Is there an appropriate age for children to have a dog ?

bettyB_2

Nimeth wrote: »

Perhaps a smaller pet would be more ideal, a guinea pig or a rat. I think a rat would be ideal, they're very affectionate creatures and as long as it's cleaned out regularly, fed, watered and played with, it should be a good way for your niece to learn responsiblity.

HTH.:)

I agree - rats are friendly and intelligent. Very easily tamed and love human company.

I loved mine when I was a kid - used to train her to run through mazes and feed her treats while she sat on my shoulder! My current rat has learnt her name and comes when called! I even compare them to dogs in conversation with other people- i say that my rat is 'like a tiny dog that lives in a cage!'

Hamsters, gerbils and the like aren't very friendly and are much more likely to bite.

Rats need bigger cages that smaller rodents, but that's about the only practical difference. Their food is not expensive and they can be fed basic rat food and/or scraps from the fridge (veg mostly)

gingin_2

I always grew up with dogs but we now have a couple of house cats and my dd adores them. We have Ragdolls which do cost ( our first was a rehome, though) but they have a puppy like nature, are very affectionate and are perfect indoor cats ( great for an apartment). I don't see us going back to dogs again.

bettyB_2

gingin your cats are gorgeous!

elfen

gingin your cats are absolutely gorgeous! I'd have one if mum's dog wasn't such a mad 'un around them,

OP, I'm agreeing with the others here. In the living conditions, there's really no room for a dog, especially a puppy who needs regular training and taking out a lot to stop accidents. I'd go for something caged, like others have said, rats are VERY intelligent and love the stimulus of people, yes theyh are stigmatised but they are loving, intelligent and clean (mine'd run up my arm and settle in my hair and sniffle and squeak and he never tried getting away)

onlyroz

I'd recommend either a rat or a cat or a guineapig. I kept rats as a child - they're much friendlier than hamsters or mice, and with a bit of persistence they can be taught some simple tricks. It'll need a bigger cage than a hamster, and daily handling, but it's much easier to look after than a dog.

If your niece lived in a big house with parents willing to walk a dog each day, and who could afford vets bills, then I'd say a dog *could* work - but in the circumstances you've described I'd say it was a no-no.

UKTigerlily

Rats are fanstastic, very intelligent & can learn tricks, clean & friendly. You must have 2 at least, 3 being ideal but they're pretty cheap once the cage is bought (mine was 6ft tall). Great pet for kids

babyshoes

I agree with the rats suggestion. They are nothing like the nasty 'horror movie' type rats - fancy rats are a lot smaller and come in pretty colours. They are intelligent and can be trained like a dog, but don't need the space and walks that a dog does.

I have ferrets myself, and while I love them dearly, they are far too much work for a young child, especially as the youngsters need to be taught not to nip while playing. They make good pets for people who work all day, as they sleep for most of the day and get let out morning and evening for a play.

autumngirl

I agree that it's really beneficial for children to experience having pets but please don't get a guinea pig! So many people underestimate the needs of these animals. I've had a dog and also several guinea pigs and I can honestly say that, based on my experiences, looking after guinea pigs properly doesn't actually take much less time/effort than looking after a dog.

Would they have enough space? An indoor cage for 2 guinea pigs should be a minimum of 120cm in length and in addition to this they will also need a suitable space outside of the cage (an indoor pen/enclosure etc) to play in and stretch their legs for about an hour every day. They are sociable creatures who very much need the company of their own kind, so it's not recommended to get just one on its own and they live to 5-7 years (sometimes even up to 10 years).

My sister and I have both had 2 guinea pigs each for the last 4 yrs and we've both spent around £500 pounds each in Vets bills over this time (non of which was for long term treatments, otherwise it would've cost much much more and it's not easy to get pet insurance of guinea pigs like it is with cats/dogs.) Of course some guinea pigs will live to a grand old age without ever needing Vet treatment but I believe that is quite rare. Regular dental treatment in older guinea pigs is not uncommon and can be very costly indeed.

An 8 year old will be able to brush a guinea pig's hair but there are also other grooming requirements which need to be carried out regularly (by adults) - nail trimming, bathing, hair cutting etc. That's obviously in addition to the weekly cage cleaning and daily food preparation.

I absolutely adore guinea pigs and it's true that they're very cute and fluffy, usually very friendly and like human interaction but, to look after them properly, they really can be quite demanding and require commitment. I'm afraid I really don't think they're a "starter" pet at all.

onlyroz

Speaking of guinea pigs - I had a friend once with about 200 of the little blighters. They lived in the shed(s), in the house, in the bedrooms, everywhere. To my inexperienced eyes many of them didn't seem to have much room to move around in. My friend had another friend who kept about 50 guinea pigs, and I spent a few weeks one summer looking after them - not much fun, in particular scooping out the dead ones.

The same friend had about 4 dogs - completely wild, and they'd jump all over you as soon as you entered the house, and on your head if you attempted to sit down. The house was like a zoo, and to be honest I didn't really like going there that much.

littlerat

I'd like to come in with a point about rats - just because they're cheap to buy, it doesn't mean they're disposable like many people think, and there's several illnesses they can be prone to - respiratory problems being the most common, along with mammary tumours, abcesses and sometimes (mostly in poorly bred ones such as pet shop rats), hormonal aggression. Cheap to buy, not bad to feed - but like ANY animal they can need vet care which can add up. They also are social animals who need keeping in a minimum of pairs for their welfare, immediately doubling potential vet costs. They are adorable pets, I just hate that some people think they aren't worth more than the £8 they cost them in a pet shop.

Same goes for any animal - any can get ill and they (or you) do need to consider this.

That said, I do think if they can be afforded rats are a great pet There's a large community here: https://www.fancy-rats.co.uk - gives an idea of care needs