4 Yr Old Wanting a Dog

My niece was born with two great danes, a cat, and a ferret in the house. They all get along great and she even helps at feeding time (She's 2 now, so sometimes it's more of a mess than help, but fully worth it!). The younger they bond together the better often. It can also be used as a way of teaching responsibility... Just depends on the child!! Speaking of responsibility are you ready for a dog yet? lol sometimes they can be like another child! Best wishes and have a great holiday season!

yes it's is a great idea too get him a dog (puppy)!! my kids have been raised with pets I was raised with pets, he will always have a great friend and learn responsiblity!

My 4 yr old wants a dog for Christmas too but we decided to compromise. We are getting her a goldfish. I've heard that goldfish are great to teach a child to care for a pet. They learn to feed it... because if they don't, it dies. Plus, it is cheaper and there is not a whole lot of walking or exercising needed. ;o)

I would not get a pet for a 4-year-old unless YOU want a pet. No matter how sincere your son's intentions may be, he's not old enough to be able to take care of one by himself. You will have to be the one to house-train it, obedience train it, and take care of it when it gets sick. Do you have the time, funds, and willingness to do all that? If not, then please don't get a dog.
If you do decide to get a dog, then please so not buy one from a pet store or a breeder. There are too many dogs on death row in shelters. My 17-year-old daughter and her boyfriend just adopted a very sweet 1-year-old dachsund/Catahoula mix from animal control. She sat down on the floor, he walked into her arms, curled up in her lap, and didn't move until she stood up. She said, "Mom, I think this is my dog." It costs less than a pet store or a breeder, the adoption fee ($70) covers spaying/neutering, worming, vaccinations, and even microchipping if you want to go that route (we refused the microchip on religious grounds). All this is done before you take the animal home, except for the rabies shot. You have to go to your vet for that, but animal control gives you a voucher to pay for it, so it doesn't cost you. And you've saved an animal from having to be killed simply because of someone else's irresponsibility.

I agree with the others that Christmas is too chaotic to bring home a new family member. If you want to get one now, as an early christmas, at least the dog would have a few weeks to adjust, otherwise - get a stocking for the 'new' dog and pick him out in January. Let your son make things for the stocking (a welcome home card).
And most of all, make sure YOU want a dog. Granted a 4yo will not be doing most of the doggie care to start with, but I can guarantee you that a 13 yo definitely will be too busy to do anything (and a dog's life is hopefully a healthy 10 - 15 yrs). I just lost my 14yo lab to poor health (diabetes and cancer) and while I would love for my 2 yo to have another dog, I am not willing or able to take on caring for another animal for at least 2-5 years.

A dog is a great way to teach responsibility. I think it has to do more with maturity than age, and of course, keep in mind that you will be doing a lot of the work and will be teaching him how to take care of a dog. If you feel that your family is ready then I say go for it. But please go to the pound for one. There are so many homeless pets out there facing euthanization who just need someone to adopt them as opposed to buying a dog from a breeder, or adopting through a rescue. I also believe that mutts are the best kind of dogs (we have 4), because they have a wider gene pool and are often smarter and healthier than purebreds. Good luck!
-K.

If the child will actually play with the animal. I mean, I have seen animals that I wanted to rescue from children playing entirely too rough. I have also seen animals that never recieved any attention whatsoever, I am not sure which is worse.
I think that age isn't really a factor if he KNOWS HOW TO PLAY WITH IT.
My two children(2yr & 3yr) have a Boxer. They got him last year for christmas. I think that it is more important what kind of dog you have when they are little. Small breeds really don't do all that well with small kids. They tend to be nervous and they get hurt more easily.

We love our dog. He was a little to big for my daughter at the beginning of the summer. She is a very tiny 2yr old. Now she will grab his collar and give the sit command.

A.,

I think the dog can wait. I know that it is hard to say no, especially when they have a name picked out and you just ache to give them everything they ask for, thats why being a mom is the hardest job in the entire world. Sometimes we have to say no. Do you have the time to devote to a new baby in the house, because that is what a new puppy really is, a newborn baby. Wait till your children are older.

