Dogs don't teach your kids responsibility. You will still have the same lazy procrastinating kids, and on top of that you will have a dog who is barking, matted, and pooping in your house because he hasn't been walked, brushed, or trained.

Anonymous wrote:OP - do you have a full time job? If so, do not get a dog. My dog is an easy dog, but now I have little time to myself during the day with a job/kids in school and 2-3 walks to get in.

If not, then you have some room for training and walks. How old are your kids? I think fostering would be ideal for 2 weeks. Make the kids get up early every morning to take the dog out before school and then again when they get back from school. They will decide pretty quickly that it's too much work. Better yet, wait until summer, foster a dog, and make them do all the care including watching the dog like a hawk while potty training.

I don't think op or her kids are ready to foster.

Anonymous wrote:Get a Goldfish.

Yes.

I can't see this person wanting to train a dog or clean a litter box.

We were in your boat, OP. Kids really wanted a pet but I am too tired and stressed for more work. We fostered a friends cat for a few months becuase they were moving and had limits on pets at their rental. It was a good trial for us. We had a pet for a few months and learned that even if considered "low maintenance", they are work. They need care, they shed, they poo and pee, and wake up when they shouldn't. They get on furniture and all over things that you want clean. IF you're not up for that daily, don't get a pet. If you are someone who is not bothered by any of the above but will relish it, get a pet.

We enjoyed our time hosting the pet but learned that we were not ready for the commitment just yet.

I love my dog. Seriously watching my dog with my kids is priceless. I would suggest getting an older dog. You can join breed affinity groups on facebook and I noticed that every now and again there is a dog available due to an unforeseen situation-ex an owner passes. Also you can contact breeders and ask if they have an older adoptable dogs. This would be good AKC breeders so you know not a puppy mill.

OP - do you have a full time job? If so, do not get a dog. My dog is an easy dog, but now I have little time to myself during the day with a job/kids in school and 2-3 walks to get in.

If not, then you have some room for training and walks. How old are your kids? I think fostering would be ideal for 2 weeks. Make the kids get up early every morning to take the dog out before school and then again when they get back from school. They will decide pretty quickly that it's too much work. Better yet, wait until summer, foster a dog, and make them do all the care including watching the dog like a hawk while potty training.

My beloved dog disrupts my sleep far more than my children ever did. For example, my children never woke up at 3 a.m. ready to hoover up all the freshly hatched cicadas. Every day for a month.

It's always something.

A male pug. Ours didn't bark hardly at all. Didn't require very much exercise. Held his urine for 6-8 hours.

OP-do not get a pet. You are getting one for the wrong reasons. Going into pet ownership with the attitude that you want minimal work is not good. They are *mostly* work and you can't just throw money at it unless you literally hire someone else to do everything for you.

ALL animals are a lot of work so don't get an "easier" suggestion from the thread. Cats are work even though they do not (usually, at least) go on walks and training. Fish and reptiles are also work. They are as much or more than my dog and cats and much more expensive with the lighting and heating, feeder bugs, etc.

If you want your boys to learn responsibility, have them volunteer at the shelter.

Something like a pug would be good because they have short legs so only want short walks and like companionship but aren’t hard to train. Very portable for trips. But they shed like you won’t believe so at a minimum you’d want a roomba and a blanket to cover your couch. There might be other lap dogs that are similar but pugs are really sweet.

Agree that what you really want is a cat.

I would vote for a cat or two instead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Foster a dog.

My BIL Nearly died from blood poisoning after being bitten by a dog that he and my SIL Fostered.

That is terrible but entirely unrelated to the conversation at hand.

With that said, I don't think fostering a dog is right for OP, either. Foster dogs need experienced owners who are understanding and able to react appropriately to higher needs. I would say dog sitting for a friend's dog would be more appropriate for OP's needs.

Anonymous wrote:Foster a dog.

My BIL Nearly died from blood poisoning after being bitten by a dog that he and my SIL Fostered.

Foster a dog.