My 13 year old daughter wants a puppy but I'm not sure if I should get one. Any advice and/or help...?

Question

My 13 year old daughter has been asking me for a puppy since late last year. She researched a few breeds (Lab, GSD, Golden Retriever etc.) and she knows a lot about them as she has been researching for over a year now. She is pretty sure she wants a Lab and she told me she would pay half of the cost of the dog (approx. $400) with her B'day and Xmas money. Ella is very responsible, goes to school, studies hard, loves animals and will be very comitted to the dog for the rest of her life. I told her I'd think about it but I'm not sure if I should get one. I'm the only one working. My husband has been out of work for 3 years and we aren't very financially stable. We are ALL overweight and a dog could benefit us a LOT. I know there are many things to consider when buying a dog and I was just wondering, could anybody give me some advice on what to do? Also, any other **BREED SUGGESTIONS** would be good. I also have an 11 year old son and 2 kittens so the dog must LOVE CHILDREN and LOVE CATS.

No aggressive dogs. *We have a large house - not double story, large backyard, nobody is allergic to dogs, we don't want a dog that needs professional grooming, Ella would be willing to walk the dog for approx. 1 hour each day - twice per day and it doesn't matter if the dog is a good watch dog.

If we do get a dog, she will be an INSIDE dog. I don't like small dogs but I wouldn't mind a suggestion. Massive dogs wouldn't be a good choice but large dogs would be considered.

Please NO TERRIERS either :-)

Please don't suggest adopt a dog/get an older dog or get a mutt. We would prefer a purebred dog and I would like a puppy so the puppy can socialize with the cats at an early age to prevent any mishaps later down the road.

That is of course, if we get a dog.

Gabriela - I don't understand your answer ... is it a proper, English sentence?

* We don't want a Bulldog but we have already considered a Boxer and there are just too many health problems with them - I wouldn't be willing to get one when there are so many known health problems that AREN'T hereditary. Though we do love the Boxer breed :-)

Roland J - I have a sister who owns two dogs - a 9 year old male (epileptic) GSD x Aus. sheepdog and a 3 year old female mutt. When they go away, we usually go up and take care of the dogs. Ella takes great care of them. She takes them for a 1 hour walk, feeds them twice per day, gives Ben his tablet with his food, grooms them properly etc. and she loves it.

My sister in law also owns a 7 month old male, chocolate Lab who she sometimes looks after when they go away.

So Ella already understands how much work it is to look after large dogs...or any dog for that matter.

Answer 1

Labs are great family dogs and like you said, it sounds like a dog could benefit all of you when it comes to exercise.

The only thing that I worry about is the financially stable part. A dog's cost goes a lot further than just the cost of the dog - There is food, vet bills, etc.

I would suggest a rescue - There are lots of labs out there that need a loving home and it will cost you a lot less than a $800 puppy.

Answer 2

If you want a puppy than I would say yes. Because no matter how responsible a child (young adult is) you are the ultimate authority over training and caring for this new addition to the household. And to be honest interests of young adults change and can change rapidly, but in some cases that is how it should be they are at a point that they need to try new things however a pet is not something when bored or outgrown can be set on a shelf and forgotten.
YOU are not looking at the whole financial picture of a pet. You need to call your area vets and price the cost of an exam (what it includes) cost of vaccinations (which are usually not included in the exam / office fee), cost of deworming, how many of these puppy visits you are expected to go to to fullfill your puppies health and vaccinations needs. Than you need to find out what the cost is to spay (female dog) or neuter (male dog) the animal. Because breeding dogs is not a money maker and is not easy (no the female does not always take care of her pups). After that you need to determine the vets recommendations for yearly care, pets are expected to have yearly physicals and vaccine boosters.Flea and tick control, heartworm preventative costs? After all the general well pet expenses have been taken care of: You need to have researched the possible diseases that your "PURE BRED" dog could get or have. Do you, will you be able to treat if they end up with i.e hip dysplasia, get hit by a car etc..? Is your daughter willing to pay half of all these costs?
Than you need to decide on a food? What is the the cost per bag? And yes there is a difference in foods they are not all alike and Sam's or Costco's is really poor grade. How much is your pet going to eat a month? On average a 80-100# dog ( which is what a purebred lab can weigh) will eat 40 - 80 pounds of dog food a month. Will your daughter pay half of that expense? Oh yes Labs on average can live 8 - 12 years but I have met 16 year old labs.
Perhaps you need to let logic define your answer to your daughter. Yes it is hard to say no, but unless you are willing to take on all the financial and emotional expenses that go into a pet you need to say no until you are in a place to afford it. Or take in to consideration something smaller. On general smaller is less expensive.
Good Luck on your decision.

