13 y.o daughter wants a pup. Not sure whether to get one or not. Very responsible. Please help with decision!?

Question

My 13 year old daughter, Amy, wants a pup. She has researched MANY breeds for almost a year and she has decided that she would like a German Shepherd or a Labrador. She is very responsible and very committed to getting a pup. She has offered to pay atleast half (or all) of the price of the pup when she saves enough money. She has told me her reasons why she wants a dog and that she will look after the dog for the next 10-15 years of it's life. She knows that I, nor my hubby or her brother will be taking on the responsibility and she has agreed. She knows that she will be the one walking, feeding, grooming, training the dog and she knows that. The dog will cost $600-$900 depending on the breed and she knows all health problems etc.
I'm just not sure whether to agree to the dog or not. I think her decision of the GSD is good as she will be walking it and it can be a great watchdog and can protect her shall anything happen. A Lab probably wont due to their friendly nature.
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The 10-15 year life commitment of a dog means spending lots of money in food, vet bills, medication etc. and I personally, don't have that money as my hubby is currently out of work and can't get into the work force for another month or two. Our whole family would love a dog, but money COULD be an issue.
Amy has told me how much she loves animals, and that when she is 15, she will be able to volenteer at the RSPCA and she wants to be a Vet when she is older.
We already have 3 cats.

A few questions for owners of either/both these breeds:
Are GSDs good with CATS?
How much do GSDs shed?
Are Labs generally smart in obedience?

Anybody who owns either/both these breeds, can anybody give me some insight on their temperament and/or experience with this/these breed(s)?

Thanks so much for all the help! It's all really appreciated as it is necissery.

We have looked into GSD and Lab adoption but with the GSD, we need it to be socialized properly with kids and cats and if we have one as a pup, we know that it will be a great pet for our daughter and a great family pet for our son, and we will be sure that the GSD isn't going to be aggressive with our cats.

We want to have the connection with the dog for it's whole life and she wants the responsibility of training it and housebreaking it as it prooves how responsible she is and she wants us to know how responsible she is and can be.

She will of course be very comitted to her school work and a pup/dog will not effect her now. When she is at University or at TAFE (higher than High School/Secondary), I am prepared to take care of it.

If anything happens and we need to take care of it, of course we will. We're not going to let it starve and we will walk it and groom it etc. if she can't for any reason.

She wants an active one (as she is a bit over-weight and one of her reasons for a dog is so she has that reason to push her to go and exercise more) and neither I or herself like small dogs so a small dog is out of the question.
I agree it is a ridiculous amount of money to pay for a DOG but we want one that is from a responsible, reputable breeder who screens their dogs of any hereditary health problems. We need the resassurance that the dog is much less prone to hereditary diseases like hip and elbow dysplasia etc.

She hasn't looked into any small breeds as she doesn't really want one. I know small breeds are easier (and cheaper) to look after but that's really not something we want to look into. A lot of small breeds (Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Papillon) generally aren't so good with kids and have many health issues and can be VERY hard to housebreak - we don't want that.

Answer 1

I think it's great that you guys have thought about this so much. How about this as a precursor to getting your own dog: Foster! A foster parent can be selective and is under no obligation to keep the dog. It also helps out the shelters a ton if you foster dogs. This would be a way for your daughter to help out the humane society before the age of 15. Or, if you want/can, take her to the humane society and "volunteer" with your daughter. I bet with a parent there, they'd let her interact with the dogs. You never know, you might find one you guys like. GSD's and Labs are so common in shelters, even as puppies so you can still get one at an impressionable age.

Check out www.petfinder.com too. You can search by breed and location there. You might be surprised at what you find.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Its seems that your daughter has done more research than you! Good for your daughter! Buying a dog out of the newspaper is bad, these dogs are bred either in puppy mills or by backyard breeders who don't care about the dogs mental and physical health. Labs are popular pets, and because of this there are tons of badly bred labs all over. Chances are that a pup you buy from an irresponsible breeder WILL develop physical problems, and mental ones as well. Typically poor bred dogs will have trouble being trained, and will be excessively hyper or excessively sedentary. A dog from a responsible breeder will most likely not develop those problems, and many times you can get a lifetime health guarentee along with quality advice and continued care long after you buy a dog, if anything goes wrong or if you can't keep it, the breeder will always take it back or help you find a suitable home for it, wheras with a dog bought from an irrsponsible breeder (like one that would advertise in a newspaper), you don't get a long guarentee, if any at all, and the breeder couldn't care less what happens to the dog as long as they make a buck. Anyway, why worry about a cost difference of $200? You will end up spending about $1,000 on the dog in its first year alone, so over the lifetime of the dog, will $200 make a difference? Not at all. Well wait, yes it will, with the irresponsibly bred dog, you will end up paying more than $200 in extra vet bills for all those extra health problems, guarenteed. If you really want to save that $200, then go to a breed rescue or shelter and find a dog there, labs are dime a dozen. Whatever you do, don't support irrsponsible breeders, your 12 year old daughter knows better, you should too.

