My little boy really wants a puppy. I don't know what kind to get. Don't want one too big, but it will be strictly outdoors (we have a heated dog house) so can't be a nasty little poodle or something either. :) We have two cats so need something that's not going to go after them. We are gone during the day and only want one dog. Don't want a barker! Anyone have any good suggestions?
2006-10-02 07:01:20 · 31 answers · asked by bradys_mommy 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Thanks for the good answers and to all the freaky dog people that are against me getting a dog: 1 my son is 5. Of course he will not be totally responsible for the dog. 2 we have two cats to keep the dog company, which is why I would like one that is not going to chase them. 3 Lots of people with jobs have dogs. My son LOVES animals and will spend all the time he is allowed to with the dog. 4 It is DISGUSTING to have an animal living in the house. I like a CLEAN house. I don't want one with pet hair all over it, the remains of "accidents" all over it, dog drool or any of the other nasty stuff that goes along with animals. Dog are ANIMALS and meant to be outside. I don't really like dogs, but would never mistreat an animal including leaving it penned up for huge amounts of time.
2006-10-02 07:17:15 · update #1
I think German Shorthaired Pointers are a wonderful breed. Big, fast, love to go on walks and hikes, protective of the people they love, and VERY affectionate. Great for fetching balls or frisbees. And you don't need to brush or groom them the way you need to with a Golden Retriever, which has longish hair.
But, I have to say, based upon your statements that 1) dogs should stay outside, and 2) you really don't like dogs, you may wish to reconsider this idea.
Dogs, by their very nature, are pack animals. Your family will become their pack. And by denying the dog access to the home, by not letting it inside, well sometimes that's just emotionally cruel to the dog, which rightfully should be allowed to become a true member of the family.
And since you don't like dogs, it's possible the dog will sense this, and develope a dislike for you, which could prove disastrous.
I wish you the best with this descision.
And, apparently we have a SPAMMER on this thread, using multiple screen names to give everyone a THUMBS DOWN. Most of these answers to this question are good ones, but obviously some sicko out there is trying to hurt everyone else's ratings.
2006-10-02 07:05:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 6⤋
sorry lady but your not lookin for a pet your just lookin for something to put in your back yard.you can not do that to an animal leaving it out side all the time because if you do that the dog will not know human contact and might end up hurting someone in the family or someone else.and i can not see why you would leave the cats inside a keep the pup outside.to ask for a dog that does not bark,well....you ain't gonna find one cause when you put a pup in a place by him self all he is gonna do is bark because he's lonley,cold(even thou you have a heated dog house),and does not wanna be tried up 24/7.it's almost like people when they get put in jail.confined to one area,feed 3 times a day,only sometimes spend time with other inmates.so no lady,a dog is not what you need.get your son a pet that he can keep in the house and take care of it and train it and most of all love it.because trust me,if you get a dog and you do this to him,he will not be the same cute pup he was when you .got him.
2006-10-02 07:28:17 · answer #2 · answered by veronica o 1 · 4⤊ 1⤋
If you leave a dog outside all the time it will bark. The dog wants to be with it's family, not outside in a "heated dog house." It's not fair to the dog. Also, a 5 year old is not responsible enough for a dog. The dog will be ignored and left outside. It won't be properly trained and it won't be socialized. It'll bark and dig holes and try to escape. Then it will end up in the shelter. I see this happen all the time. Dogs are pack animals. They need to be with their "pack" i.e their humans to be happy. The only way they would be happy with living outside is if you were living outside. Cats can not keep a dog company. What if the dog didn't like cats? The novelty of having a dog will wear off and your son will spend less and less time with it. It's not fair to the dog and it won't be fair to your son when you take the dog to the pound to be put down, because you don't want to deal with fur.
2006-10-02 07:08:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
ALL 5 year-olds want a puppy. Doesn't mean you should get him one.
Personally, I don't think YOU would be a good dog owner if you think all animals should be outside.
Every puppy ever created is going to at least chase the cats once in a while: it's called "PLAYING" and its a way animals have of establishing territory and boundries. If you bring a puppy into your household, there is a very good chance that THEY will chase HIM for a while. It's perfectly natural.