Answer 3

My friend just got a kitten,but they already had a Choc. Lab and a Mouse. They didnt know how the cat was going to responed to the other animals and how the other pets would responed to the newest part of the family.The second the cat crawled in the dog and mouse were out of their cages and the sniffed at eachother and ever since that day there was never a bark or a squeke at the cat.They have been best friends since then and there was never bickering between the two of them.
Also my friend from church has three cats and a yellow lab.They get along fine and they never 'attack' eachother so i think that they will be fine.[But their house is starting to stink up from the mix of litter boxes and the coat of the dog]Other then that they are a BIG happy family even if they have a full house[1 dad,1 mom,2 sons,2 daughters,3 cats,and a yellow lab]
Whatever you do,good luck!I WISH YOU GUYS THE BEST!

Answer 4

Make sure she understands the responsibility AND expense that comes with being a pet owner. It's not just give 'em food and forget them. She is at an age where her friends are very important to her and she won't be able to just pick up and go whenever there is something fun to do. Also, she is going to be dating and driving in just a couple of years. Having a pet is almost like having a kid. They need to be fed, let out several times a day, trained, walked, paid attention to, groomed and most importantly, loved. Dogs are pack animals and they don't like being alone. I never understood people that get pets and they are never home or the poor thing is constantly left outside. Why get a pet then?

If you are going to let her have a pet, and I'm guessing that she wants a bigger dog. Bigger dogs are prone to hip dysplasia. You should carefully do research on the internet and find out what type of problems certain breeds are prone to. Small dogs are prone to luxating patellas. Also, talking to a vet would be a great start to ask about breeds and possible health concerns.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 5

Hello, As I am sure you already know, raising a dog can often require more than one person's attention. If you are willing to help your daughter care for this dog, then I'm sure it is a good idea to get it. Maltese dogs specifically can get separation anxiety if left alone too much. Does someone work or stay around the home? If you can seriously commit to these bright, intelligent, and sweet dogs, then I think that what you need to do is convince your husband that he won't have to deal with this dog. You and your daugher will have everything taken care of. This may take patience and time, but it will be worth it in the end. It is a good idea to get your daughter this dog, especially if you feel that it will help her, but you need to talk to your husband as well. I wouldn't recommend just bringing home the dog without his permission. This will make your husband feel that he has no power, and is not a part of family decisions. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Being the owner of 2 black Labs I can tell you that they are WONDERFUL!! BUT, they are a major handful as puppies. Just about worse than any other breed. They are EXTREMELY hyper and it takes them to 2 years old or better before fully outgrowing it as well. They are great with kids and other animals, even as puppies, and once they are grown are awesome, but it's the puppy stage that will get to you. You will have to have tons of patience and knowledge of the breed and about training because if not properly trained, they will pick up bad habits quickly. Golden Retrievers are amazing but do require good grooming and a very healthy diet to control excessive shedding. I would more suggest going to the shelter and adopting rather than dishing out tons of money on a purebreed. This way you get to give a loving dog a great home and you can spend time with it before commiting plus they spay/neuter before you even take it home and it's included in the adoption fee. They also have purebreed rescue groups if she must have a purebreed. http://www.petfinder.com will show any rescue groups in your area if you enter your information in the left hand side. I just adopted a new dog a few days ago and he is half Golden Retriever and half Saint Bernard (with chow somewhere in the bloodline but definitely not close in lineage) and he is the best dog I have ever seen in my life!!! Good luck in your search, it sounds like your daughter will make a great "mommy" for the new addition to your family. Oh but keep in mind, the bigger the breed, the more food they will need. Labs are BIG eaters but you have to watch their diet closely too because gaining weight increases their chances of hip dysplasia as does an improper food as puppies. You can email me through my profile if you have more questions on Goldens or Labs since I own both and my mom owns a purebred Golden.

