Toddlers: 24 Months+

Buying DS His Own Dog

To start off we own our own home, already have two dogs one cat, four chickens and a guinea pig. So Iv wanted to get an austrailian shepard for sometime now because I had one that I got when I was three and live 17 years and would protect me and my brother so well. Iv come across some aussie puppies that are very well priced will be available in aug and I know the woman who is breeding them. DS will be 3 in Oct and he already helps me feed all our current animals and let them outside and water them. Im sorry for all the rambling but am I crazy for wanting a puppy right now for DS?
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Re: Buying DS His Own Dog

  • IMO, yes, you're crazy.  If you want another dog for your family, then great... but it's not really for your DS.  And if that is the case... don't buy a puppy unless it's from a reputable breeder.  And since they're "well-priced", they're NOT from a reputable breeder.  Rescue of reputable breeder are the ONLY ways to go!
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  • That's way too many animals for my sanity! Sounds like YOU want another dog, a 3 year old cannot be in charge of an animal. 

    Get the dog if you want! But I would never have so many animals.  Sounds like WAY too much work and cleaning for me.  

  • Yes.  For wanting his own.  He's three.  He cannot properly train a dog.  He cannot properly build an appropriate relationship with a dog. It's not about letting the dog outside to pee/poop and putting food/water in bowls.  It's about raising a well behaved canine and attending to it's physical and mental needs.  There are some adults who aren't mature enough for this, and a three year old certainly is not.

    If you get another dog - and I'm not saying you shouldn't - it should be YOUR dog.  Sure, your son will get to play with it and help in the basic care, but it must be very clear that the full responsibility of the dog is yours.

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  • wedseptwedsept member
    You are expecting a 3 year old to be that responsible?  It isn't fair to your child to expect so much from him. 
  • TwirpleTwirple member

    I do not think you are crazy. Since you already have several pets, I think it is safe to assume that you know how much work and training go into having one.  I am assuming that when you say it is for your DS, you realize that the majority of the care will fall to you.

    In our case, we have a dog and two cats.  We have had our dog for seven years and we now consider him to be our son's dog, even though our son is only two.  He helps to feed the dog and let him out, but we are still the primary care givers.  My parents got me a kitten when I was one and my brother a puppy at the same time.  My brother was 3.  I grew up knowing that the cat was mine and the dog was my brothers.  As we got older, we took over more responsibility for their care, but the critters were always "ours."

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  • Yes.

    By all means, get another family dog, as long as you recognize it'll be your son's dog in name but your dog in all other aspects (care, training, etc.)

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  • I'm with mostly everyone else on this.  YOU'RE going to be potty training, giving general care, and training the dog.  Your son will just be able to play with it and give it food and water.  And puppies can be rowdy.  My son hates them because they're too rough, but he loves dogs.
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  • imageTiffanyBerry:

    Yes.  For wanting his own.  He's three.  He cannot properly train a dog.  He cannot properly build an appropriate relationship with a dog. It's not about letting the dog outside to pee/poop and putting food/water in bowls.  It's about raising a well behaved canine and attending to it's physical and mental needs.  There are some adults who aren't mature enough for this, and a three year old certainly is not.

    If you get another dog - and I'm not saying you shouldn't - it should be YOUR dog.  Sure, your son will get to play with it and help in the basic care, but it must be very clear that the full responsibility of the dog is yours.

    All of this.

  • Well I would never expect my son to do any of the work he just helps me feed them and such, it isnt his job its just something he likes doing. I grew up on a farm and my parents still have a farm and also have 8 dogs so 3 dogs is a walk in the park for me. I know this girl and her dog was bought from a very good breeder and the sire has a really good pedigree so its not like its some crappy dogs that some low life is breeding like a puppy mill to make money. I also know the dog will attach itself to whoever it wants but I have my own dog and my husband has his but really they are just all of ours because they usually prefer me because my husband never has time to do anything with them now that he works 60+ hours a week. I just want my son to have that experience I had as a child and growing up with they dog so to say.
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  • Given your situation and your experience I think it would be fine to get your DS "his" dog. But my preachy moment? Take him with you to the shelter to get one to help teach him about responsible pet ownership :)
  • I think this is really just buying a dog. If you are training and everything, then it's a family dog. My parents bought a black lab the year I was born, and I still think of her as being mine, even though I obviously didn't train/take care of it.

    The real question is do you want another dog?

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  • I didn't read all the other replies, just a lot saying don't do it. I'm assuming that just because it's "his" dog, you aren't expecting him to do the work. 

    My sister "got a dog" when she was around 6 or 7. My parents used the "you can have a dog" trick to get her to stop sucking her thumb. She reaaaally wanted a dog, and was messing up her teeth with the thumb sucking. My parents helped her obviously (bitter nail polish, reminders to stop, etc), but a dog was what motivated her. Obviously she was not solely responsible for the dog. 

    What I am saying, is that getting a dog might be a lot more meaningful for your LO in a few years. I'm sure he'll love a puppy at 3, but it could be a good learning experience in a few years.  

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  • Unfortunatly after this past weekend we wont beable to get an aussie... My cousin has is in a very unfortunate situation right now and his pitbull is now living with us for posibly quite some time.. it was either take him or have him possibly end up in a shelter...
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  • imagecas3ymari3:
    Unfortunatly after this past weekend we wont beable to get an aussie... My cousin has is in a very unfortunate situation right now and his pitbull is now living with us for posibly quite some time.. it was either take him or have him possibly end up in a shelter...

    I thinm it's awesome you took your cousin's dog. Good for you. I had an Aussie growing up and he was tbe best dog ever. We have one now and she's fabulous but like DH best I begged for her for months and who does she pick to be het fav? DH. She is . Also a lot higher maintenance than my childhood dog. Like she NEVER runs out of energy and had some bad habbits (jumping particularly) before we got her so she's way more work. Her shedding is insane too. But, she is a really good dog and plays so sweetly with DD. Maybe you can get one from the next litter ;)


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  • Thanks :) Yea thats true I could get one from the next litter. Thats like our two dogs we have now. The corgi my parents gave to my H when we were dating and he prefers me then I bought our lab for my H for xmas a couple years ago and she prefers me too... but its probly because Im the only one ever home with them and spoil them so bad lol
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