So far you DON'T want:
1) a puppy that barks
2) a puppy that'll interact with your child INDOORS
3) a puppy that doesn't chase cats
Have you considered a stuffed toy for your son?
2006-10-02 07:26:56 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is going to sound like a flame, but as someone who places almost 3000 dogs in homes per year, I have some valuable advice for you, so please read this with the knowledge that I have seen MANY people with exactly your views and I have seen how this will end.
After reading your additional comments, I think you really should not have a dog. You say you don't like them and you think they are disgusting. Since you will be the one doing all the upkeep, care and training, you need to think more carefully about this before you involve a dog in your life.
Even if you are convinced that an outside dog is OK, and that it won't live a lonely, sad life, stuck out in the rain and snow, you really need to rethink your expectations.
You CANNOT have an outside dog and expect it not to have bad behaviors like barking and digging. Dogs need the socialization of their packs (You in this case.) and if they don't get it, it is very much like putting a person into solitary confinement. They go stir crazy. They will pace and bark because their only contact with the world is from the other side of a fence away from the road and passers-by. They will dig because they are bored. They may even figure out how to dig under the fence or climb over it.
I know you THINK you'll spend time with it outside, but of all the outside dogs that I see, I almost never see anyone do anything more than give some food to it, maybe spend fifteen to thirty minutes a day with the lonely dog. That is not enough.
You think your 5 year old son will play with it, but will he really leave the TV or Nintendo for eight hours a day to spend with his dog? Even for two hours? Will he bring all his friends over to play in his back yard with his dog for hours? (And would they come if he invited them?) And will you continue to let him play outside with the dog if he steps in a pile you missed and drags it through your ultraclean house?
The perfect dog you want does not exist. You have to take a lot of mess and a lot of time to be rewarded with a good dog. You have said you don't want to do that.
The very best reason NOT to get an outside-only dog is that statistics prove that outside dogs are more prone to biting (especially children) than inside dogs. The reason for this is because they are not socialized. They are simply left outside like caged animals. Just like you say you plan to do. If you want to have a dog be a part of your family you need to make them A PART of the family. Teach them your expectations and teach them to behave.
If you INSIST on getting an outside dog, PLEASE consider the needs of the dog. First of all, get two dogs so Fido will have a playmate while you are not paying attention to him. This is critical for the sanity of the dog. And secondly, get older dogs. Puppies deserve a chance at a good life inside with airconditioning and people who love them and spend time with them.
I would offer another suggestion though, if you are insistent:
go to the shelter and tell them you want a cat-friendly, housetrained dog. Be patient and check back often until you find one. If you begin with a housetrained dog, and you crate it when you are not home, you will have very few, if any, accidents in the house. Then you only have to worry about training him to stay off the furniture. (I suppose you won't tolerate hair on the sofa.) That would solve most of the messy aspects. Then you can focus on making the dog a part of your family the way it is supposed to be.
Good luck.
2006-10-02 07:46:49 · answer #5 · answered by Robin D 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just don't leave the dog in a kennel all the time and never take him out....I know to many people who have dogs and never do anything with them....
That being said...I would remmommend a Brittany. They are very loving dogs. 17-24 inces tall....25-40 lbs. Not to small and not big either. They are very study dogs and do well outside. Mine have all been great with my kids. They do need a lot of exercise so daily playtime out of the kennel is a must...walks or running around a fenced back yard. They are very playful and as long as they are not just left alone they won't back to much....granted all dogs will bark sometimes. Finding any dogs that won't chase after cats can be tuff...but as long as you get a puppy you can socialize them around cats and it shouldn't be a problem.
2006-10-02 07:11:06 · answer #6 · answered by yetti 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I dont think y ou should get a puppy . A puppy wants love and attention not to be locked outside all the time with no human interaction.
You need to ask yourself some questions to
Why do you want a dog if its just going to be locked outside ?
When your son gets "bored" with the animal who is going to pay it any attention ?
Trust me all kids get bored with a animal. When its new they play with it all the time and then time wears off and they just ignore the things that is why most dogs are more loyal to the adults and not children .
Why dont you want the dog in the house ? So you dont have to take the time to potty train or what ?