Answer 3

Hmmm, looks like you thought about this a lot. The thing is, no matter how much you look for a responsible breeder and no matter what amount of money you pay, sometimes, you just end up with an aggressive, sick dog. There is really nothing you can do about that. I have a German Shepard/collie mix and he is 9 year old. There have been no health problems thus far and he is the sweetest thing that you'll ever meet. The thing is, the behavior issues and all that has A LOT to do with how you raise a dog. About housebreaking: it takes a while to housebreak a dog, big or small. On the matter of whether the dog is good with cats, you never know, they could love them, or they could hate them. A dogs nature is predictable to a certain extent. As for the watchdog thing, with a german shepard, they may or may not end up a good watchdog, maybe if their trained right. A lab could end up a better watchdog. You can't base everything on genes.

Answer 4

The perfect age for her to get your new dog.
German shepherds need at least a good 5 mile run daily.So breaking that up over several walks a day the weight will soon come off of her.
They shed ALOT.But daily brushing with an undercoat rake,a shedding blade and slicker brush will keep it down drastically.
I had cats before dogs so know well your worries about introducing a dog into the family.
Most breeders will not release a pup before the age of 12 wks.but by this time the puppy is as big or bigger than the cats are and will intimidate them.Try to get an 8 week old pup as it will be smaller than the cats and will sleep longer than the 12 week old puppy will.If it's asleep it's not annoying the cats.
But remember that you all will need to pay close attention to them all when in the same room to ensure the puppy is'nt hurt.Evan if your cats are de-clawed they still have the back ones to rake eyes with.But after a couple of swats on the nose the pup will learn to leave them be.
Before you get the pup you really need to have another long talk with your daughter.Puppies are like babies and require alot of care and consideration and an adult dog no matter how well trained is still very like a 4 yr.old being underfoot until it dies.The dogs needs will have to come before her own.
German shepherds are on the dangerous dog lists and great care will need to be given to socializing and training.When you have company put the dog in another room to keep it from harms way.
They are extremely intelligent dogs.Third on the list of intelligence I believe and are very easily trained. They are naturally mistrustful dogs so an excellant choice for her to have accompany her on walks.But she'll need to have a care of where she walks.Joggers and kids on bikes and skateboards the dog may mistake as a threat and he could bite someone before she realizes it's happening.So check her route to make certain it's not a high traffic area for cars or humans.
I hope she does well with the pup as how she raises the dog now will show you how she'll raise her children later.If she's screaming at it in frustration or loses complete interest then she'll probably do it to a child later on.
I have no experience with Labs but understand that they can also be very protective but they need more exercise than a shepherd does.
Remember that dogs are creatures of habit.Once she gets the dog into the routine of feeding and walking the dog you are going to have to continue it.DAILY.Otherwise regardless of age or training the dog will start acting up in ways you don't want it to.

Answer 5

I think you are a very wise and responsible person to put so much thought into this. And your daughter is obviously the same. I would say go ahead, but look into a rescue dog. You would be amazed how many purebred dogs come into rescue, through no fault of their own. Usually because people did not take the time and thought you have put into this, and discovered that dogs are a lot of work! A dog from a rescue will be thoroughly vetted, temperament tested, and already have some training.

I must admit that I'm prejudiced, but I feel there is nothing better than a Lab for a first dog. We got a young rescue Lab, who had been badly abused, for our sons when they were 8 and 9 years old. It taught them a lot of responsibility - he had to be walked, fed, cleaned up after, bathed etc. And they learned about all the love that a dog could give them. It was a win-win situation all around!

