my 6 yr old really really wants 1 for his birthday
2006-10-27 12:34:26 · 10 answers · asked by louisejess3 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Try visiting CLOUD CUCKOO LAND because in this land no breeder is going to part with any breed for that price and I doubt you would find many in Shelters as they are still quite a rare breed!
Any-one sells you one though do let me know I can't afford one either!
2006-10-27 12:52:27 · answer #1 · answered by willowGSD 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You probably don't want to hear this, but either get something a bit more common or be prepared to pay a lot more. Pedigree dogs for less than £100 would set alarm bells in my head about wether it had come from a puppy farm, which as well as meaning that the mother had been cruelly treated may mean the dog has problems in later life (and vet bills are expensive). And a wrinkly dog like a shar-pei may suffer skin complaints if you don't give it wrinkles a good clean.
Remember a dog won't just be for your son's birthday, you'll have to feed and care for it for ten years, maybe more (and buy it food and bedding and vaccinations etc). What if the novelty of a puppy wears off after a few weeks? Are you prepared to walk it, play with it and clean up after it when he can't be bothered?
If however you are just worried about initial expense, but are prepared to pay long term and put the work in to provide a loving home for an animal, why not get a rescue dog?
2006-10-28 17:43:56 · answer #2 · answered by Athene1710 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your 6 year old really wants one? Do you really want one too, because you're the one who will really own the dog. You're the one who will be required to walk it, feed it, train it, bath it and groom it, making sure that it is given the veterinary attention it needs.
You are the one who will be responsible for making sure that the dog is well looked after for the rest of the dog's natural life. Could be 15 years or more. You are also responsible for educating your son about how to behave around the dog. Your son is far too young to expect him to commit to this. Are YOU prepared to take on this responsibility?
How soon before he gets bored of the dog and really wants something else?
It is highly likely that you are still going to be responsible for the dog when your son is in his 20s, at university or working.
You say less than £100, but are you prepared for the cost of food bills and veterinary bills? The cost of replacing things the dog damages?
I'm not saying that you shouldn't get a dog. Children and dogs can be great friends. Having a pet can teach a child a lot - about responsibility, care, and eventually about how to handle death.
How much do you know about the breed? It might be worth going to the library and reading up about them. Is a Shar-pei the right breed for you? I suspect that your son would be just as delighted with a dog of a different breed. Maybe take a trip to the local all-breed rescue.
At the bottom of this note, I've given you a couple of contacts that may be able to help. They may be able to give you good advice and may have the right dog for you.
Whichever dog you go for, YOU must choose the dog, your son is too young to be expected to make such a responsible decision.
Note, for the price you are talking, no breeder would allow you to take one of their dogs for that amount - remember the saying, "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!"
Shar-Pei Club of Great Britain Rescue
Mrs J Baker (Co-ordinator), Sittingbourne, Kent. Tel: 01795 842466
Shar-Pei Rescue and Welfare UK
Eastbourne, Sussex Tel: 01323 726462 Email:admin@shar-pei-rescue.co.uk
www.shar-pei-rescue.co.uk
2006-10-28 08:28:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You need to go for a reputable breeder as shar peis have a lot of potential health problems. They are a still a rare breed so your chances of getting one cheap are slim.
Don't forget that dogs don't just cost the initial outlay - there's shots, and food, and comforts to take into account, which will easily be more than £1000 each year. So be sure that it's what they really want before committing!
2006-10-27 19:59:07 · answer #4 · answered by whoopscareless 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
get him a toy. Dogs are not toys and children should hear the word "no" occasionally. It won't hurt him to learn that he cannot have everything in life that he wants.
Why should a breeder pay a £X00 stud fee, buy premium food for the b1tch while she is carrying, rear the litter of pups costing several hundreds of pounds and lots of her time, kennel club register them, and then sell them cheap to amuse a child who's parents cannot afford to pay what they are worth. Go to a rescue centre, you will have your choice of nice dogs there on your budget.
Perhaps I should go to my local garage and ask them for a nice new range rover for £500 because that's all I can afford and I'm a poor disabled old lady.
If your child had simply wanted a pet dog to love, I would have been more sympathetic. The fact that he is insisting on an expensive pedigree and you; instead of explaining that you cannot afford it, so he cannot have one, are making a rod for your back by making him think he can have whatever he wants in life.
What does a 6 year old know about the breed, it's temperament and needs, hereditary problems etc? Nothing I suspect, so it is either you begging for a valuable pedigree pup on the cheap for yourself, or your son would be happy with any doggy pal.
Don't tell me he demands designer clothes too.
2006-10-28 09:50:01 · answer #5 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm....difficult one. I think I would advertise and see what came along - you might be able to have an older dog rather than a pup and give him a good home. You won't have the 'hassle' of owing a pup (toilet training etc) and the expense of vet fees for vaccinations, possibly an older one will be chipped and wormed, and neutered too - all things you have to pay for! If you desperately want the joys of puppyhood, then do contact local breeders, explain you love them but just be honest - you never know. But ensure you can afford vets bills and food!
Your 6 year old will be fed up with him/her in as many months, believe me! So only get any dog at all if you really want it - 'cos it will end up being your dog, not the 6 year olds!
2006-10-28 04:21:17 · answer #6 · answered by rose_merrick 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hi, try the link below ... but I expect that they will all want a little bit more ... unless of course, they've been running a puppy on to show & he some fault that now makes showing him impossible.
Or I suppose you could try contacing that person who has also posed a question on here .... that person is looking for a stud dog for her Shar Pei girl.... & see if she/he will help.
I'm sure you realise that you really need to want the dog too as you'll be the one who looks after it, cleans up after it, trains it & probably walks it too. And also that in the long run, it'll probably cost you more than £100 ... vets bills or pet insurance, innoculations, worming stuff, flea stuff, toys, bedding, dog training classes, replacing stuff in the house chewed beyond salvage (lol).
They do seem to grow out of most of their wrinkles as they get bigger but, oh, what cute puppies they are!
2006-10-27 19:51:26 · answer #7 · answered by Solow 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My 7 year old would really like a horse, dont mean she is gonna get one though, a six year old has no concept of the commitment a dog represents and its going to be you that will be the carer for the dog not him, children are fickle and he will get bored after a while, then where will you be? Unless of course you really want a dog too? if so why get a rare breed that will likely have more health problems than your average mutt, get down to your local dog rescue centre.
2006-10-27 20:01:26 · answer #8 · answered by Rachel 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
phew! now yer askin, try forkin out a grand then go to http://epupz.co.uk
2006-10-27 21:33:43 · answer #9 · answered by petulabadula 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
http://search.ebay.co.uk/shar-pei_W0QQfcclZ1QQfclZ4QQfnuZ1QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1
There you go.....Oh, you wanted a real dog?
2006-10-27 19:37:14 · answer #10 · answered by Stevie t 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