Jene Licausi: All dogs are extra work. Feeding twice a day, cleaning up Poop. Cleaning up the occasional accident or vomit in the house. (with puppies it is more than occasional until housebroken). Also, when a housebroken dog has a accident it is usually very, very messy because the dog was not feeling well, if you know what I mean. Brushing at least weekly, more depending upon the breed. Extra vacuuming due to the hair. Some breeds drool and throw drool everywhere. Oh and don't forget the training. Training is ongoing. But the time you spend training will save you time, frustration and heartache from dealing with an untrained dog. Also, dogs were not meant to be left out in the back yard and thrown food once a day. They need human interaction to be well adjusted and happy. Depending upon how old the kids are, you may (and likely) be the one to maintain the dog. Also, Dogs can live for 15 years. So, when the kids leave the nest, you will most likely be lef! t with the dog. This can be a comfort or a chore, depending upon your relationship with the dog. Getting an adult, already trained dog, who has somehow lost it's home is a lot less work than getting a puppy. All that being said, I think a child having a dog is a great way to teach responsibility if you feel your kids are up to the challenge. I also think that the extra work is totally worth it. There is nothing like being greeted every morning and every time you come home by a well behaved dog who is thrilled to be with you, just because you are you. But again, getting that well behaved dog is a lot of work, and money for food, vet bills, emergency vet bills, training classes (at least the minimum of basic obedience I think should be required). Only you can decide if your kids are responsible enough to care for the dog and if you are up to the extra work to ensure the proper care of the dog.There are high energy breeds and low energy breeds. The high energy breeds r! equire tons of time exercising and training or they can become! bored and come up with their own entertainment. Usually at the cost of your possessions. There are long haired breeds and short haired breeds and everything in between. The long haired breeds require a lot of grooming. You can learn to do it yourself or plan many trips to the groomers. Double coated breeds, even if they appear to be short haired, like German Shepherds or Labs, are heavy shedders. Either lots of brushing or vaccuming or both. There are breeds that are easily trained and those that are stubborn and take a little more effort to convince them to obey. You need to assess your family and research the different breeds or "types" in the case you are looking a mixed breeds and decide from there what would be the best fit. for your familiy and the dogs....Show more
Madlyn Fallis: No, there isn't. All dogs need attention and care, and all dogs make messes. They toss their cookies on the carpet, they shed hair all over the darn place, some more than oth! ers, they track in mud. They have to go outside to pee five or six times a day in the winter and twenty times when it's nice out. They need to occasionally play with other dogs and they need to get exercise every day, either by chasing a ball or playing with your kids in the yard, or by twice daily walks, which aren't sufficient for a high-energy dog. You have to take them for grooming at least every month to get their nails trimmed, or their feet will start hurting because the nails interfere with walking. You have to give them heartworm medicine every month or they'll get heartworm. Many dogs will not swallow the last mouthful of water, but drip it in an 8-foot path across the floor, so you have to wipe up that mess every time they drink, or get used to it. They need to have their teeth cleaned once a year, or they get gingivitis and can't eat, and their teeth rot and fall out. They need rabies and distemper shots. A dog is not a commitment to take lightly. If you hav! e never learned to bond with a dog, and your kids aren't old enough and! responsible enough to care for one, then don't get one. When you cry while watching a movie on television, the dog will come over and ask if you are okay. He will greet you effusively at the door when you come home from a long, long trip to the grocery store. He will love you and protect you and want to spend every minute with you, just becaue you feed him, shelter him, and pet him. Dogs are strange and wonderful creatures that allow us to be part of their lives despite the fact that we can't understand their thoughts the way other dogs do. Some people just don't get it, and those people should not own dogs. Your kids will be better people for having owned a dog, but they will survive without one. Let them volunteer to walk dogs at the local animal shelter, which always needs volunteers, and that way , they can interact with dogs, really learn about dogs, and get one later as adults. You could volunteer with them. It sounds like you could stand to learn a bit more about do! gs, as well....Show more
Freeman Rutkin: if you can't or want invest time a dog needs your better off with a gold fish
