why wont parents let you geta dog but they say you can get a gold fish? wich is harder to take care of?

Question

ok just think a dog just poops pees and sleep and all you have to do is clean up and play with em. and a goldfish you have to clean out the WHOLE cage and you cant cant play with em and you pay 7 dollars for a little thing of fish food. so wich one should i convince my dad to le me get?and what kind of dog would be good for im 13?

but i get ten bucks a week

Answer 1

Trust me... a dog is a LOT more responsibility. Depending on how old it is, you have to deal with chewing, messes in the house, vet bills for their shots, etc. They also need constant attention. Even older dogs are a lot of work. They needs lots of exercise to stay healthy. Dogs eat a lot more than a goldfish does, as well. Sure, you get a lot more enjoyment out of a dog, but you get out of it what you put into it. The more you take care of your dog, the more happy your dog will be. Maybe you should get a goldfish first and take care of that. After you get the hang of that responsibility, maybe you'll be ready for a dog. You shouldn't rush into getting a dog, so take your time! You'll get one eventually. When you do, you'll realize that it was worth the wait. Oh, and ten dollars a week won't cover the routine vet visits, the beds, toys, food, etc.

Answer 2

Dogs are for sure more work ...you have to feed them make sure they have water at all times, potty train them, obediance train them, clean up their messes while they are learning to go potty outside. And if you think a jar of fish food for $7 is expensive you are wrong, fish food lasts a long time as goldfish don't eat much. Even for a small dog they will eat around 15-20 lbs of dog food a month and depending on the brand that can be $20 a month. You also have to buy alot more supplies for a fish. Not to mention you will have to take extra care cleaning the house because you will have dog hair everywhere if you have a dog. Dogs are wonderful pets but don't underestimate the care and cost. You also have to take the dog to the vet and they need heartworm medication and flea and tick medication year round if you live in a warm climate.

Answer 3

OK I'm the first to say that all children should have a pet. And a dog is an excellent choice - but let's get a few things in order.

First of all, goldfish don't live in cages - they live in an aquarium. And secondly, there's much more to caring for a dog than clean-up and play.

While they both make excellent pets, there are advantages and disadvantages to both. You would do well to research how to properly care for a goldfish - as well as how to properly care for a dog.

A good source for information on pet care is your local animal shelter. They handle all kinds of animals - I've even adopted a goat and a peacock from a shelter! Many times the shelter staff or director will make time for an enthusiastic and curious youngster (who is polite!) and answer his or her questions truthfully and frankly. They'd be the first people I'd call.

I believe that once you have done a little more research on the proper care of a pet - you will be better able to make a wise choice that fits not only your desires - but your family's needs and requirements as well.

Answer 4

If you think all a dog does is pee, poop and sleep, you have another thing coming. I don't mean to sound rude but dogs are a lot of work. Looking after some dogs can almost be like a full time job in itself. Dogs are a LIFETIME responsibility. You are a kid. 13 years old. When you go to college, what will happen to the dog? you have to think 12+ years down the line. You may want a dog now but what about in the future? as you grow up your priorities change -- trust me.

There are many positive aspects of dog ownership -- I could never see myself without at least one dog in my life. BUT there are also plenty of negatives.
Dogs are expensive. Food and vet care alone will cost you are fortune over the years. Who will be paying for the dog?

Dogs poop 2-3 times a day. Puppies poop double that amount. Who will clear it up? you?

Dogs need walks. Twice daily walks. Backyard play is fun but it is NOT structured exercised. Certain breeds (active breeds -- gundog/sporting breeds, working breeds, etc.) need at the very least 1-2 hours of VIGEROUS off leash exercise a day. Without it they will gladly make your life a misery. Who will be exercising the dog and taking it out for 1-2 hours of exercise per day?

Training and socialization are key to having a well behaved, stable dog. With you at school all day, who will train and socialize the dog? dogs without either of those are usually unstable and out of control.

So to round it up, if you can make the commitment for the next 12+ years that you will walk twice a day with the dog, play with the dog, train the dog, socialize the dog, feed the dog a top quality diet and provide the dog with as much attention as humanly possible, great. BUT if you are realistic and realise that you couldn't possibly devote the next 12+ years of your life doing those things, get a fish.

Answer 5

With a gold fish all you have to do is keep the water and tank clean and feed the fish, with a dog you have to potty train, exercise daily(not just playing with it) you have to walk it, feed and water them, socialize with people and other animals so they don't become aggressive with them, take them to the vet for regular health care and when they get sick, Train them and a lot more that i can not think of right off hand, and as far as i no dogs cost a lot more to take care of then a gold fish so thats probably the reason for your parents telling you to get a gold fish, you have to be very responsible to own a dog.

Answer 6

Might I suggest a Hamster? They are clean, quiet & don't stink if the cage is kept clean. They are a good alternative for someone who wants a dog but can't have one. You can play with them & even teach them tricks. My 13 yr. old daughter has one named Motly. Motly is friendly & loves to come out & play, but she is also happy to be left in her cage. My daughter even takes her for walks outside. Motly just rides around on her shoulder like a bird.

Fish are difficult to keep alive if you don't take the time to learn how to care for them properly. A goldfish in a bowl? Not a good idea. If you get a fish, I suggest a Betta. It will live in a bowl quite happily.

Dogs are great fun, but very expensive to care for. The need regular vet care which can become very expensive, especially if an emergency comes up.

Answer 7

Dogs are alot of work. Walk them EVERYDAY for about half an hour, pick up their poop, feed them, make sure they have fresh water at all times, regular trips to the vet, proper diet, attention, training.For a fish all you have to do is feed it everyday according to the instructions on the bottle of food and clean its tank about once a week, maybe even less than that if you have a good filter

Answer 8

i think a dog is more harder to take care of because dogs poop everywhere, they have to get walks really early and late night, they have to have someone play with them for about 1/2 an hour, and they move around the house unlike fish.

Answer 9

A dog needs food and that cost, Adog needs training and in teh meantime does what he isn't suppose to where ever,
a dog needs shots and to be fixed where I live the vet bills for the first year is nearly $300 and then it's about another $100 each additional year unless something extra goes wrong.
adog is at least a 10 year comitment what happens when you are in school, dating and goingoff to colelge??

Answer 10

Dogs are more work. they are more rewarding but they are more work and they cost a whole lot more. you HAVE to get a rabies shot every year. Some cities requier a tag every year. There is Heart Worm medicine ( i forgot to give that to my dog and had to go and have the dog tested befor they would sell me more because if they already have the worm you can not give them the pill.)
Dogs get lonley if you leave them alone a lot and they can tear things up out of anger.
There are a lot of things to consider.