Why I Might Need A Bigger Stocking...

Let me paint you a picture. It’s Christmas morning. Snow is falling gently outside, the fire is crackling, and you’re snuggled up in your pyjamas with a mug of mulled wine in hand, waiting to dive into a pile of presents.

​Everything is peaceful and perfect… until you remember that your toy poodle, Titchy, is due to have her puppies today. ​

Oh yes, Titch is about to become a mother—due on Christmas Day.

Cue mild panic and a lot of frantic blanket washing and puppy pad ordering. But hey, when life gives you puppies, you’ve got to make the best of it, right? 
Here’s my candid rundown of the pros and cons of a Christmas Day litter, because let’s be honest, it’s not all sunshines and rainbows! 

THE PROS

1. Christmas Puppies = Instant Cuteness Overload
   There’s nothing like the sight of tiny puppies wiggling around on Christmas Day. We’re going to have so much cuteness under one roof, it might just make my festive heart burst. I mean, who needs the King’s speech when you’ve got a bunch of puppies making their grand entrance into the world? They’re the gift that keeps on giving.
2. No One Will Be Surprised by My 'Dog Maternity Leave'
   Let’s be real—when you tell people you’re taking a few days off to look after your dog, they might raise an eyebrow. But if you mention your tiny, fluffy, gorgeous toy poodle is in labour on Christmas Day, well, suddenly you’re a hero. It’s a Christmas miracle, really. I’m expecting a lot of sympathy and offers of help (whether or not they actually know what to do with newborn puppies or a Christmas Dinner remains to be seen).
3. Family Bonding, Dog Edition
   What better way to bring the family together than to have everyone gathered round in a state of excited anticipation? Everyone’s going to be hanging around the living room, waiting for these little bundles of joy to arrive. It’s going to be a very niche Christmas bonding experience. I’m hoping?
4. Everyone Will Remember This Christmas Forever
   This year, when I’m sending out Christmas cards, I'll have a whole new story to tell. “Oh, remember that year I gave birth to puppies while you were all eating mince pies and watching Love Actually?!” Instant legend status in the family I think.  That will take over from my previous legendary status of how many mincepies I can eat in one sitting (I’m not proud but it was 7!) 
5. Fewer Post-Christmas Hangovers
   With all the puppy duties to take care of, there’s no time for a boozy Boxing Day binge. So while everyone else is regretting the last round of Baileys, I’ll be fresh-faced, alert, and puppy-obsessed. Bonus points if I can get the whole “new puppy smell” vibe going on, and remember to change my PJ’s often enough to avoid the puppy poop smear stains!

THE CONS

1. The Chaos of Christmas Day Labour
   Forget Christmas dinner prep, forget watching the King’s Speech with a fizz in hand—my main job now is keeping Titch calm and comfy while she navigates the whole “pushing out puppies” situation. Puppies don’t exactly follow a schedule, and I may just find myself in the middle of a rather un-seasonal situation. There’s no “pause” button on a dog’s labour pains, and you can bet your mince pies that Titch won’t be bothered by the festive spirit at all.
2. No Peace and Quiet for Meeeee
   Normally, Christmas Day is a time of reflection, family time, and a slight food coma. But, much like a human birth, Titch’s delivery will probably be anything but quiet. The sound of a dog in labour is not the gentle soundtrack you were imagining while sipping your Christmas morning tea. It’s more like an orchestral performance punctuated by a series of slightly panicked barks and whines.
3. The Unlikely Appearance of a Christmas Vet
   Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever called a vet on Christmas Day, but let me tell you—it’s not a situation that screams “festive cheer”. While you’re halfway through peeling potatoes, and suddenly you’re on the phone explaining that your dog’s having puppies and you’d like them on standby just in case you need them annnnd you’re still in your Christmas pjs. Forget about turkey—this year, it’s all about puppy drama avoidance for me.
4. I Can Kiss Our Christmas Day Plans Goodbye
   Who needs a relaxing Christmas dinner when you’ve got a dog giving birth in your living room? (OK, who am I kidding? I’m sure a good Christmas dinner will still happen, I am the queen of multi-tasking but it will probably involve a lot more reheating than originally planned.) Plus, with a whole family of guests coming over, they might be less-than-thrilled at the idea of gathering around the whelping box instead of the Christmas tree, but hey, it’s Christmas they’re not allowed to complain! 
5. Potential Sleep Deprivation
   If I thought I’d be catching up on my sleep during the Christmas holidays, who was I kidding? Puppy births are not known for their punctuality, and neither is the recovery period. I’ll likely find myself awake at all hours, making sure Titch and her puppies are fed, cleaned, and not trying to escape their box in search of adventure. I’m looking at you ‘Mr Merry Christmas’... because sleep will not be on my agenda.
6. Increased Stress Around Puppy Naming
   Now, I’ll admit it—puppy naming is a big deal. And on Christmas Day, no one really wants to sit down with the family and try to come up with festive-themed names for a bunch of wriggling pups instead of waiting a million mince pies and opening presents! Are they “Holly,” “Jingle,” and “Snowflake” or “Sprout,” “Brussels,” and “Tinsel”? If this wasn’t stressful enough, there’s the eternal debate about whether “Rudolph” works as a name for a girl pup. (Spoiler: It doesn’t.)

All things considered, ‘am I excited’ you ask?As with anything in life, you’ve got to take the good with the bad. Yes, having a litter of puppies potentially due on Christmas Day is a little like mixing chocolate and sprouts: it sounds a bit odd at first, but the more you think about it, the more you realise it might just be the Christmas miracle I never knew you needed. Sure, it’s going to be chaotic, sleep-deprived, and a little stressful, but anyone who knows us well knows we thrive on that!  It’s going to be incredibly memorable (and incredibly cute). I can live with that.

So, while I’m still trying to figure out how to juggle puppies and presents, potatoes and poop, I’ll leave you with this: If you’re lucky enough to be considering a Toy Poodle this Christmas and would like to open your home to an Adorare baby in the new year, our new bundle of babies will be with us soon enough and we have a waiting list bubbling away. Contact us now. 

I’m certain Titch’s litter is definitely going to be the highlight of this Christmas… whether we’re ready or not remains to be seen! 
​
Jo xxxxx