Kid wants a dog? 5 questions to help with your answer

I have three dogs 1 small (the pound told us it was a lab mix when it was a pup it looked the part its not its a terrier but a very loving dog) 1 mid size dog pure bred MUTT very protective and great dog and one huge dumb but loving pure breed newfoundland the first thing you should think of when getting a dog is do you have time and are you willing to get up early if it needs to be out this is the hardest thing for me.
always remember NEVER hit a dog (or any animal for that matter)to discipline it also dont scream at your dog they simply dont under stand the concept of using these actions as punishment a stern voice and a time out is about the only thing that works.
animals do not have the ability to make many choices as a free will decision keep this in mind when you punish them most every thing they do is something you tought them or simple instinct.
if you treat a dog right it really will be your best friend they never judge you for what youve done they just want to make you happy

very helpful. my daughter's been asking for a puppy and I told her we would try to get her one for her birthday in Sept. I figured i go with something low maintenance like a yorkie or bijan -- although i hear that yorkies have health problems. since we're not home during the day i thought that a small dog would work.

Very good article. In our house it was my husband that wanted a dog, not my son. We got a mutt from a rescue group and even then we had to have a home inspection and provide references and it cost us $250 to get the dog. Then we had to buy it a bed, toys, a leash, a collar, dishes, and food. We wanted to crate train the dog so the crate was at least another $50. Dog training cost another $150. The contract we signed stipulates that we have to keep the dog on heartworm preventative. That's around $60 per year. Flea protection is around $40, every three months. We've had two vet visits in a year, each costing over $100 each. Thankfully, our dog is a mutt and is relatively free of health problems. My sister and her husband adopted a pure bred dog that had kidney problems and they've spent over $500 in vet bills since January. Their dog also has to be on special food which is very expensive.

As for extra work, I am now having to get up early and walk the dog every morning since it's too hot to walk him until late at night. I have to vacuum at least 3 times as often as I ever did before. Our beige carpeting is stained with dog vomit and dog pee. All of our clothes are covered in dog hair. I'm spending a lot more time during my day just entertaining the dog. We used to travel a lot but that's over because none of us can bear the idea of putting the dog in the kennel. We also have to factor in the cost putting the dog in a kennel into our travel costs. It's harder to sleep in on the weekends when your dog decides he wants to get up at 6:00 AM so he can be let outside.

I love our dog. He's the cutest little thing. However, getting a dog is almost as much expense and responsibility as having another child. It took us weeks to get used to having a pet again. Life was extremely stressful until the dog broke us in. (I think he's training us more than we're training him.) There are definitely good things about having a dog. My son is becoming more responsible and our dog has finally helped him get over his life long fear of dogs. The decision to get a dog is not one that should be taken lightly though.

we have a small dashound. one thing i did not know the are lap dogs. we have him housebrokening not lap or bed brokening. if you want a loveable dog . het this bred. if not do not.

You are so right I bought a puppy a little over a year ago with a 8 year old and 4 years old. In the process we have moved and she got hit by a car which cost us over $2,000 in medical bills I just could not look my kids in the eyes and tell them I was going to put her to sleep. But she is the best dog ever for our family I would not have changed anything for her. But she is my 3rd child which I do LOVE..

I think all of what the blogger listed is very good things to consider. I personally agree with the measure of the child's interest. I mean when I was younger I liked our dog when she was a puppy too. Played with her alot, took her for walks and stuff. But now as we both have gotten older, I haven't much interest in her now. I know it may seem kind of cold to most people, but I don't think I ever had much interest in animals. My parents just got her for me, because my aunt said I "must" be lonely as an only child so they got me a dog. Either way, I do feel pets are nice for kids to have and gain some responsibility from. But just make sure the kids have enough interest and love for the animal or the parents really will be taking care of the dog full time like another kid.

i have had my Chauiawa for 3 years, and i love that little girl. she is so protective over me. we will be sleeping and if anyone walking in my room or anything she barks and barks shes my little protecter. i belive a dog is good for anyone, as long as they fit your
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The thing about dogs is that they really need ongoing socialization with people and (preferably) other dogs to stay happy and safe. People don't seem to understand that getting a dog and keeping it at home without going out and meeting new people frequently is a bit like having a dangerous weapon in your house -- you may think it would never bite someone, but without ongoing socialization biting becomes a significant risk. The bigger the dog, the bigger the risk, but even little dogs can inflict quite a bite (especially on children). This isn't the same as having a hamster or cat; they may be miserable, but they aren't going to really injure anyone. I've got a puppy and we work to meet at least one new person and one new dog every day. It takes a lot of time. Cleaning up poop is easy; training and socializing is hard. As for books, I recommend Culture Clash. I don't by the "pack leader" thing at all.

