Should I get my son a puppy?

Question

My 19 month old son has spent all of his life around dogs(young and old) he is a very gentle little boy who obviously likes to be around them.......I asked if any one has any ideas for a name for a puppy which myself and my partner have decided to get him for christmas,the majority of the answers were very nice but a couple where dam right rude.........is it really such a bad idea to give my son a loyal campanion to love and who will love him in return?

Answer 1

I got a doberman puppy a month before my first son was born. I think that as long as your prepared to do all the work your son cant do ie feed it and bath it, why the hell not. I think there is nothing better for children than to be exposed to the unconditional love and devotion a dog can give. Good luck and bugger all the naysayers. Pick a name that is short and easy to say.

Answer 2

Nice thought to give your son a pup BUT I think he is a mite too young better wait for a year or ten when he will be old enough to take on some responsibilities. But my gut feeling is that you might be wanting a pup for yourself and I don't blame you,will you and your partner have the time to look after a dog and a child, give them both a lot of your time. Give it a good deal of thought first I am not being a spoil sport I've had two dogs and the last one died at 14 I can't go through with the pain any more, so I wont get another. But good luck what ever only you and your partner decide on.

Answer 3

Hi ya If you know what your letting your self in for and are prepared for a lot of work then why not ? I would suggest maybe having an allergy test done first though I think it's really sad when people get a puppy then it's up for sale again really soon "due to family allergy" it's not fair on the dog. If you have prepared yourself then no it's not a bad idea as I have three little children 1 being only a year old and three little doggies and I love my busy household but it is hard work and sometimes the dogs can be a pain they rip the bin open and make all kinds of mess but I'm prepared to clean up after them and my children.

Good luck but make sure you are aware how much hard work they are but they are so rewarding and very good for teaching children to respect things smaller.

Answer 4

Well I think people were probably rude because your son is sort of young to have a dog I think. Kids I have been around that age can't even hardly talk. A puppy is a lot of work and seeing as your son isn't near old enough to do it, you'll have to while also watching him. An older dog is less work usually than a puppy but you need to be careful going that route. Children are different from adults to dogs--they smell diferent, act different, etc. I would look for an older already housetrained dog that is on the smaller side and has been PROVEN to like kids. You can find one at the animal shelter.....honestly the best dogs I have ever had have both been strays we found. One was some sort of carian terrier mix and he was the best dog ever, never did anything wrong. My friend has a jack russel/dachsund mix who is not only the cutest dog ever but LOVES kids and flocks to them. She is also small at about 10 lbs but is really hyper. Don't settle for something that you aren't positive is gerat around kids because there are dogs out there who are.

Answer 5

A 19 month old boy is not responsible enough to care for a dog, not to mention the fact that a child that age should never be left alone with a puppy or adult dog. Either of them could be injured. If you are getting the dog for YOU, then fine, but do not assume that your son will have any interest in this dog after about 3 days. Their attention span does not last long, and they are quite fickle about what they like and don't like. I would wait until your son is old enough to appreciate the dog and can have a hand in caring for the pet. That would be around 5 or 6 years of age.

Answer 6

I didn't see your previous question, but I think that maybe the problem is that you wouldn't really be getting a dog for your son - you'd be getting one for your FAMILY. A 19 month old child isn't capable of caring for a dog, or providing it with any of the things it needs.

As well, as gentle and caring as your son might be, children and puppies do't mix that well. Both take up a lot of time, and many adults are stretched to the limit caring for ONE, let alone one of each! If you want to get a family pet, I'd suggest getting an older, already trained one, who will not be as rough with your child, and probably more tolerant of his roughness (because, no matter how great a kid he is, he WILL pull an ear, tug on fur or otherwise annoy the dog from time to time)

And, lastly, I know that a lot of people think that a small child should have a small dog - please, if this is the way you're thinking, please please think again - small dogs are delicate and usually short-tempered, not a good match for a child.