Idell Syed: Your are the adult, are you not? They should not be "pressuring" you for anything. Put your foot down and tell them NO - dish out punishment if they continue to harass you. Part of life is learning that we don't always get what we want when we want it - if YOU don't want to spend a couple grand on a pet OR you don't want the added responsibility then that is YOUR choice.Keep in mind your kids will have school and school related activities. They will have a social life. They will eventually have a job. They will eventually go to college. YOU will be stuck with this animal at those times.No dog is going to be low maintenance - all dogs (even Toy breeds that don't require extensive exercise and socialization) will require potty training, manners training, obedience training, basic socialization, 30 minutes of exercise a day, to be invol! ved in YOUR lives as much as possible, vet care, monthly flea/tick and ! heart worm preventions, and grooming. ALL dogs are liable to develop behavioral problems if their needs are not met properly.If you don't want to be responsible for that (because let's face it, YOU will be as the adult) then that is YOUR choice to make and your children need to learn to respect that choice. If YOU don't want to pay for this dog, ALSO your choice and they need to respect that.If THEY want a dog then tell them to get a job and start saving money. Get them set up with chores and see how they do. Make your decision later on after they've had time to PROVE themselves to you (still keeping college in mind, of course.)http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1671&a...http://www.paw-rescue.org/dog_guide.phphttp://canine-truth.webs.com/choosingadog.htmhttp://canine-truth.webs.com/properdogcare.htm...Show more
Caterina Yeargan: No. ALL dogs are hard work. Get a ten gallon tank and get six guppies. One goldfish needs 20 gallons. I know this has nothing to! do with dogs. You're better off getting a fish. Do your research.
Mitsuko Manne: "My two kids are pressuring me to get a dog " So? Who's the parent here? Your kids are pressuring you because you ALLOW IT. not our fault you haven't taught them what no means and sticking to your guns when you make a decision.ALL dogs require attention and work and I can tell you right now YOU will end up doing the majority of exercising, playing, feeding etc and of course PAYING for this dog. Also realize that you will more than likely have this dog for the ENTIRETY of its life if you don't end up dumping it because you just decide you don't want the responsibility of a dog any more.So if YOU do not want a dog 100% and are not willing ready and able to be a responsible dog owner do not get a dog. Tell your kids no and stick to it. What are they going to do? Have a coup and take over?...Show more
August Hubbard: No, every dog needs alot of attention but I would suggest if you HA! VE to get a dog Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are low maintenance, qui! te laid back and easy to care for but it will still need attention. Do not get any other spaniel however as they are all bred for work and need constant stimulation, my Springers will tear up the house if they dont get walked 3 times a day or more.
Dick Ovdenk: All kids want a dog and they will promise to care for it. After the first two weeks, it will be all yours. Toilet training, walking, feeding and cleaning up the mess. None of this bothers me because my children are grown up and I adore dogs. If your kids are old enough to look after a dog and if you believe that they will and if there is someone at home most of the day, perhaps its OK to get a dog. Any dog which is left alone for more that two hours could do untold damage. Plus if you do not have a fenced garden/yard your dog will need to be taken out a dozen times a day for a pee. Will the kids care if it pees in the house?You should avoid getting either a puppy or even an older dog, if your income is limited! . Unfortunately there is no way of calculating the cost of having a dog.At the outset a puppy will need its vaccinations/shot and worming tablets. In addition to this, there will be other veterinary costs. Perhaps you can afford insurance, however this does not cover every visit to the vets. Even if a procedure is claimable, you will often have to pay the vet when you collect your dog.You will need grooming equipment, bedding, leads and collars, cleaning equipment and countless incidentals. You will need either a fenced garden or yard to enable you to take your dog out to eliminate. A puppy will need to be taken out at least once an hour during the day when it is being house trained, it will also need to be taken out during the night and immediately it wakes up in the morning. A puppy cannot hold on until you get dressed and you will feel vulnerable taking it out, if you do not have a fenced area for it to use as a toilet.Although you will be diligent when house training ! a puppy, there are always accidents on the carpets. A puppy will also c! hew and possibly damage your furniture; consequently you have to make provision for the cost of replacements. A rescue dog will usually be clean in the house and you might think that he can cope without a fenced area for a toilet. Can you imagine taking a dog for a walk on a lead every time that it needs to urinate?A puppy is noisy consequently if your neighbours can hear it, they may complain. If you are in rented accommodation, you will be responsible for any damage that your puppy makes and you may be evicted if your neighbours complain about the noise.EDIT. To the so called perfect mothers whoes kids never pressurise them wake up and get real. Kids do this regardless of how diligent their mother is....Show more