You've gotten a lot of correct advice -- his age is somewhat irrelevant. The question is - can you take care of a dog properly? As a stay-at-home mom, you should have enough time for the dog, but if your life is too busy, you might not. Be sure to factor in the cost -- vets, food, spay/neuter, etc. For expert advice, call your local Humane Society or other shelter. Shelby County HS # is ###-###-####. You should definitely consider a rescue dog, and keep in mind an older dog (over 1 year) is MUCH easier to manage than a puppy. Please, please, whatever you get, spay or neuter. This helps the dog's health and temperament also.

why not get him a dog? One that he can really play with and help take care of....

Hi A.

I agree with everyone else (having rescued and placed 20+ dogs) Christmas is not the time to get one. Your son is old enough for you to have a dog, but Christmas is just to chaotic + they have all their new toys to entertain them.
I also agree that rescuing a dog that is not a puppy is a better choice. The rescue group has foster homes and they can match you with a dog that will fit your family! It is definately the way to go (+ it is cheaper than buying a puppy). There are mixed breed rescue and pure breed rescues. Do your research.
GOOD LUCK
J.

I say go ahead a get him one. You already know that you will have the responsibility of taking care of the puppy. The real question is, Do you want to take care of a puppy on top of all that you already do? When Linzi was born we had 2 and aquired another one not long after she was born. We had a Jack Russell, a Rotwiler, and a mix breed that was a rescue dog. The 2 big dogs stayed outside and the little one was allowed in when it was cold. He stayed outside for the most part. When we moved from that neighborhood we had to give the dogs up. We have regreted that ever since. Our Jack Russell ended up passing away about 4 months later. We just recently got a cat. It's an older one and she really don't like my 4 year old yet, but she is starting to come around and she even let Linzi pet her about 2 nights ago. If I had more room and a yard of my own, we would definately get another dog. Hope he gets his puppy. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and a ver Merry Christmas.

Your son is too young to realize how much time, effort and money it takes to care for a puppy adequately. If you are considering getting him a puppy, please make sure you recognize these demands as well. Be aware that the cost of acquiring the puppy is just a drop in the bucket to the ongoing cost of pet ownership and housebreaking a new puppy is a demanding and, at times, frustrating undertaking. As for getting him a puppy at Christmas, the statistics on the success of puppies received as Christmas gifts are so poor that many people will not even sell puppies under those circumstances.

Educate yourself on puppy ownership then decide if you are up for it with two VERY young children.

I have a son who just turned 5 and we have 2 6-month old puppies. They are great with him and he is great with them. Our puppies are 1/2 mini schnauzer and 1/2 mini dauschand. They are hyper, which works for him, and very playful. I really think it would depend on your child's personality. If your child has a soft personality, get him a soft tempered dog. I would also recommend kennel training your pup when you get it. I have found it the easiest way to house break them. Let me know what you decided. I think it would be a PERFECT Christmas present!

We have a cat and a dog and they are a big responsibility. The cat is pretty easy because we have a feeder and water gadget that take care of her for a full week. The dog is a different story. We love her as part of our family, but getting a dog in the winter months is tough because you must keep them inside more often in the cold. I recommend pets but would personally put off getting one until Spring time. Even though it was the kids who wanted a pet and my husband wanted whatever they wanted, I am the one who does the caretaking of her and must make arrangements when we are out of town. Get one already trained unless you are good with this function. It would be worse to get rid of a pet if things didn't work out than holding off until your family is ready. Pets are great, but they require lots of attention. Something I really had to adjust to and make time for.

Hello. I have a two year old son. He got a dog when he was just turned one. Of course he doesn't take care of it mom and dad have to, but watching him interact with the dog is awesome. At first you have to really watch the two together and teach them to play nicely, but now it's like my son has a four legged babysitter. the dog is always close by and doesn't let strangers or who he thinks is strangers get close. It will be easier to teach your four year old.