I think it's perfectly OK if you want to get a FAMILY pet for the 3 of you, but make sure you do your research first, and perhaps bring your son to the shelter or breeder before you choose one, so that they can meet and you can match their personalities before you bring someone home. And, again (not to drill this point to death, but...) I'd stay away from a puppy, try an older dog, maybe from a shelter, who has been around kids before.

Answer 7

I think what people fail to realize is that puppies are horrible ideas for toddlers -- even the most gentle and caring ones.

Puppies don't understand a toddlers small size because they are babies themselves. We were forever getting people bringing recently adopted puppies back to our shelter because they didn't realize that having a toddler and a puppy was a lot of work and potentially unfair to the toddler as well.

If you're looking to nab your son a companion to grow up with, I would opt for a dog that is at least over 1 year. The ideal age would be 3 years. This way you can see the temperment of the dog, the size, etc and the dog is well past his "I want to nibble and jump and knock down everything" phase.

Your toddler may find sharing his toys with a teething puppy isn't the most fun thing. You also risk the toddler getting accidental cuts and scratches from the razor sharp puppy teeth.

You also risk more unsanitary conditions of the puppy learning to be housebroken and your young son often playing in the same areas the dog is still learning isn't the bathroom.

Plus a puppy is a lot of time-consumption. Believe it or not, having a puppy and a toddler at the same time is like having two toddlers at once, and the last thing you obviously want to do is neglect either the puppy or your son in an effort to provide both the needed attention and playtime.

I would opt for an older dog simply because they're often calmer (varies by dog, so take him out and play with him with your son to see how they react), they tend to understand that children aren't toys or fellow littermates and can provide much more tolerance and patience, etc. Older dogs often tend to form a more protective and loving bond with the babies of the household because they see them as their babies, too, verses puppies who see them as a brother/sister figure or occassionally try to assume a leadership role over the human child.

I think lots of folks tend to go "well I want this specific breed because its SO cute and I don't want an old dog.." but bear in mind a mixed breed is generally less expensive in the long run (mixed breeds tend to suffer less health issues.. and you can still find TONS of purebreds at shelters and rescues.. check out www.PetFinder.com) and also remember that 2-5 years old for a dog is still really young. When you think that your 2 year old son could easily have this 3 year old dog until your son turns about 13 years old.. it makes sense. Esp because around 13 is when he'll be busy with homework, school, sports, clubs.. and ready/old enough to choose another playmate when his first passes on.

Random last minute note as well.. puppies often chew up plastic and cords etc.. another unsafe reason is you wouldn't want your son accidently swallowing a small bit of plastic or hurting himself on a cord that the puppy has strewn apart.

Answer 8

I can understand where your coming from but a puppy is like a baby itself. My initial advice would be that it's too early. Wait until he is around 3 to 4 yrs. If you really have to get a puppy bear in mind it's going to see the child as an annoyance quite quickly (toddlers can be quite rough - and a dog matures much quicker than a child). Go for a medium to large type dog. My daughter is used to animals, she is 6 and we just got a minature jack russel puppy - It seemed like a good idea but it's actually a little small - We called it Spartacus.

Answer 9

Do not give your son a puppy. You have to take care of the puppy not him!!! Its going to be a big responsibility like its going t be like you have 2 children in the house the puppy will cry in the night various times and wake up your son and then your going to get you hands full. Or what if your son starts pushing th dog around just having fun not intentionally trying to hurt him but what if the dog gets mad and bites your son???

Answer 10

Hope this helps you decide .........

We got our dog Tilly about 18 months ago - my sisters dog had puppies and my husband took a bond to her when whe was only a few week old.

He saw what a gentle and patient dog she was and by the time she was ready for her first home my husband knew she would fit brilliantly into our family .... he was spot on and, and she tolerates my ADHD son so well, any other dog may have put him in his place.

One question you have to ask yourself is what will happen to your dog when you go on holiday, or do you spend weekends away with freinds.

If both you and your partner work during the day, get your dog used to spending time alone in the garden. A kennel in the garden when you are both at work is a great idea - we never did and I have to rely on my mother to let her out during the day, I also have to go home at lunchtime to see to her.

Hoping my experience may help you to decide ..... good luck