The "Christmas Puppy", that candidate that everybody gets so excited about at the time they hire them.  The candidate who has the potential to be all the warm, fuzzies, bring stars to the eyes, fire up the rest of the team based on what they have done, can do and promise to do to make all dreams come true.

Just like finding the real Christmas Puppy or Pony there are some things to consider.

Where does it come from?  Is it coming from a "puppy mill", those big companies who hire tons of people, give them limited training and inflated resumes (pedigrees), then weed out all but the best and dump the others on the street.  Or a very small company where the achievements are overstated due to the size and scope of the company. (CFO of Mom and Pops plumbing as opposed to accounting manager of GM).

Puppies and Ponies require a lot of attention and training.  Is your client prepared to offer the training, ramp up time, and clean up of messes that puppies sometimes make to allow the Christmas Puppy to reach full potential.

Does the puppy fit with family and lifestyle.  All puppies are cute when you get them but they grow up.  A puppy who will grow into a big dog becomes frustrated fitting into an organzation where there is little room to run and exercise their skills.  Is there a dedication to provide outside training or does this group need a more settled big dog who has been there, done that, and is just happy to be a part of the group.

Puppies come in different personalities, just like people.  An aggressive doberman, pit bull or other  aggressive breeds do not do well in groups where the whole family is laid back, just looking for that Christmas Puppy who will ease in and only bark when there is a threat not everytime there is a slight noise or be a threat to the neighbors.

If you are considering a Christmas Puppy for your client give the situation the same attention we should all give to making a Christmas Puppy part of our family.  Try not to let your Christmas Puppy end up at the shelter (on unemployement, frustrated or unhappy) because you ignored some common sense evaluation of the person and the situation.  Fortunately people are not puppies, they can and do let us know in many ways where they will function to their fullest potential, don't ignore it because they are cute, warm and fuzzy, and you are determimed to have that puppy by Christmas.

If you are looking for a real Christmas Puppy for your family this year, use your recruiting knowledge to be sure that puppy, kitten or pony is really a fit for your family and your environment.  A lot of Christmas puppies end up at the shelter only a few short months after the new wears off.

Adopt a shelter/rescue animal this Christmas.  Some of the best end up unemployed and are only looking for a good home where they will shine as the real "Christmas Puppy."

What is your experience with Christmas Puppies, both two legs and four?