Kid Scoop
My Kids Want a Dog for Christmas and I Don’t
A dog.
My boys want a dog for Christmas.
If it’s true that every boy needs a dog then I probably owe them two dogs by now or something.
I like dogs; I really do.
I just don’t want one of my own.
When I was working full time outside the home I was always like, “Maybe someday kids. It’s unfair to be away 12 hours a day with a lonely dog at home alone.” Now that I’m working from home, I especially don’t want one.
Why? Let me count the reasons:
1. The money. Dogs are expensive to feed and care for. They just are.
2. The destruction. I know, if you train it, blah, blah, blah. But I don’t want to have to train it, blah, blah, blah.
3. The effort. We all know that no matter how much my kids pinky promise to care for this dog, it will inevitably become my responsibility. I kinda feel like, I have kids, I don’t need a dog. Sure, kids and dogs aren’t the same but they both require a fair amount of care (and clean up).
My husband’s on board and I’m the Grinch who doesn’t want to get the kids a dog. Boo to me.
Check out this letter written by one Boy Wonder that I found crumpled up in the trash. Insert knife in heart.
Of all the reasons I don’t want a dog, there is one reason I do: My kids would love a dog, like shout-it-from-the-rooftops love a dog in the most quintessential super-important necessary childhood experience kind of way.
Help! Should I get them a dog I don’t want? Please share your experiences and help me decide!
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14 Comments
Evin Cooper commented on Dec 13 11 at 10:34 amI’m dying to get my kids a dog, but I have 2 kids in diapers and that’s enough poop. Once one of them potty trains, we’ll do it… I will add that as a kid I was dying for a dog and my mom was dead set against it. I finally got one in Jr. High and my mom loved that dog so much that 6 years later, when I got my own apartment, she refused to let me take MY dog with me, and bought me a cat. Told me a cat was better for a single girl, anyway.
Irene commented on Dec 13 11 at 10:36 amDon’t do it!!! You know how much I loved my beloved DiMaggio but you are so right about not wanting one – all the work and money. God forbid it gets sick, expensive city!!! And yes, YOU will be the one taking care of it. We will never have a dog again. My lovely husband wants to get our sweetie pie a horse – aye vey.
Hopes@Staying Afloat! commented on Dec 13 11 at 10:44 amOh I’m such an animal lover and I LOVE my dog, she is part of the family. When I was a kid my brother and I had to beg my dad for a goo 4-5 years before we finally got one. That being said, they ARE a lot of work. And I’m not just talking about raising them when they are puppies. When you want to go out of town. Who will watch the dog? There’s the vet bills, and the puppy destruction costs. They are a huge time commitment! But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Kona brings such joy to our family, and unconditional love.
Tough call mama! I would say don’t do it until you’re really ready to do it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair to all involved!
Mommyfriend's Mommy commented on Dec 13 11 at 11:12 amOh no! The big question is “What are you going to do with the dog when you go out of town????”
goddess commented on Dec 13 11 at 11:28 amNo way. I’ve upheld ubder the onslaught of 3 kids who’ve begged for one. Um yeah- 3 kids I’ve cared for, bathed, cooked for, etc/. The same three kids who LEAVE the house and that would leave ME to care for the dog I do NOT want. No dogs. In my house. Ever unless it’s a guide dog for the blind and a golden retriever.
LogicalMama commented on Dec 13 11 at 11:41 amMy friend just got her kids “grow your own dog” stocking stuffers. They really want a dog too and for the same reasons as you, she does not (as well as allergies)! Anyway, they had the grow your own dog thingies at the toy/candy shop so she grabbed them. You know, they’re those spongy things you put in water for a few days and they get bigger and bigger! She’s hoping that shuts them up for a while!
Sylvia commented on Dec 13 11 at 2:37 pmEvery boy needs a dog…IMO. As the owner of two dogs (will never have two at the same time again!) they are work. It doesn’t help that we have a 3 month old. Our dogs are seriously ignored these days but they aren’t very active dogs which helps. We will be getting our son a dog when he is older.
