should i get a dog?

[thekunk07]

my son has been asking for a dog for three years. wife is not thrilled with the idea. we have a failry small house but it's big enough, and a sizeable yard. my 2 other sons are all for it. what should i do? can any of you with kids and dogs share your experience?

 

[denimdestroyedmylife]

let your son(s) have a dog.

i had a couple but we gave both away.
one bit me all the time. the other one was constantly depressed.

are cats out of the question?

 

[kwilkinson]

I'd say hell to tha muthafuckin yes get a dog. But if your wife is going to be unhappy with it... I dunno son.

 

[rnoldh]

Tell your sons that if you are elected as POTUS, you will get them a dog.

It worked for a cute pair of sisters and one lucky dad.

 

[lee_44106]

What kind of dog? size? Bigger the dog, more mess to clean up. Also, what's the excercise need of the dog?

How committed are you/your sons to taking care of dog. It's gotta be walked, fed, bathed, house trained, taken to the vet....etc.

It's a lot of work. I had a rottweiler. It was a lot of work.

Did I mention it was a lot of work?

People fantasize about all the good aspects of having a pet, but when it's 2 in the morning and the dog needs to go out and pee/****, and there's 6" snow out, and you can't get the person who orginally wanted the dog in the first place to take the dog out, then you are stuck.

This is a living being. This is not a stuffed animal or some inanimate object. Think of it as another baby/child. Are you ready for another baby/child?

 

[Homme]

Get one. Given the vast number of different breeds, there's sure to be one possessing behaviourial / physical characteristics ideal for your family + home.

 

[celery]

Don't get one.

Your kids will love it for a short amount of time. But after the "new toy" feeling has worn off you will be stuck taking the dog for walks, picking up it's poop, going to the vet, buying million pound bags of dog food and yelling at the dog everytime it gets on your nerves (like when you have guests over and it jumps all over wife's friend's brand new dress).

The idea of getting a dog always surpasses actually having one. Unless you are one of those dog lovers, but if you were, you'd already have a dog.


Dogs are living creatures. They require attention and upkeep (which can be costly). So don't get one if you aren't ready to take care of it all by yourself.

 

[gamelan]

do it do it do it! although i'm curious why the wife has reservations.

-Jeff

 

[Thomas]

Do it! however...

Get a male only if you hate your carpet.

 

[gorgekko]

Good reasons to get a dog:

1) The kid has been asking for one for years.
2) The wife doesn't like it

Reality:

You're walking it at midnight in the middle of a New York snow storm.

 

[FlyingLotus]

I love dogs, they make great companions and are basically another addition to the family.
Tons of responsibility though, gotta take it out for walks, bathroom breaks, and give it lots of love & attention!

 

[e23]

Dogs are the best, they want nothing but love.

 

[Jumbie]

Originally Posted by celery

Don't get one.

Your kids will love it for a short amount of time. But after the "new toy" feeling has worn off you will be stuck taking the dog for walks, picking up it's poop, going to the vet, buying million pound bags of dog food and yelling at the dog everytime it gets on your nerves (like when you have guests over and it jumps all over wife's friend's brand new dress).

The idea of getting a dog always surpasses actually having one. Unless you are one of those dog lovers, but if you were, you'd already have a dog.


Dogs are living creatures. They require attention and upkeep (which can be costly). So don't get one if you aren't ready to take care of it all by yourself.

Couldn't have said it better.

 

[GQgeek]

No. They are dirty and they smell. They will catch threads on your clothes when pawing at you and leave fur all over the house. Did I mention that they smell?

Oh, and they also ruin furniture. My father held out for years against getting a dog. When we moved to quebec he caved for some reason. The house was never clean again.

 

[kronik]

GQGeek is a douche.

Yes, get a dog if you're ready to have a dog. Don't get one for the kids as it will turn out to be yours and your wife's. Of course, she may dislike the idea now but warm up to it once it's in the house which is fairly common.

If you're concerned with shedding and such, you could get one of those new mutt breeds i.e. Labradoodles; I've seen some good looking large ones though they've all been extremely... active.