Answer 7

First of all large dogs love to be outside and run a lot!!! Also they most likely need a fenced in yard. When training a dog dont hurt them at all it will scar them. A good breed is a lab, german shepard and many more. Great danes are great dogs but have a severe problem in their hips. The best thing I can tell you to do is have heart and save a dog from a local animal shelter. Large dogs are something people dont want so they get killed the most.

I really hope you suggest my answer.

Answer 8

I would suggest you not get the dog. The reason I say that is because you are not commited to the idea of having one and you are, as you said, not financially stable. No matter Ella's intentions, you will be the one taking care of this dog after the thrill of a puppy wears off. You will be walking it and feeding it. You will be buying the dog food and paying for the vet bills. Dogs are a huge responsibility! Chances are also good that your dog won't get the exercise it needs because, as you say, you are all over weight. Just like any exercise program, most people dwindle off and eventually stop working out when they become bored, the same goes with many well intentioned dog owners. Another thing to consider is who will take care of your dog when Ella goes to college in just a few years? Your dog could live over 15 years...are YOU ready for daily walks, paying for costly routine vet bills (spay/neuter, yearly shots, heartworm medications, de-flea-ing your home, teeth cleanings, etc...),unexpected vet costs (ACL tears, dysplasia, skin allergies, etc...) routine costs such as food, treats and toys, and lots of attention?

Answer 9

NO NO NO

It my honest belief that dogs are like children, and needed to be treated with the same love, respect, discipline as a real child.

Unless you have the real time and expense for a dog, you should not get one.

Isnt raising kids hard enough than to bring more pets into it?

Your children are going to grow up and be interested in other things, and arent going to want the reponsibility of taking care of the animals that they really need.

Sure the daughter is responsible and loves animals, but that doesnt mean she will have time for them, when she is busy with her own life.

Your house will smell weird, and eventually you will send the dog outside to sleep, where your neighbors are stuck listening to them bark at every moment someone comes in contact with them somehow.

You obviously dont have the money to raise another child/animal.

Give your kids something else to do.. Maybe take your daughter to the pound so she can give those animals love and support with every visit?

Alternatively, she can hang out with people who have a dog.
But she needs to understand they are alot of work, very expensive, and require alot of attention, and she should probably be happy with the kids/cats she already has, and to put the most she has into raising them.

When she is an adult, she can pay for and raise her own animal, when she is old enough to realize she has the time for them.

Sorry to be such a stickler, but IM sick of seeing people get dogs, and then not caring for them the way the should be.. People get lazy when it comes to raising dogs.

Answer 10

I think a lab is an excellent choice. They are very "family friendly" as a whole. My Mom just got her first dog - a black lab - and she absolutely loves him. He is large (he weighs 90+ lbs) and eats alot. He requires a walk 2x per day as well (make sure your daughter will be feeding, walking, and cleaning up the poo in the yard - dogs are an incredible amount of responsibility). If she is as responsible and wants this dog as much as you say she does, it shouldn't be an issue and I'm very happy for you.

My only hesitation is the money. There are always ways around it, but keep in mind you will need to license your dog and take him/her to the vet for shots. (This is fresh in my mind because I just got two cats in Nov and every vet visit is a minimum of $50 per animal for just walking in the door - in my area of the country anyway). Plus there are food bowls & water dishes, leashes, brushes, something to cut their nails, dog shampoo, toys, etc. Also, will the dog need surgery to get spayed/neutered?

It's a large expense up front...after that it is mostly just the food.

I would definitely consider a dog (only you can make the final decision)...I'm sure others may say "visit the humane society" first. One suggestion I might have (and you'd know the dog's personality upfront too) is to do a web search on a lab rescue group in your area. You could potentially get the breed you want at a fraction of the cost.