It's Christmas in a few days time, and for most family dogs that means a day laying in front of the fire, and maybe a few pigs in blankets.

But for some dogs it's not quite like that, as they'll be spending Christmas at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in Brands Hatch.

The Brands Hatch centre typically houses 45 dogs who stay, on average, for 30 days.

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But for one Jack Russell it's been quite a big longer.

Floyd has been at Battersea for 241 days and counting - that's more than eight times the average stay.

But it's through no fault of his own that the lively Jack has been in search of a home for so long.

VIDEO: Could you rehome one of these dogs?

Rehoming and Welfare Assistant, Beth Stevenson, said: "One of our longest stay dogs is Floyd, and he is a Jack Russell Terrier.

"He's been here since about April, so quite a long time.

"He's a very high energy boy - loves his walks, loves running around but he does need quite a specific home who are going to understand his needs and continue the training that we've started with him here."

Floyd is aged four years and three months and would love a home with no other dogs and away from the inner city.

Also looking for a home is 2-year-old Patience who has been at Brands Hatch for 53 days since leaving the London branch.

Patience is a Presa Canario is a lovable giant who's not aware of her own size but would love a home that can handle her.

Although it's too late for them to find a home for Christmas, it's hoped they'll find a home in the new year.

"We have a match up basis here, especially as it gets closer to Christmas, we ask people have you really thought about this, it's going to be a long term commitment - can you afford it.

"You're looking at potentially 10-15 years having a dog. We do tend to ask people what their plans are for Christmas, so if they're having a busy Christmas or if they're away we say wait until afterwards because otherwise it's just too much stress for that dog.

"If it's just a family at home Christmas with only a few visitors then that's okay. We just make people really aware of what they're taking on before they do."

It's common knowledge that a dog is for life, not just for Christmas, but that doesn't stop people from picking up a pet as a gift.

"Christmas is obviously an exciting time of year and people do look at getting a puppy or a dog for the kids just to add to the family.

"But it's that old adage that a dog is for life, not just for Christmas, so people need to be very aware of the responsibility and the commitment that they're taking on and be able to provide for that dog not just financially, but also training wise and the exercise requirements and really understand what they're taking on before they make that commitment."

Following the impulsive purchase, Brands Hatch Battersea often see an influx after the seasonal period of dogs coming in.

"After Christmas we do tend to get dogs brought in, you will get the odd couple that have been bought as Christmas presents and are either not getting on with the existing family dog or they've just changed their minds and don't have enough time for the dog.

"We do tend to get an influx around February/March time when the novelties worn off and people have realised the commitment and the time constraints a dog does bring with it.

"So we do tend to get an influx then of younger dogs especially and obviously people who don't want their dogs anymore are ringing up more during that time of year."

However, that's just one of the reasons why dogs get brought into Battersea across the year.

"Dogs can come in for all sorts of reasons, sometimes it is behavior reasons, but a lot of the time it is through no fault of their own - for example, people moving house, can't afford the dog anymore, they have a baby - they're generally the main reasons we have for taking a dog in.

"Some people get a dog then just don't have enough time for the dog because circumstances can change, and then you do get the sad stories as well where people have a terminal illness or a member of the household passes away and the dog can't stay there any longer."

In recent months there has been a rise in people looking for fashionable dogs.

"We get an awful lot of people nowadays coming in saying specifically they want a Cockapoo or a Jackawawa or similar.

"We do tend to say to people that we don't get those dogs in too often. Unfortunately there has been a big influx of those kind of dogs coming in because people are breeding them for quick profits.

"We had two puppy Cockapoos come in recently who had obviously been from a puppy farm or similar and were sold to a very vulnerable lady who had ordered a female Labrador. They got brought into us but they've found a new home now."

This year, the Brands Hatch centre have found a new home for 340 dogs so far, including Theo, who we featured in a story last year.

He has finally found a loving home with a couple from Oxfordshire following a mammoth 759 day stay.

If you're looking to re-home a dog to make your- and their - new year more pawsitive then for more information, visit the Battersea website, like their Facebook page or follow their Twitter @BDCH.