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

ailuro2

Are you going to buy yearly pet insurance for the next 10 or more years? Help out with the cost of feeding it?

They can't afford to purchase the dog, but in reality the price of buying a dog is just the thin end of the wedge, it's going to need annual vaccinations, food, deworming and defleaing on a regular basis.

Sorry to rian on your parade, but it makes more sense to get her something that will have more affordable vet's bills.;)

Kimberley82

What about a cat? Much cheaper, much more independent.

andrealm

It's kind of you to want to get her a pet, but it's possible her parents don't want to have to look after any kind of pet, if they did maybe they would have got something themselves. Any animal is a responsibility and costs money to look after.

john9to5

Yeh I think after much consideration and after the high recommendation from posters its between a rat/cat, I think I am leaning more towards a cat as I suppose its more like a dog as in uncaged lol, But I think that would be the best get her in a house cat or a nice rat.

Are mice any good pets or are they quite nippy ?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Mice wee constantly as they don't have the equipment to hold it. Rats don't.

bettyB_2

autumngirl wrote: »

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.

littlerat wrote: »

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: www.fancy-rats.co.uk - gives an idea of care needs

Although these are good points (similar to my point about the goldfish - which i only made as i didnt want her to be sad when her new best friend dies 2 weeks later from being put in a bowl!) I would hasten to add that we should really try not put OP off getting a pet for his neice.

I think we need to be careful about bombarding John with lessons about animal illnesses and issues. Yes any animal can get sick, need vets, etc. No animal is a safe bet. But we all had a 'first pet' once, and this little girl deserves to have one too!

It will teach her valuable life lessons, about responsibility, caring for a living thing, having a routine (cleaning, feeding, playing, etc). Part of that is learning about the animal and ensuring you care for it properly. I remember whenever I got a new pet (in the days before the internet!) I'd go to the library with my mum and get a book out on the topic a few weeks beforehand.

Rats and guinea pigs, and most other small pets, are cheap to buy and of course they are not disposible. However, they are easier to keep than dogs, especially for the OP's family who live in a flat not a house, which was why people, including myself, have suggested them as an alternative.

I am sure that John, having learnt a lot from this forum about dog care and subsequently re-thought his gift idea, will do the appropriate research and ensure that whatever he gets his neice is well cared for.

(As a side, I have seen some horrible bullying go on in that fancy rats forum and wouldnt recommend it to anyone who is not already an experienced rat owner)

- on a personal note, I had rats, hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs as a kid, with the onus on me for cleaning them out, looking after them, etc and only ever had 1 trip to the vets (a guinea pig with mites) as long as they are properly cared for the majority of animals will live an illness free life.

bettyB_2

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Mice wee constantly as they don't have the equipment to hold it. Rats don't.

rats can control where they poop (can learn to use a litter box) and where they wee to a certain extent, but if you have them out of the cage for a long time they will wee on you eventually! (as my OH found out last night!) :rotfl::rotfl:


Oh and mice smell a lot more/worse than rats do imo

DCFC79

What if the niece gets bored after a few months of the dog(not bored but bored of walking the dog etc),

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

bettyB wrote: »

rats can control where they poop (can learn to use a litter box) and where they wee to a certain extent, but if you have them out of the cage for a long time they will wee on you eventually! (as my OH found out last night!) :rotfl::rotfl:


Oh and mice smell a lot more/worse than rats do imo

Oh yeah, forgot that - the smell from a fox poo in the garden that consisted pretty much 100% of mouse was pretty funky _pale_. (Seeing as I never notice the smell of foxes usually, I assume the mousey meals made the stink)

podperson

Sorry to be negative but have you discussed the new pet ideas with her parents as well? It sounds from what you said that they didn't want a dog anyway and the money issue was an excuse for the little girl (not saying it's not true as well but sounds like there were other reasons) therefore do they really want any pet for her? You can get cats and small pets very cheaply especially if you look in the local paper or try the local rescue - the fact that they haven't done this implies to me that they don't want her to have one at the moment. This could be for very sensible reasons such as they don't think they have the time or money for one at the moment so would really check fully with them before you go out and buy them one that they will then be stuck with because the little girl will be so excited about it that they won't want to say no.
Regarding a cat or a rat, I would say a rat would perhaps be better for her, she can pick up it easily, they are also very friendly and usually put up with being manhandled with good grace Cats are much more independent and depending on the specific cat will often only come for fussing when they want it! Also if they need it to be a house cat due to the area or something then it could be an issue if the cat decides it doesn't want to be a house cat, a friend of mine was determined hers would be a house cat only but after months of it sitting and crying by the windows and doors she's now had to give in and he goes out.