Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are eager to have a dog, but they're too young to grasp the responsibilities involved. Should I allow them to get one now and take care of it myself, hoping they'll take over as they grow older? Or should I wait for them to better understand what it would entail?

We adopted our dogs in our late 20s prior to having kids because we are bleeding heart dog people. The dogs are our dogs and we take care of them. If I had wanted my kids to actually take care of our dogs (feed, walk, schedule and take to vet visits, provide training, etc.) I would have waited until my children were 13+ and probably older.

If you’re not sure, volunteer at a dog shelter with your kids. You can do a lot of good and teach your children responsibility. Please don’t adopt a dog thinking your child will do everything and then give it up when your child inevitably fails at that.

Anonymous wrote:My kids are eager to have a dog, but they're too young to grasp the responsibilities involved. Should I allow them to get one now and take care of it myself, hoping they'll take over as they grow older? Or should I wait for them to better understand what it would entail?

We adopted our dogs in our late 20s prior to having kids because we are bleeding heart dog people. The dogs are our dogs and we take care of them. If I had wanted my kids to actually take care of our dogs (feed, walk, schedule and take to vet visits, provide training, etc.) I would have waited until my children were 13+ and probably older.

The best rule is only get a pet if Mom wants it. Don’t fall for kid/DH begging.

If you want a pet, you can use it to teach a lot of things. But some will inevitably fall on you.

Larger animals like dogs and cats are family pets.

My 8 year old wanted a hamster and he promised to do all the care. We ended up doing most of the hamster care. When he was 12 he wanted a hamster again. This time he really does all the work.

A dog is an extra 10-20 hours of work a week between walks, training, grooming, etc. It’s really another part time job, and even if they can walk it when they’re teenagers, that’s years down the road and when the dog is older. The hardest years are going to be 100% on you.

Not to mention vet bills, boarding, grooming, etc can run in the thousands of dollars a year (I pay $150 a month for grooming alone).

And the behavior stuff - barking, stealing food, god help you if you end up with a reactive dog or separation anxiety.

Personally I would wait until they’re older and then adopt an older dog. Or just not get one. I really regret getting mine. For context, though, I’m a single mom who works. So a dog really ended up sucking up a lot of time and money I don’t have.

There is no age when you can get a dog and expect kids to be the primary caregiver through out it’s lifespan.

Kids never, for you, anytime.

Pet rocks first.
If they kill the rock, then no other pets.

Anonymous wrote:My husband convinced me to get a dog for our boys. They were 8 and 9. Dumbest idea ever. Having a dog is like having a toddler for 16 years.

Were you a first time dog owner? Was husband happy to have the dog or did he regret it too? Do you wish you went for a cat?

My husband convinced me to get a dog for our boys. They were 8 and 9. Dumbest idea ever. Having a dog is like having a toddler for 16 years.

Agree. Only get a dog, if the parents both want it, snd can fully care for it.

Think about how the breed lifespan lines up with your kids' ages and what you will do with the dog when you vacation.

We got a dog when the kids were in 2nd and 4th grade. They promised to feed it, walk it, bathe it, etc. That all went out the door very quickly. It will be your dog, or your spouses dog. As long as you remember that, and don't get angry with the kids for skipping their dog chores for practice, going to a friend's house, because they don't feel like it, because it's raining or any one of a million reasons, you, and the dog will be fine

My concept of pets is that parents are the primary caregivers. My kids were in elementary school when we got our puppy, but they weren't able to reliably take care of him until their teens, and by that time, they were super busy with a ton of activities, and I preferred to still take care of him and the other pets we accumulated along the way, most of the time, to get something off their schedule. If something happens, I know I can count on my kids... but our four pets have always been my primary responsibility.

You never forget your first pet, OP, even with no responsibility whatsoever. When they have their own establishment, my kids can choose to care for pets. I know they will take good care of them.

I don't think you get pets as a child to learn how to be responsible. If the child fails, the pet suffers, and that's way too much risk for a living being. Children can learn by seeing others care for the pets, and most of all, kids learn ethics and responsibility just by living their normal life at school, handing in assignments on time, being part of a team (sports, chess, orchestra, whatever) outside of class, etc.

All pets are family pets. There are no pets that kids can take care of without adult help.

If you want a dog, get one, but yiu will be taking care of it. The kids feeding it kibble is not the majority of dog care.

My kids are eager to have a dog, but they're too young to grasp the responsibilities involved. Should I allow them to get one now and take care of it myself, hoping they'll take over as they grow older? Or should I wait for them to better understand what it would entail?