We are a family of four. I love my house dog. Chocolate lab. Very good ate security for the house. plays well with the children. Also gives the children some responsibility for feeding and giving water to the dog.

I love having my dog. She's been the best thing for me and my daughter. As a single mom, I worried. My dog is friendly, but I think if someone broke in, she would be very protective.

The only issue I have with her is her exuberance of greeting people at the door when I let them in. She's a 3-year old lab mix and very excitable.

As to anyone who has problems with the animals peeing in the house, they haven't been trained well enough. There are plenty of books out there on how to train your dog. Or, try watching "Its Me or the Dog" on Animal Planet. That lady has a bunch of training tips that work wonders. There are all kinds of behavioral issues that can easily be rememdied if you remember that you are the pack leader and the dog must listen to what you say.

My husband and I got a dog, than we had a baby four years later. The dog is very protective of our son, and no matter how hard he pulls at her ears, or how hard he "bites" her leg, she never flinches, let alone growls. There were people who told us that we would most likely have to get rid of the dog because she would be jealous and resentful of the baby. So not true. My husband and I introduced them the first day we brought Joey home, 7 months later, they are best friends. As for the cost of a dog, my husband and I know all too well about their unexpected cost. Her first year of life cost us over $2000.00 in medical bills. She accidently drank an entire black russian, and because she only weighed 10lbs at the time, she almost stopped breathing. That fun filled trip to the vet cost us $800.00. Then we found out she has severe food allergies. At first we were paying a vet for prescription meds, then my cousin, who is a vet, gave us natural remedies. Thank goodness she did because we are now saving almost $100.00 a month. To get back to the dog meets baby scenario, we are glad we have a dog now, because when Joey gets older, and scarlett passes on, he will have already had experience with a dog, and he will have learned responsibility for the next one.

Related to the subject of puppies and advice - I had posted this entry "7 Tips for New Puppy Parents" back when Shine had just launched and thought it'd be relevant to add the link again here:

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/7-tips-for-new-puppy-parents-154823/

Would love to hear others' advice about any on-going training for older puppies/young adult dogs. I especially need to train our dog the hardest command (and perhaps most important) - how to get the dog to come to you every time.

I have three dogs 1 small (the pound told us it was a lab mix when it was a pup it looked the part its not its a terrier but a very loving dog) 1 mid size dog pure bred MUTT very protective and great dog and one huge dumb but loving pure breed newfoundland the first thing you should think of when getting a dog is do you have time and are you willing to get up early if it needs to be out this is the hardest thing for me.
always remember NEVER hit a dog (or any animal for that matter)to discipline it also dont scream at your dog they simply dont under stand the concept of using these actions as punishment a stern voice and a time out is about the only thing that works.
animals do not have the ability to make many choices as a free will decision keep this in mind when you punish them most every thing they do is something you tought them or simple instinct.
if you treat a dog right it really will be your best friend they never judge you for what youve done they just want to make you happy

i like dog

We are a family of four. I love my house dog. Chocolate lab. Very good ate security for the house. plays well with the children. Also gives the children some responsibility for feeding and giving water to the dog.

Oh this blog fits for almost any animal. Just put your species of choice in for dog and you get the same message! We're a 6 cat family who works hard to keep up with the (3) litterboxes and their special diets alone (one cat is so fat he doesn't fit through the cat door anymore!!).
In the last two years, 2 of our cats have cost us over $2400, collectively, due to emergency amputation of two legs (one each!). Nobody expects for things like that to happen,but it does, and you have to know that you will be able to handle the cost of care, no matter how it turns out. Even putting an animal down to keep it from suffering is expensive, and it's a possibility no matter what kind of animal you own.

I had to have a hamster put to sleep when I was a teenager after it fell from the top rung of its cage and snapped its spine,paralyzing itself. Really...you ahve to think about it for everything. Except fish,I guess.

Anyway...When my kids ask for a dog, I just have to ask them one question: "Who's going to clean up the poop?" That's usually the end of that discussion.

I have cats- no dogs. I am potty training my 2-1/2 year old son and I don't need the aggrevation of a puppy. My family will just have to do without one.

It took me several months to find an apartment to rent that would let me have my black lab and 2 cats.So I have been here close to 2 months and my son has asked for another kitten or another this or that and I have told him NO we cannot afford it I have a hard enough time supporting him my 2 yr old nephew and myself on just my income.Well my grandma cannot take care of her cat and guess who is bringing it home ME!! So I told my son when I called him at his dads and the first thing out of his mouth was "Mom we cannot afford another cat jeez how are we going to be able to do it". I could not believe my ears, when I told him what was going on with her he wanted me to rush right over and get the cat mind you it not going to happen till next week till my aunt takes her to the vet and gets that part done so I dont have to pay for it. But my 10yr old definitly does listen But only to what he wants to!!

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