Laura commented on Dec 13 11 at 2:38 pmMy husband and I have two dogs they are a part of our family. It will likely be different when we have children, but they will grow up with two brothers that happen to be 4 legged.
I think a dog can teach responsibilities, but it depends on who is going to need to take care of those responsibilties. How old are your children? I recommend they read “Pet Trouble” a children’s book, but an awesome tale of different families from the same community that take on different dogs. Funny stories ensue, but it reminds kids that sometimes it is not all fun and games.
The second thing to try it volunteering at a Pet Shelter, set up a volunteer schedule they need to stick to walking dogs and if they manage to do that for 3 months then it might be time to start shopping. If they start to complain about getting up early to walk the dogs then it is a good time to point out that they are just not ready.
It is important to time the arrival of your dog with a break so the kids and you can get adjusted to the dog. Try not getting a puppy, but adopting one from the local shelter so that some of the expenses are already taken care of. Those slightly older dogs need a good home and are already potty trained.
Look around the community for dog walkers, or doggy daycare as an opportunity for your pet to get some additional exercise.
Wishing you luck!
lucy commented on Dec 13 11 at 2:44 pmWe got a dog before we had our daughter and I was working from home. It took a lot training and it does consume time. Now almost two years later, he is great with our almost one year old daughter. My partner and I work from home and we are able to spend time with both the dog and baby. What I see from my neighbor who has a dog and a small child is that their dog is tied-up all day or in a cage all day. He sits there in his own mess, sleeps, and eats all in the same spot. If you are not going to be there 100 percent, if the entire family is not on board, then forget about the dog. They are another living being that becomes dependent on you for everything. If we didn’t have the type of jobs we do, we wouldn’t have one.
Keri commented on Dec 13 11 at 3:06 pmoh my! that’s a tough one. we have two dogs and two kids. but it’s hard, and expensive. if it’s not YOUR choice to get one, and you’re the one who will end up taking care of it- you don’t want to end up resenting the dog!! if you end up giving in, i would highly recommend NOT getting a puppy. get a 2 year old dog from the pound, who is already potty trained!!
El commented on Dec 13 11 at 3:17 pmNo. Unless everyone says yes, don’t do it. Otherwise it will be the dog that suffers. Once something happens : he is sick, old, destructive, untrained, etc it is easy to say I never wanted a dog, get rid of it and the dog ends up in the shelter. One no vote rules. If they want to help a dog, have your husband take them to the shelter to walk the dogs there….or even foster a dog for a rescue group. There are a lot of ways to enjoy dogs without committing to years of care.
lam commented on Dec 13 11 at 7:00 pmWe just got a golden retriever because I felt the kids should have a dog. We all love him to bits. He’s awesome. I read 3 dog training books (love Ian Dunbar) before we got him when he was 8 weeks old, and we crate-train. It’s worked out really well. He’s 7 months old now and his training is pretty solid. We have no chewing of household items, no peeing or pooping in the house, no barking… My husband didn’t want to deal with all the work, so I did it all and taught the family members how to not mess it up. Now he ADORES the dog, as do the kids. For my boys, it was really important for me to give them a relationship where their behavior and performance and success and all that was really not relevant. I’m glad we got him and really glad I read the books and did the training. Potty training is really a no-brainer with a puppy when you crate train, which TONS of animal behaviorists, vets, trainers, and dog owners advocate.
LogicalMama commented on Dec 14 11 at 12:31 pmWhat? No one likes the idea of the “Grow Your Own Dog?!”
WeeMason's Mom commented on Dec 15 11 at 3:22 pmAdopting an adult dog from a shelter often gets rid of a lot of the extensive training and upfront costs. Most of them are already house trained and a lot of them already know tricks. My local shelter puts a lot of their dogs through a basic obedience course while they’re awaiting adoption. They’re already fixed and vaccinated so there are no big yearly expenses unless the dog gets hurt or sick. I have pet insurance on my dogs and it runs $16 a month and covers 80% of all of those “what if” vet bills, which I think is amazing.
That being said, it sounds like you would resent a dog so I recommend not getting one.
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