My 14 yr old wants a puppy should I give in and get one?

once you have an idea pf which dog is best for you and your son then you should read a book and make your son read the book about the dog breed you plan to buy. you should create a 100 Question test for your son to take. you should create all the test questions based on the book. Then give your son the test and tell him he must get a 100% A on the test and the test is NOT open book. If he gets a 100% then he gets the dog but if the does not get a perfect 100% then he needs to take the test again in a few days and retry.

Good luck!

here I found you some awesome books for you and your son to read before you get your dog.

http://www.barronseduc.com/pets-dogs.html

for example if your son and you wanted a mini australian shpeherd then you would create his test using these books,

http://www.barronseduc.com/0764105582.html

http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-WILEY2_SE...

some example test questions could be:

1.) The Australian shepherd is a fairly high-energy dog that requires daily exercise. A __2 or 3 ________ mile walk is around thr neighborhood might be adequate exercise for a young puppy or an older dog, but cannot be considered exercise for a healthy adult. A good, fast run, a fast session of throwing the ball or a jog alongside a bicycle is more appropriate.

A) 2 or 3

B) 3 or 4

C) 4 or 5

true or false questions:

2). living with a dog requires some compromises, and dealing with dog hair is one of them. TRUE!

3.) you change the water and clean the bowl daily? TRUE!

fill in the blank questions

4.) grooming supplies: proper brushes, special shampoo, toenail clippers, a toothbrush, and doggy toothpaste.

Good luck!!!

and create a good test for your son :)

My first reaction is to say "No!" If your son has been irresponsible with the two pets he has/had why would he suddenly become responsible with a new pet? It just doesn't add up. Is he taking care of his gecko lizard now? It's very easy to SAY you will do something & much harder to actually do it. Perhaps he can start taking care of his other pet(s) first. That would be a sure way to show if he can handle an additional responsibility or not. And after a few months (once the excitement of the possibility of a new pet has dies down a bit & been forgotten) he'll show you by his actions if he's truly become a more responsible person.

My second reaction was, "Well... maybe." But that's simply b/c it sounds like YOU would enjoy a dog. And dogs can certainly be wonderful companions. I wish everyone who wanted a dog could have one. But the simple truth is they are a lot of work. I agree that if you get one, an older dog would probably be best. Do some research. If you're not physically able to do too much for the dog, you might want to get one that doesn't need much grooming or as much exercise. Still, in order to have a happy & healthy dog, no matter what breed you get, the dog should AT LEAST go on a 15 - 30 minute walk every day. Or, if you get a dog that likes playing fetch in the back yard, that can be a good alternative to the walks (if you are unable to walk him).

PLEASE do not count on your son to do really ANYTHING with the dog. At least not unless he has previously shown you he is responsible enough. It's so easy to be excited & do everything right the first couple of weeks that you have a new pet. But once the "new" wears off, it looks like all the responsibility will fall on you. If you're willing to take all that on, including the exercise, grooming, & mental stimulation, then I say the choice is completely up to you! Maybe you have a young teen or older child in your neighborhood that you could pay to walk your dog every day.

I hope it all works out for you. I'd love for you to save a pup from the pound & have an wonderful addition to your family. But PLEASE don't get a dog if you know YOU can't handle it. B/c from the sounds of it, I wouldn't put too much faith in your son. There's no harm in waiting & letting him SHOW you he's responsible first. But there IS harm in getting a dog now & then finding he doesn't keep up his end of the deal. The family will suffer but the poor pup will suffer even more.

You took care of the rat, and the gecko and now your son wants a dog. He didnt take care of the rat or the Gecko who do you think honestly will take care of the dog?

If you are not able to care for a dog your self I would say no.

As for the size thing or type every dog is going to be different. I would honestly say no to your son until he takes care of his responsiblities.

Give him some chores to do and if he does them with out being asked for a month or two then I would think about getting a dog.

Still understanding that you will have to care for the dog also.

Get a smaller dog. Look at the shelter for one that is already pretty much trained and is small like a lap dog but big enough for your son to play with.

Good luck

If you have had to take care of his other pets, I doubt you can trust him to care for a dog that will take more time than a rat. "Swearing" means nothing to most kids, I am 18 and can barely keep promises to myself. YOu know him better than we do, and you will be the one that has to deal with the dog if he flakes.

Like the above answer siad, if you do decide to get a dog get an older one that at lest has been pottty trained. Pick a dog that is more laid back, definitely don't get a hyper one that would need a lot of exercise.

Even if your son does care for the dog, I doubt he will be able to care for it for the next 10-20 years. If he goes to college, he will not be able to take it with him to the dorm, and chances are he won't be able to keep it in an apartment. If he gets a job, then he probably won't be able to afford it right out of high school. Once he is out of high school he may be more responsible, but he will have more stress and will probably be costing you more money to either send him to college or help support him (if you don't help I realy doubt he would even be able to thinka bout a dog with only a high school diploma).

If you aren't sure if you cna properly care for the dog, don't get it. Its not fair to the dog. I would get a cat if you want something loveable that doesn't require much training. They are easier and don't require as much physical stuff.

I wouldn't. He doesn't sound responsible enough to handle the type of commitment that a dog needs. I'm guessing he also promised he would take care of the other two pets as well? If he didn't take care of the gecko or the rat, and you aren't capable of training and properly caring for the dog, what will happen when he gets bored of it (like the gecko and rat) and stops caring for the dog? If a parent is not able and willing to take on that responsibility themselves, they shouldn't get a dog for their kid. Some breeds of dogs are generally easier to train than others, but it comes more down to the individual dog's personalities.

Nope, do not trust him.

The rat died Sunday, that was what, TWO whole days ago. Yup, he grew up a whole bunch in two days.

If YOU want a dog, then get one. You already know it will be YOUR dog.

Get a 2 year old from the pound, easier to housebreak.

Let the people at the pound know your situation and let them point to a dog that will be easy for YOU to handle.

Your son will be at school all day, and, at first, anyway, when he comes home, he can take the dog for a walk, but it will probably get old in a few weeks.

Good Luck!!!

Absolutely not! Sorry, but at 14 he's old enough to take care of his pets completely on his own. And he clearly hasn't.

I feel like Dr. Phil here, but bringing a dog into this situation is unfair. You need to explain to your son that he needs to PROVE he can take care of a pet....and proof is found in actions, not words.

Then ask him what kind of pet he wants besides a dog. He has to "work his way up" to a dog. And if you find yourself even once having to do something care-related for the pet, he goes back to square one.

Also, if he's planning on going to college, you then have the issue of Mom at home with a 4 year old dog. Teach him responsibility by showing him the commitment a dog requirs.

some dogs are easier to train than others, and some wont require as much exercise as say, a lab or collie, so that'd be less responsibility for yr son. BUT: remember that this is a living being, it HAS to be taken care of, if he can't look after a lizard, i for one wouldnt trust him with a dog, at least until he proves he can and will take care of it

xxx

If he's not taking care of the animals he has now, he shouldn't be getting another one. Period. He's not responsible. Tell him he can get one when he moves out after he turns 18.

If you get one from a pound or shelter, not only will you have to train it and take care of it when you are unable to, but you might have abuse issues to deal with as well.

Also, if a dog you get from the pound or shelter is not spayed or neutered, you'll be required to do that within a certain amount of time or the pound or shelter can legally take them back.

As long as you are prepared to at least help him take care of it, you should not ever let a child totally be responsible for a pet. Research breeds and find one that is easily trained and layed back, don't get a puppy look for a young adult that is somewhat trained at least. Alot of people are re-homing them (which is why you should be prepared to help so you don't have to do the same) Good luck