Dear A.,
It always sounds so neat to give a dog/or puppy for Christmas, but here's a few Reality Checks you need to consider before you make that decision:
1) Christmas comes in the winter...are you willing to put up with the natural functions of a dog/puppy, either taking them out in the cold for their walks, and living with the "mistakes" of a puppy and/or doggie?
2) If your son ends up having any allergy to the dog, what kind of risks are you taking being closed up all winter with the new dog/puppy?
3) When you want to enjoy the Christmas holidays, by visiting, you will be leaving the dog/puppy behind at your home alone .... (you will need to buy a kennel to keep them in while you are gone...extra expense)
4) If you are getting a yard dog, some of these problems will be avoided, but if your not accustom to the care of an outside pet, during the winter, be sure and learn about it before you do.
5) People, sometimes, don't realize when they take on a pet, especially a dog, you are taking on another family member. That means extra expenses from immunization shots, sickness, that comes out of the blue, food, treats, etc. So just make sure your household budget will be able to handle it, or everyone ends up misserable. And who suffers is a neglected dog that never meant to be a burden.
One last thought...all children, at one time or another, asks for a dog (or some pet). So it's up to the Adult in charge of the family to know the "reality" of such an undertaking. It's nothing less than taking on another Living creature, with all the responsibilities that goes with it, in order for them and you to have a good "quality of life"!
Advice from a fellow Mom/and a Grandmother in TN

A.- I would recommend contacting a trainer w/ that ques. because they may be able to answer any other ques. you have about dogs. I have some friends who train for Petsmart. You may contact Ruth on the west side or Ashleigh @ 100 oaks or ____@____.com may be able to help you decide if you want to adopt or buy from a responsible breeder, definitely not from a pet store (chances are its from a puppy mill & some of these dogs don't make it). The best way to determine a puppy's temperament is to meet the parents. The trainers may help you pick out a breed (or mixed). They may be able to help you pick an age, sometimes a puppy isn't exactly what a kid wants. And of course, any one of these trainers will recommend training classes, which I would recommend as well. We have 3 dogs and an almost 7 mo. old baby girl (& a large backyard, of course). We manage the household well, but our dogs were already trained before the baby (& our dog door helps). I do think it is important & fun for a 4 yr. old to be part of the training because ultimately it is household maintenance knowledge (only positive reinforcement training). I would stay away from any trainer who uses choke chains or any method to cause a dog fear because that kind of training can backfire. Hope some of this advice helps. Happy hunting!

We bought our 4 year old a dog 1 month before he turned 5. With the expectation he would clean up after a puppy, excercise him, etc. He has done very well and Toby has actually ended up being his best friend. He even sleeps with him at night and is completely potty trained! Our son was 5 in July and the puppy is almost 8 months old. Our son was used to a dog. We have a 4 year old English Mastiff and a 2 year old pug. Toby is another pug. I have found them to be great with children. All are inside dogs.
Good luck with your decision!
J.

As long as you are aware that YOU are going to be the one taking care of this dog and YOU want a dog then he is at a great age. He is old enough to know better than to pick on a puppy, he is big enough to help feed and walk it. I personally recommend big dogs but I don't know what kind of housing situation you have. We got a "rescued" boxer (he was 12-18 mos) when my daughter was 4 and son was 10 mos. He was the greatest thing that ever happened to us. He was very gentle with the kids and my son as he got older used him as a pillow. He would watch tv propped up on the dog and the dog loved it. We lost him to cancer 18 mos ago and mourned him (still do). We got 2 more boxers (brothers from same litter) and they are a couple of nuts but they are also very very good with my kids (who are now 7 and 10). Both of them think that it is their job to protect the kids and if we don't watch them they will each sleep in the bed with a kid to make sure nothing happens to them during the night. We constantly have to run them off the beds. GRIN

Considering you are a stay at home mom it can be done. But be sure to that you are a prepared for another child in a sense because there are more to owning and caring for a puppy than just food and water. I choose to get my daughter a puupy when she was two but that was because I know how great that relationship is to a child but before getting the puupy I was aware of the cost of vet bills along with average property damage from house training to the case of the chewing to food.

