Which pet should I buy for my son? 4 foot snake or a golden retriever puppy?

Question

He wants the snake, but I'm told it can grow over 10 feet long, which kinda worries me...


What would be the better pet? Snake or puppy? Whichever one we get him, I want to be able to teach it tricks and everything. By the way, my son is almost 5, so he is old enough to play with either I think.

Answer 1

HE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF EITHER!!!

We have tons of animals in the house and even though they are my daughters too I am the one it all falls to. When she wanted a bearded dragon we researched all lizards and since she was taking care of it on her own because I refuse lizards we went with a leopard gecko for a first time lizard.


Remember a pet is a life it is not a babydoll or toy its a responsibility some for 18 years just like another kid.

Answer 2

Don't buy a pet "for the kids." He is not nearly old enough to take care of either the snake or the puppy. It will be all you. Snakes have easier care in that you don't have to mess with them directly every day, but it's a different sort of care. You'll have to feed them frozen/thawed prey items and be able to have a nice large vivarium for it. Is it a boa constrictor? Those are the most common that I can think of that get around that size. Females get larger than males. A better first time snake is a corn snake. They max out at about 4 feet, pretty easy to handle, friendly, many very cool colors, need a 20-30 gallon tank when they are full grown, and are typically good eaters of frozen/thawed mice. They are known as the golden retrievers of snakes, but sorry, no tricks.

Golden retrievers are heavily overbred and can have a lot of health problems like hip dysplasia, so make sure you go with parents who have been certified for their hips by OFA or PennHip. If the breeder doesn't know what this is or doesn't do it, WALK AWAY. Trust me! It's better to spend a few extra hundred dollars now on a quality puppy than a few thousand on hip replacement surgery! Not all golden retrievers these days have great temperaments. Make sure the parents have been temperament tested by the ATTS or at least have their AKC Canine Good Citizen certification.

Answer 3

What kind of snake? A python would be too large for an average home. A smaller one may be more manageable.

Unless you're experienced with raising a dog, I highly highly discourage getting a dog, esp. a puppy. A puppy needs to pee/poop every few hours, and requires constant attention. A retriever esp. takes up to 2 years to mature, so you'll essentially have to give it attention 24x7 for 2 years! Please think about who will be cleaning up pee/poop all the time, and most importantly, obedience training. Who will drive the dog to the vet? You'll need to get 3 shots minimum (DHPP) plus bordetella and most likely many other trips like diarhea, poison, etc etc. Who will pay for the vet bills and buy dog food, etc? Dog ownership is not something that should be taken lightly. YOU (as the parent) will do most of the driving and caring and paying.

I urge you to think about alternatives. I know it's cute to get a dog, but this is a decision and RESPONSIBILITY that'll last for at least a decade. Please think about it carefully. I too thought it was cute to get a puppy but did not realize all the responsibilities had fell onto me (not my kid) when I got a puppy. I should have read http://petgiving.com first, however we're all good now, no regrets.

(Happy and a little bit worn out owner of a super active 8 month pup)

Answer 4

i think a snake is just a pet that he thinks might be cool to have...i do have my own corn snake, and dog so here are some things to think about that i can come up with...

SNAKE
-boring most of the time...they rest and hide decision the day
-playing with a snake is the same every time
-are you comfortable feeding it mice?
-do you know the cost of mice to feed? (i get frozen mice, a small pinkie costs a dollar each and a large full grown mouse can cost around $5 and i feed my snake about twice a week)
-need the proper tank/lid/bedding/hiding spots/lights/light timer/water dish ect
-are you willing to care for it if your son looses interest?
-what if it bites you/your son
-what if it gets out
-and snakes dont learn tricks :)

DOG
-needs shots/vet check ups ect = $$$
-(a dog the size of a retriever) needs regular walks
-do you want to deal with house training?
-much better companionship than a snake
-i think a dog would teach caring and responsibility better
-is there space for a dog that size
well you get the picture about the dog stuff

maybe your best bet would be to go to a good pet store and talk to them about the pros and cons as well

personally i would get the dog if it is the most practical, because they are loving and entertaining...it will be more of a family member than an oddity like a snake would be

good luck with your decition

Answer 5

Hi GoZags. I would definitely say the puppy would be a better choice. Maybe your son would be happy with just a large, realistic looking toy snake for now. Then when he's 12 or so, he could get the real one if he's still interested. If he still had the dog at that point, it would serve as extra security if there was a snake present.

Answer 6

For a five year old I would definitely get a puppy. That way he/she can become part of the family and grow and learn with your son. A snake can't really do that. Either way you will most likely be taking care of it so get the pet that you feel most comfortable with. Young boys like the thought of owning a snake more than actually owning one. Best of luck.

Answer 7

O.K. be honest, what one do YOU want?

You will be the one doing most of the work, I have YET to meet a 5 y.o. that can take care of themselves let alone a snake or a dog.

So realistically, which do you prefer?

You didn't mention what kind of snake, so it would depend on the kind. NOT all snakes grow to 10 feet long.

As for tricks with snakes, I think you are very limited as to what they can be conditioned to do. You may be able to get them to come to a spot in the habitat, for feeding, but that would be about it.

Dogs you can train to do many tricks.

Answer 8

Id go for the puppy.. especially if hes only 5 right now.. Or if hes THAT into reptiles maybe a turtle? What kind of snake are you thinking of.. a 10 foot long snake for anyone whos not experienced seems alittle dangerous to me.

Answer 9

5 year old? Get him a hamster.
Snake is too much trouble, and puppies are too much work for a child to take care of.
Snakes do not learn tricks. If YOU want a puppy, get a puppy.
Don't get a rowdy dog, but a golden retriever is great for kids. They are dumb to try to teach tricks, but lovable.
Go to the pound and get a real pal.

Answer 10

If you want to be the talk of the town, by all means give him the snake. I'm sure all your neighbors will talk about it, and leave your son's little gang of friends completely enthralled.

There's just a downside - you can't teach a snake a bag of tricks. And obviously, the snake's instincts are, to put it lightly, almost impossible to tame.

Now, if your aim is to give your son an experience he would not soon forget, teach him the essence of responsibility, and give him a notion of loyalty and friendship, give your son the pup.

Whatever your decision, think long and hard about it. If it were me, I will put my son's safety on top of my list and give him the golden retriever. It's documented that dogs have such a fierce sense of loyalty and protectiveness to its owner that it saves them from mortal danger from time to time. I can't say the same thing for the snake, though.

Good luck!

Answer 11

A snake can kil him! He's almost 5 he's way too young for a snake! A golden retriever is a wonderful first animal!
Do some research about snakes and you will find a lot of stories of grown adults that have been attacked by ball pythons and other snakes!
Get him a dog instead of a snake please snakes aren't really meant to be pets!