established, through obedience training. We begin training puppies at 12 weeks of age—the sooner you begin training the quicker you can get the problem behavior under control.”

Since they offer boarding training as well as private lessons, Man’s Best Friend can ease those new-puppy woes by training your puppy prior to Christmas morning. “Every year two weeks prior to Christmas, we get a number of families who drop their new puppy off to begin training, so on Christmas day they are taking home a puppy who the family can readily communicate with and enjoy,” says Bolander.

All of Man’s Best Friend’s programs involve family participation. Working in a private setting with a trainer, the family is taught the necessary skills to utilize at home.

If you are considering a puppy for Christmas, Bolander suggests that you do your research first. “There are books you can purchase and information on the Internet that describes the various breeds and their particular personality characteristics.  Finding a puppy that is compatible with your environment is important.” He also recommends visiting with rescue organizations and shelters. “There are so many pets in need of families—it would be a wonderful Christmas for a shelter dog to find himself under the Christmas tree.”

Since starting out in 1981, Man’s Best Friend has established six Texas locations and three convenient Atlanta locations. Offering a wide range of programs, Man’s Best Friend can tailor training to meet your family’s special needs. The process begins with a no-cost evaluation with your family and your puppy. The evaluation determines the problems you are encountering, your goals, and the amount of time your family has to devote to a training program. After you select the best option for you, training can begin right away.

A one-stop shop, Man’s Best Friend offers many other pet services and products including boarding, grooming, doggie daycare, and pet supplies.

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For more information, call one of the convenient locations:

Woodstock (770.592.6960), Norcross (770.931.2411) or Alpharetta (770.619.3990) or visit their Web site at www.Mansbestfriend.com.