Here's how I broke it down.
The intial cost of puppy prep. Same thing as childproofing. Cost about $50 Time: 1 to 2 hours

Puppy food for the first month: $75

First puppy check up: At my vet's office is $110.00
then next visit with in 3 weeks is : $55 Time Spent: 45 minutes

Spaying and nuetering: $100 Time Spent caring for puppy:varying times of 10 to 30 minutes throughout day

Walks time spent 1 to 2 hours

Housetraining: cost anywhere from replacing carpet to hours spent cleaning carpet

Chewing: buy chew toys: price: $30

Dog Food Monthly: $100

Advantages to the child: A constant playmate, teaches the child empathy and compassion, and a sense of secruity elevated

The best thing is to see if your finances and time can handle a puppy and the disadvantages outweigh the positives for you.

I just bought a beautfiul golden retriever a few months ago and she's amazing. We couldn't imagine life witout here. (My children are 4 and 1) But she's also HARD work!

If you do decide to get one, here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Your dog will be like having another child. Not quite as hard of work, but close!! Be prepared to have to supervise a LOT, the dog will actually be more YOUR dog as far as the work goes.
2. You need to take your time and choose the RIGHT dog for you. www.glowdog.com It needs to be the right breed as well as right personality. I highly recommend reading that website as well as reading Cesar Millan (the dog whisper) books in detail before you choose and bring your dog home. :)
3. Adopting from the pound is a wonderful noble thing but you must be very attentive and spend as much time with the dogs you're interested in as possible before you bring them home. These dogs all come from unknown situations and some will require mental rehabilitation. (often the fact that they need it won't even surface til they are home with you)Be prepared and possibly willing to work with them to overcome it. Almost all of these dogs can make wonderful pets, but in some cases it takes some work. :)
4. If adopting from a breeder make sure to find one with good references and preferably raised with children. Our dog was raised with 3 kids and one little girl carried her around the house like a baby, dressing her in little outfits. I really think this socialization makes an incredible differance. Oh yes--another thing. When choosing from a little of puppies ALWAYS choose one who is very middle of the road in everything. Not too dominant, not to submissive, not too laid back, not too hyper etc. An added bonus is if the roof of their mouth is solid black. (my grandpa, who was an old indian cowboy, raised animals of all kinds and swore by this ;)

However you decide--I wish you the best of luck!!!
M.

Hi A. F.,

My suggestion would be to get your son a pretend dog first. They sell pretend dogs in Walmart and Toys-R-Us. My reason for this is because having a pet is a lot of responsiblity and the responsibility would mainly consist of you taking care of the dog.

My suggestion is to explain to your son that he can have a pretend dog first and depending on how well he takes care of it, he then can get a real dog.

I hope this helps. Take care.

D. B.

Hi A.. My son will be 4 in a couple of months and we just got him a dog. He had been asking for one also. He loves him! They get a long great and he carries him around saying he is his best friend. I completely recommend getting a dog. But, obviously, be prepared to take care of it. As you know, at 4 they can't even bath themselves, so they can not take care of a dog. But, it will teach him responsibility. I have Brandon take the dog outside to go potty and feed him.
It's a good idea in my opinion.

My kids always had animals because we had them before they were born. They always liked being around the dogs, but just now, you will be the one to take care of the animal. It really isn't that big of a deal to take care of them. Just feed them each day and water them. They crave love, just like people....so that is important.

One thing....a purebred dog usually doesn't have as good a temperment as a mutt. If you can find a cute dog that is mixed breed, they usually tolerate kids well. Good tempered dogs that we have had, I'm 50 by the way, are lab mixes, hounds, bird dogs, and several other terrier mixes. Our cocker spaniel did well with our kids, but she had a short temper with them so I wouldn't recommend a cocker spaniel. Our poodle mix tended to have a short temper, but he loved me!!! We have had a Saint Bernard and a Saint Bernard Mixed with Golden Retriever, and both of them were wonderful with our kids, when they were small.

Hope this helps.

