Family of 3

My soon-to-be-late-husband made the mistake of asking Mini (6.5) "would you like a dog?"

So all week we've had tears etc. about getting a dog. We've not said yes yet, but we've said we'll give it serious consideration if he can prove that it's not just a passing phase and he demonstrates that he'll help by helping to feed our existing cats etc. Personally I could do without the mess/cost/hassle, but he's an only child so I guess it'd be a mate for him, and walking the dog might force me to take some exercise!

So, as part of my preliminary just-in-case research:

- any recommendations for medium-sized breeds that don't shed much, are good with kids and cats (we have 4 oldish ones), well-behaved etc.?
- we'd get from a rescue centre rather than a breeder - are any better than others?
- how much walking is such a dog likely to need?
- how much do kennels usually cost? Do many places here (WA) let you take a dog if you're staying on holiday?
- estimated annual costs for dog?
- which are the best pet insurers in your experience?

Thanks so much.

eddie007

Hope that helps

Bermudashorts

To be honest, if he doesn't help to look after the cats, why would he help looking after a dog?

eddie007

My question is.... What the **** is one adult doing asking a 6.5 year old whether they would like a dog until the grown ups have discussed every aspect and made their OWN JOINT decision 100% first.

It should not be a kids choice...

Like any kid that age ever said... "Actually no, I wouldn't like a dog..." Why do you think pedophiles always ask if the child they are trying to abduct, in their white van, would like to come home with him and see his puppies?

Old men and etchings... Peadophiles and puppies.... Younger men offer you a coffee in their flat...

Family of 3

This is why he is my soon-to-be-late husband!

We did think we'd get a dog when we moved here but went off the idea. We are just thinking about it at the moment and will definitely not be rushing into anything, hence some research (not just on here!).

eddie007

Its Too late for research...

You can't do this to a child of that age.

You have to either kill daddy or get a dog....


Personally I feel that, for a lot of children today, at the age of 6 the death of a parent is easier to deal with than not getting a puppy....

Or you could do both... "Sorry.. I had to murder your father, but look!!! here is a puppy to make up for it....."

Family of 3

Yeah, well one of my reasons for not wanting one is the cost, but the life insurance would sort that out.

To be fair to him (grrhhh!) he's really sorry and feeling very guilty at upsetting Mini; mouth just acted a bit quicker than brain.

eddie007

In which case... If you are loosing your murderous intent your ONLY option is to suck it up and getting the dog....

Most people don't think about the cost/commitment/responsibility of children before getting themselves up the duff... They just accept that this is their situation and get on with it.... They shoulder the responsibility, find the money and make the time....

Just look at it as getting your self another child.... Only one that is easier to train...never screams "it's not fair" never asks you for pocket money and doesn't get drunk and vomitty on weekends.....


In fact.... Having said all that.... Could you trade the child for a dog?

northernbird

If you want a reasonable temperament and no shedding go for something crossed with a poodle or a pure poodle.. Groodle, labradoodle etc. They shed very little.

Walking I think needs to be done every day, doesn't have to be a big walk but helps socialise dogs with other dogs and other people and gets them used to noise.

Costs me roughly $300 p/a for regular vaccinations and flea treatments. Food costs me probably $50 a month.

Mine are insured with Medibank. Haven't had to claim so can't tell you want the process is like. I pay about $40 a month.

I pay about $25 a day when they go into kennels. There are places you can take your dog, just harder to find obviously.

Pollyana

I remember someone on here years ago promising their kids (in the UK) that if they agreed to move to Australia they could have a pony and a dog. They ended up in a little suburban house in Perth somewhere - with extremely unhappy kids and a heck of a lot of explaining to do.

eddie007

Yup.... And that's EXACTLY why we don't involve kids in life changing decisions nor make empty suggestions....

And You don't ask a child whether they would like an ice cream if you don't have access to one nor means to buy one.... The question implies some imminence... Not a ... That's good, you'd like an ice cream... We might get you one next march

galba

What about dogsitting - that way your son gets to walk and look after a dog, but you get to hand it back to its owner after a few days!!....and get paid for it - approx $20-$25 a night

eddie007

Wow... What an excellent idea.... You get a dog for little johnnie...he falls in love with it... He walks it, feeds it, grooms it..adores it....

Then after a week or so it leaves him....

Repeat the process several times and little johnnie will bebperfectlynprepared for relationship breakdowns/ divorces/ people using him and dumping him when he grows up

rasen78

Just wanted to add to this. Speaking from experience, be VERY careful if you choose a poodle cross. You will need to look at whether it's a first, 2nd, 3rd generation cross, what it is crossed with and various other factors.

Poodle crosses (labradodoodles, cockerpoos et al) come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and many people underestimate how much care and grooming is needed for them. If you decide on a poodle cross, check its hair type. A curly hair type may require lots of grooming and trimming, wire haired hair, perhaps not so much. Check the ears. Many doodles require their ears to be plucked on a regular basis to prevent ear infections. Pure bred poodles are also known to suffer from food intolerances and this can be passed onto any offspring. Something else to be aware of.

Doodles are beautiful dogs, (I have had a 1st generation labradoodle) but unfortunately, because of their current fashion and popularity and supposed suitability for those with allergies (another thing to REALLY look into as not necessarily the case), it is underestimated just how much care they require.

Family of 3

In our case little Johnnie is adopted, which makes it even more important that we think carefully - giving animals back because it's no longer convenient is not a message we want to be sending.


Thanks for the input so far, peeps.