Surprise gift of a dog? Read this first

Thinking about surprising a loved one with a dog for Christmas?

Be careful. I would know. I’ve done it.

My fianc?e and I had just moved in together to a Florida apartment and she would not stop telling me how much she wanted a dog.

Let’s fast-forward through several subsequent mini-dramas. I adopted a 4-year-old, 40-pound rescue pit bull mix from the streets of Miami and surprised my fianc?e with a Christmas dog.

Today, my fianc?e and Ella are inseparable. But the first few months were tough, and I would have done a few things differently if I could go back.

Here is my advice to people considering whether to get a dog for a loved one for Christmas:

• Try before you buy.

As I learned with hellhound murder dog Dallas, looks can be deceiving. A dog that looks sweet in a picture or video might be actively plotting to kill you.

• Let your loved one have a say.

You can still surprise him or her, just say you’re taking her to see the new “Sharknado” movie or something else guaranteed to ruin the rest of the weekend. Then, drive straight to the shelter and tell your loved one you found a dog they might like.

• Go to the shelter.

For one, it’s cheaper. The animal shelter in Columbia, S.C., charges only $35 for dog and cat adoptions, according to its website. It’s also offering a $25 “Home for the Holidays” adoption special through December.

Two, someone has already interacted with that dog who doesn’t have a financial stake in whether or not you adopt. I have often found the staff at shelters to be forthcoming when talking about a dog’s strengths and weaknesses.

• Communicate, communicate, communicate.

If you do choose to show up at the door with a surprise dog for your loved one, make sure you know exactly what he or she wants. In my case, I knew my fianc?e wanted her dog to be medium-size, well-behaved, quiet, gentle and obedient. The only reason Ella worked for us is because I got as close to those criteria as I could. If I had guessed and got her some monster — like, I don’t know, Dallas — I guarantee one of us would have moved out already.

• Make sure you budget for dog accessories.

You can expect to spend $100-$200 on a collar, leash, dog bowls, heartworm medicine, food, treats and lots of toys for your dog to shred all over the floor. It’s not much of a Christmas gift if your loved one is immediately obliged to spend $150 of his or her own money.

• Learn how to train a dog.

After a few sessions with a trainer, some diligent training, and plenty of doggy socializing, Ella no longer panics at the sight of other dogs.

Rather, she sprints full-speed at them and gives them a friendly body slam before sniffing their rear ends. Trust me, it’s progress.