We have a one year old and got our dog (an english labrador) about a year before he was born. She has worked out wonderful, however, something else to think about - maybe wait until it is warm! We got our puppy right after Christmas and neither my husband nor I especially like to be out in cold weather. As a result our new puppy didn't get walked and excersized as much as she should have. It was also a real pain to get up in the middle of the night or early morning when it's freezing and let her out. We love our dog and she is great with our son, but in the beginning there were some challenges we didn't consider.

That depends on your goals and perspective. A dog is a great companion. If you carefully screen breeds (even the mixed ones) for dogs that are good with kids, they can have years of a special relationship. (we have 2 dogs and a cat)

That being said...dogs are a lot of work. If you plan on doing all the care and training yourself, go for it. If you don't have the time or want your 4 yr old to share the responsiblity, I've found that age to be much too young. (I still have issues making sure our 10 yr old feeds and waters the dog daily!)

Finally don't forget to factor in the cost of vet visits and boarding if you travel at all. A typical vet visit is probably $70 on the low side.

I just want to add that if you do decide to add another member to your family for the first few weeks, esp. if you get a puppy, it will feel like you have a newborn again.

We have two dogs, and love them, but you must do your research. There are many websites that will ask you some questions about your expectations for a pet and tell what breed if any would work well in your family. Also what my husband and I have learned the hard way is that dogs must have regular exercise, and running around in the backyard is not enough. They need at least one walk a day to keep them calm and happy.

If you get animal planet watch a show called the Dog Whisperer with Caesar Milan (Friday nights). He gives some great tips on how to get a dog to be happy member of your "pack." We have tried many of the concepts he uses and the change in our dogs has been amazing. Good Luck! Having a dog can be great for a child but the parent has to be willing to do a lot of work.

S.

Kids and dogs are natural companions. Any age is good if you find the right dog, but Christmas is a very chaotic time to introduce a new pet to the family. Consider getting one now or waiting until all of the hustle and bustle settles down after the holidays so everybody can focus their attention on training a new dog.

I think getting him a dog is a wonderful idea... just make sure that the dog is good with children... if it were me I would get a pup and raise it with your family. The dog needs to understand what you expect of it and should be a gentle breed, like a lab or bassett hound or golden retriever, something of this nature. We have a bassett hound and a daughter who is 18 months and they get along great but I raised this dog from a 6 week old pup and I recommend it... nothing is worse than a dog who does not understand your child and bites him in the face or something. I have seen children with dog bite scars on their faces and it hurts my heart. First, you should decide if you are comfortable with a dog and if you feel you can discipline it. But when it's good, it's very very good and there is no love like a child and their very own pet, whatever that animal might be (turtle, fish, cat or dog). My daughter loves to "talk" to her puppy. And the dog loves her, it's really sweet. Good luck!

I think it would be a wonderful thing to get him for Christmas IF you guys are willing. It provides a way for him to learn not only responsibility, but works on social skills, too. For example, make it HIS big job to feed the dog. Naturally, you will need to be there and to hold the bag open and hand him the cup, but still. And other things could be his job, too. Provided you would like a dog and it is not a problem for you, I think it would be marvelous! =) Plus, when he is getting a bit too rowdy and you are about ready to pull your hair out, you can always say, "Honey, why dont you go play with the puppy?" Heh. Good luck!

It's a great idea if YOU and your husband want a dog and all of it's responsibilities. 4yrs is old enough for your son to feed it and maybe give it water, but the rest is up to you. There are lots of dogs that are really good with children, even small ones, but they're a lot of work. If I were you, I would get an older dog (1-3) that has already been housebroken and whose owners can tell you the temperament of it. By this point, the owners could tell you if the dog has any health problems too. Plus, you'll know exactly how big/small it's going to be, and it won't be a shock. (We got one one time that was supposed to be a tiny jack russel terrier and ended up being a huge jack beagle mutt. We love him, but he wasn't anything that we were expecting) Puppies are a LOT of work. It's like having a new baby in the house. You also don't know if it's going to be a rowdy or calm dog, good or bad with kids, healthy or growing problems, etc. And, take it from my experience, Doggie meds cost a LOT, and vet bills cost a LOT. Even healthy dogs can cost a lot (grooming supplies or costs for a groomer, shots, vet check ups, dog house/crate, dog collars, registration fees), it all adds up. Dogs are great, though, and it teaches kids responsibility, but you need to know the negatives, too. They sure add a lot of fun and love to the family, but a lot of work and expenses too. Adult dogs are cheaper and easier with start up and overall. The puppy that we got brought along a lot of surprises, but the adult dog was always what we saw from the beginning, no surprises.

