There’s no greater joy than waking up on Christmas morning to find a pile of presents beneath the brightly lit tree. From toys to clothes, to electronic devices, gifts bring smiles and laughter that define the holiday spirit.

And perhaps there is no greater happiness than finding a small puppy, sitting under the tree in a basket, with a big red bow tied around his neck. A puppy is a perfect gift for seeing the faces of your loved ones light up with joy on Christmas Day.

However, the holiday cheer dies down quickly and soon everyone is back to the ins and outs of their daily lives. A Christmas puppy is no longer just a Christmas gift, but rather, a family pet. Now that the puppy is a member of the family, the family needs to be able to accommodate his needs and find a way to work their daily lives around him.

A puppy cannot take care of himself, and he is going to rely on you to be the one to take care of him for the next 10 to 15 years of his life. A puppy is not like a toy that a child can play with for a week, grow bored of, and toss aside. A puppy is a lifelong commitment, and purchasing one as a Christmas gift means needing to be prepared for that.

As such, there are some things to keep in mind before extending your family to include a canine companion.

Puppies have accidents, and not just bathroom accidents either.

Yes, when you first get a puppy you should expect it to go to the bathroom all over the house. It may be frustrating to clean up time and time again at first, but that’s what housebreaking is for. Eventually, he will learn that the bathroom is outside the house as long as you commit to training him to do so.

But accidents aren’t just limited to Rover taking a tinkle on the hardwood floor.

There may come a time where he eats something that he wasn’t supposed to eat and winds up sick. When that happens, it’s up to you to take him to the vet to make him well again—just as you would for a child. It’s your responsibility to cover his medical expenses when accidents happen and to take care of him until he’s healed.

Puppies need activity and socialization in their lives.

Just like humans, puppies get bored when they sit around the house all day. And, like people, puppies need to learn the proper etiquette when interacting with other dogs and humans. This means that it is your task to take the puppy out on walks multiple times a day and allow for him to meet other dogs and people.

You wouldn’t want to be cooped up inside of a house all day without anyone to interact with, so why would a puppy?

He may get lots of love, attention, and playtime on Christmas morning, but once that morning is over, you have to make sure that he continues to get that same amount of attention and activity every day for the rest of his life.

A puppy takes dedication and patience.

You wouldn’t expect a five-year-old to know how to read a chapter book in a day, and you shouldn’t expect a puppy to learn simple commands in a day either. It can take months for a puppy to learn proper obedience. Teaching a puppy how to sit, or not to jump or bite, takes a lot of work and dedication.

No matter how loyal or friendly they are, puppies aren’t going to be a master of obedience straight away.

It’s easy to get frustrated when the puppy won’t listen or doesn’t understand, but it’s important to remain patient and continue to reinforce the behaviors that you want to discourage or encourage. Do not simply lose your cool and let it out on a puppy who does not know any better.

At the end of the day, a puppy becomes your responsibility and is a permanent member of your family, just as a child would be. He is not a toy who can simply be tossed aside or handed off to someone else when you grow bored with him. He requires love, attention, and patience.

Treat him with kindness, and don’t toss him into a shelter when you become tired or overwhelmed.

Far too many dogs get placed into kennels once the holidays are over and people realize they cannot handle one. Do not be one of those people when receiving your Christmas puppy. After all, a puppy will love you unconditionally, so it’s important that you do the same for him.