Puppy power?

katyk_2

Hi there

I am suffering major pressure from a 12yo DD who would absolutely love a puppy. This has always been a strong request but now 2 of her best friends have each got one in the last 10 days so she is just totally in love with them.

Thing is I would actually love a dog myself but we already have a 6yo tom cat who I cannot see being too happy about it. There is also the problem of when we are out during the day, which is why we opted for cats 6 years ago rather than dogs. (Of the 2 young cats we got then, one was lost to a nearby busy road last September)

Kids now say they are old enough to nip home at lunch time and walk the dog (at 12 & 13.5 they would be) but we would definitely prefer a young pup to an older dog. The 2 cats were about 5 months old when we got them but had been passed from pillar to post a lot and took a very long time to trust us, thus missing out a lot of the bonding the kids had hoped for.

I would really welcome some advice please?

Thanks
Katyk

pboae

I wouldn't let children of that age walk a dog alone. I know many people do, but I think it is a huge risk. How would they cope if another dog attacked your dog? Or if your dog got spooked, ran away and got run over or lost?

Plus no matter how keen and excited they are now, come next winter the novelty will be wearing off and they won't be so keen to have to come home at lunch in sleet and rain and walk the dog.

It's also not fair to get a puppy and leave it in on it's own most of the day. A young puppy needs to be getting toilet breaks at least every hour. They can't be expected to hold it any longer than that. Aside from being unfair on the dog, it will make toilet training incredibly difficult, as there will be no consistency. They need to be taught where to go. A small puppy won't automatically understand that it's OK to toilet in the house when you are out, but not when you are home.

Finally, a small to middle sized dog is likely to have a life span of 10-15 years. In 6 years your youngest may well be off to University or somewhere, and you'll be left with a dog to care for for maybe another 10 years. Who will be around to walk it in the daytime then?

It's hard, and I know how it feels to desperately want a dog, but they are such a huge commitment and children just don't understand that. If you've got any doubts at all about how it would work out, don't do it. They might be sad not to have a dog now, but they will be absolutely heart broken if you get them one and it doesn't work out.

daisykinn1

Please please please don't get a puppy. I begged my mum for a puppy constantly when I was a child but thankfully she was firm as there's no way I would have kept up the lunch time walks promise when there were boys to chase!

Cats are well suited to your situation. Be strong!

tealady

How about suggesting that they walk a friends or neighbours dog lunchtimes for a month. If they are still doing it willingly after that time then consider an adult dog.
I think a month will be enough for the boredome to set in and for your DD to realise what a commitment they have on their hands.