To me getting a dog and just leaving it outside all the time is very cruel. when I worked yes I did leave my Husky outside for 8 hrs a day but as soon as I came home she came inside with me so she can be part of the family not be left alone outside all the time.
And no barker ? Jeez you arent asking much all dogs bark and they will bark even worse when you leave them alone all the time.
I/m sorry I just cant advise you to get a dog on the way its going to be treated that is just mean.
I was just reading your additional details you are dog or any kind of animal lover. All you want to do is get a dog to please your kid for a few days or weeks at the most .
Are you going to allow your kid to go out and play with the dog when its raining or snowing outside ? of course not you dont want yoru kid to get sick or drag in dirty stuff in your "clean house
And alot of people work that have dogs in their house if you train them proper your house wont have pee in it . I have had a pup for a bout a week now and of course there is accidents just like your kid has accidents by spilling things but in about a week he is just about trained he is doing very well.
I just hope if you do get a dog there is some dang good neighbors around that like animals that can keep a eye on the
dog so if it is being mistreated they can call animal control you and slap you with a fine for mistreating a animal . Shame on you for allowing a 5 year get what he wants when he will hardly have any responsiblity to the dog , and shame on you for getting a dog when you talk like that . Im suprised with your clean house you even have a kid sometimes they are worse then a pet .
2006-10-02 07:13:31 · answer #7 · answered by dindy 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Dogs need a lot of attention and walks. Puppies, even more attention and training and walks. You might be better off getting another cat. Dogs are just not for you.
Your little boy wants a puppy but he is only 5 years old. He doesn't KNOW how and isn't ready to take care of one because he can't even take care of himself so the responsibility falls to you BUT you only want a dog because your son wants it and isn't quite ready to take the responsibility so why not just let your son talk about it and wait a few more years. Meanwhile, get him dog books to read and dog pictures to see. It was the same for me when I was young but I am sure glad my parents didn't give in because I would feel very bad if I knew a dog suffered because of my wants when I was so young. I am thankful to my parents for that now. Sometimes, it is not about what a kid wants all the time. At times, they just can't have what they want and they will need to learn from it. It will be good and one day, when they are older and you explain it to them, they will be thankful to you.
Honestly, it is simply cruel to leave them outside on their own even if you have a heated dog house. They do have emotional well being and it is lonely. Your kid will most likely get bored of it one day. You can get charge from animal cruelty if dog is not taken care of so why not hold it till he is independant and ask him to get his own. It will be the best for you, for your kid and the dog.
2006-10-02 07:15:16 · answer #8 · answered by pots 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Please do not get a dog.
Look very carefully at you own word
Dogs living inside is dusgusting, DOgs belong outs, You do not even like dogs but would never mistreat an animal.
You are not the right family for any breed of dog.
Dogs should be kept as pets and members of the family. If you are not willing to have one in your home you do not really need one.
Not only that form the tone of you statements it sounds like your cats live outsde also. I feel very sorry for them as outdoor cats have a life expectancy of about 5 years compared to indoor cats who can live to 20 or more.
2006-10-02 07:25:18 · answer #9 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I think its a wonderful idea. I think you should go to the shelter and get a medium size mix breed. Mix breeds tend to love longer and have healthier lives because they do not tend to have the hereditary health problems most pure breeds have. I think you could find a loving friendly dog at the shelter. I think you should go first before you bring your son. Go see on your own and spend time with the dogs and play, check their teeth/ears/eyes. Look for clear eyes, ears. Play with them to see if they are outgoing and friendly, do they wag their tail or sit in the corner. The staff can also help. Some of them have spent time with the dogs and can tell you which ones would be good with kids and cats. Good luck ! I have included a site that can help you search for dogs at your local shelter. The site will also let you know which dogs are good with cats and children.
2006-10-02 07:48:43 · answer #10 · answered by donyafs 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm sorry, but you really shouldn't get a dog at all. Dogs are very affectionate animals that love to be around their pack or family. If your dog will be entirely outside all day and night with hardly any interaction with his or her family, that will be a horrible life for that dog. Consider an animal that your son can keep indoors in a cage like a mouse, hamster, rat or fish. What's the point of getting a pet if you will ignore it for the majority of its life?
2006-10-02 07:09:12 · answer #11 · answered by Lauren M 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