He finally died of old age, but he left a lot of fond memories for the whole family. So they grew up with an appreciation of animals, and now I have grandchildren who are thoroughly socialized with dogs, and each family has at least one dog of their own. It also means that grandma gets to "dog sit"! There is no better way to teach kindness and responsibility.

I feel it was one of the best decisions we ever made, and we have gone on from there, to work with SPCA and do rescue work on our own as well.

Answer 6

For a young person, and a family who does not have experience with German shepherds, I would definitely go for a labrador. German shepherds are incredible dogs, but they are lot higher maintenance both physically and mentally than a labrador. They are prone to more physical problems than labradors, too, which can realistically mean more vet bills.

As for the protection part, if you daughter develops a bond with this puppy and trains it properly, the dog will protect her. I had a lab who would have given his life for me. The only difference is in other people's perception of the dog. People are more likely to have a certain respect for a German shepherd and steer clear of someone walking one, unless they really know the breed. If you love shepherds and someone is walking one, more often than not, you can't keep yourself from going over to talk to the owner. People's perception of labs is that they're all really friendly, playful dogs, which may or may not be the case. Labs are highly intelligent and wonderful companions, who will do anything they're asked.

Good luck. These days when some teens are involved in things they shouldn't be doing, your daughter is turning to something that will make a difference in her life. If you have a local vet in the area, ask if they will allow her to "job shadow" for a day. She won't be involved in any hands-on treatments with the animals, but it will give her an idea of what goes on at the vet. It may help her to choose a good vet for her future puppy, too.

Answer 7

This is a tough question. Clearly she's thought about this a lot and so have you. That being said, she is also only 13 years of age. While she says she will be responsible for the dog, you do not know what will happend when she goes to college. Moreover, her decision to become a veterinarian could change along with her interest in the dog.

Thus, while it sounds like she will be responsible, unless you and your husband want a dog I would not recommend getting one. Dogs are great companions, but the decision to bring one into a family household MUST be a family decision with the entire family on board in regards to care etc.

Lastly, I currently have a GSD and grew up with them. If they are from responsible breeders, they can be wonderful dogs. I actually recommend a GSD over labs for family pets. Labs tend to be a lot more energy and are more apt to be destructive during puppyhood. They also take longer to calm down. If you were to get a lab, be careful of the breeder; the temperments are not what they use to be.

Answer 8

I got my first dog when I was 14 years old. He was a great companion for me while I was growing up and the responsibility did me good. I think it sounds like Amy has a good head on her shoulders and would really benefit from having a dog to care for. Have you considered the option of adopting a pup from the rescue centre, or getting a Border Collie from a local farm, this would cut down on lots of your initial cost. I now have a five month old Border Collie pup and he is great, highly intelligent and receptive to training. Border Collies are very protective of their family and are wary of strangers so this would also ease your mind when Amy is out walking with the dog. Border Collies are also meant to be good with cats, if introduced at a young age.

My last dog was a Labrador cross and he lived until he was 13 1/2, he had very few health problems throughout his life. This is why a mongrel from the rescue centre may be better for you as well. It sounds like you are being very responsible and you will make an informed choice whatever you decide, good luck!!!

Answer 9

Please consider Adoption from a shelter if you should decide to get a dog!! I think adopting a dog would be a good idea but you have to be aware of the responsibility it brings with it. It will not end up being your daughter's dog, more likely it will be a family dog and everybody will have to take care of the dog. And I think you should wait till your financial situation is better, because dogs are not cheap! Just think about the vet bills .... And I would also recommend a mix breed, maybe a shepherd / lab mix. That way you have the characteristics of both breeds. If you should decide to adopt a dog it will cost you a lot less money! My rescue dogs are great dogs and I believe they appreciate me strongly because they know that I saved their live. Somehow they really do know....

Answer 10

I understand that she would really like a German Shepherd, but perhaps she should start out with a smaller breed? They are not as difficult to look after, and could be a good starting point, plus they aren't as expensive to keep. Is she completely sure she has the time for a dog such as a GS? They require a good long walk everyday as well as other playtime and exercise. As she's 13 she would be in high school, right? Her workload at school will be increasing soon. Is she certain that she can still make the time for a large dog with school and other committments? A long hair German Shepherd will also shed a fair bit. But if you think that she is responsible and is committed to a dog, it might be something to look into. Before you buy a dog from a breeder, have a good look around at animal shelters. They always have needy dogs in desperate need of homes. Good luck with your decision :)