Good Luck!

My son is four, and my husband just bought him a dog for his birthday. Well it was a joint birthday gift for him and his brother, who is 7. It was the worst gift my husband has ever given my children. Not only did he give them a dog, but he gave them an inside dog. Which brings more responsibility on mommy.

I would wait till he was older. While my four year old loves the dog, he doesn't want to help take care of him. I would definately find him something else for Christmas, because for one thing it is very cold at that time of year. Which means, mommy and daddy will be doing all of the caring for the dog. Because it will be too cold for the little one to.

I hope this helps.

S.

The real question is are you ready for a dog. I have a 2 and an 8 year old we got them a dog earlier this year. Although it is their do I am the one who takes care of it. Every once in a while my year old will feed and water her but most of the time its me. Just keep that in mind while you make your decision.

I would think that 4 is the perfect age. They can grow up together and be best friends. One of my most memorable Christmas mornings was when I got a collie dog. I woke up about 4:00 am and all my family were sitting at the table talking and drinking coffee to stay awake. They wouldn't sleep in case I woke up because they had to see my face. I got up and there was a collie dog with a bow around its neck. The best Xmas of my life. I was about 4 or 5 and that dog and I were the best of friends and I will never forget that Xmas or that dog the rest of my life.
Go for it. Make it a present or from Santa and have fun with it and make it super super super special for him/her.

I want to add something after reading everyone else's comments. Of course a dog is responsiblity but so is a kid. And yes, you aren't going to expect a 4 yr old to feed and water it. Feeding time is a good experience for him also... make it a together time. Teach him how to help you feed and water. The only thing that I do agree with is do a little research and find out which kind of dog you like. Go to pet shops and hold one and see if they are hyper or calm and which ones you like. Personally I think that an outside dog like a sheltie or collie or golden retreiver are the best for kids. The reason I say outside dog is because your child can take it walking through the woods with him or it can follow him on a bike in the yrs to come. That dog will be his best friend. Don't make it confined to the inside of the house.
You will love it... just go ahead and get one.
Merry Xmas.

1) how old is your daughter? i think that would be a very important factor.

2) do YOU want a dog? you will be the one feeding, walking, bathing and brushing it, not to mention picking up it's accidents.

As someone who has animals (a dog and a cat), I would tell you that unless you are prepared to be the one that takes care of the dog primarily, then no you should not get him one now; you should wait. But if it is something that you don't mind doing, cleaning up after it, feeding it, watering it, and hauling it to vet appointments, then a dog may be a good thing. I LOVE my animals and my son loves them as well and they love him, but...even now at 9 years old, he isn't a responsible pet owner. If we didn't do it half the time, the animals would not eat! LOL. But, I've had dogs since way before my son was born and I don't mind being the one training & taking care of them.

Also, be prepared to have to separate the dog from the child. When things go wrong (like your son doing something inappropriate like picking it up by the tail or by the arms or just being too rough or something) you will need to be prepared to put the dog outside and away from your son. Since you can't put your son outside, then it's the dog that will have to be removed from the situation. We always told our son that if he couldn't follow the rules with the animals then he couldn't play with them and we would put them out for a while. Also, research and make sure you're getting a good family dog. There are lots of breeds out there are not good family dogs; they are more suited for just one person or only for adults and not suited for children. Animals can be fulfilling and lots of fun, but it's a big responsibility to take on.

I would go ahead and get him one. My 3 and 4 year olds love their dogs and want another one. Just be sure to keep it safe, you don't want to deal with the disappointment (and explanation) of it running away, getting stolen, or getting run over.