We have never been “pet people”.
(RIP Tundra and Orrie)
Then I had kids. And kids ask for pets. They want a dog. Or a cat. Or a hamster. Or a guinea pig. Or a lizard.
We all know Owen – and in my opinion he is the perfect pet. But he’s just not doin it for them anymore. “He’s boooring!”
I honestly don’t think we’re pet people. A pet family. Then I think that maybe Cuyler would have a deep connection with a pet. It might be really good for him.
And really…my gawd – how cute is this?
I want one. ohmygodlookatit!! Look! So cute, right??
STOP. Look away from the puppy. LOOK. AWAY.
I remind myself. We are not pet people.
Then we visit a friends farm and Eva is just simply smitten.
Okay okay…we would not get a cat.
But a dog? A cute little dog? I think…maybe one day?
We don’t travel so we wouldn’t have to worry about leaving a dog behind. Sean does travel so a nice companion pup would be nice.
I don’t work full time so I could be home with a dog.
- We’d get the “sick” (read: money pit) dog with that-rare-thing-that-that-particular-breed-hardly-ever-gets.
- We’d get a yappy dog. There are 2 whippets down the street that make me mad. They’re creepy looking and incredibly yappy and annoying. I would like a placid dog that hardly ever barks. But you just don’t know what you’ll get, right?
- I like sleeping. Puppies are worse than newborn babies (or so I hear).
- I can barely keep the house clean as it is. I would need a dog that NEVER sheds.
So therein lies my dilemma. Pet people – help me.
How do we know if we are a pet family?
How long do we think about it?
What considerations should one make while making this decision?
Ask yourself this – How do I feel everytime Angie wipes Hummer’s drool with her sock? How do I feel everytime I slip on drool on Angie’s kitchen floor?
Does this help?
My thing? Get an older dog from a shelter. AVoid the puppy pitfalls and he would be awesome for Cuyler. That’s my opinion as a pet person. Sure they’re lots of work, what worthwhile isn’t??? I know my sister is thinking about it for Scotty – there is just something about pets and autistic kids….let Cuy go to the pound and see who he gravitates too. That’s my humble opinion!
I guess I feel like I’m not a pet person because I didn’t really have that experience growing up. If I grew up with dogs or cats would I be a pet person now?…who knows.
I don’t think now is the right time, but I don’t think I can rule it out forever…maybe when the kids are older and more independent. And need me less? I’ll feel the need to be needed and get myself a little dog. I can see that happening.
And like I said in another comment – I hear so many great stories about children with autism and animals. I would love for my son to experience that.
Well you’ve given the pet thing a try with Cassius, right?
I agree. I am busy. But…
I can’t help but think how a dog might help Cuyler. I hear so many endearing stories about autistic children and animals and how the bond is so strong.
*sigh*
I’m hearing the same sentiment from a lot of people. People who really are pet-people. Once their pets were gone they were in no hurry to get another or would never get another. To me – that says a lot.
True – my youngest is 4 and life is getting easier now that she’s older…so why would I make more work for myself with a little dog…?
Hah! How did I know that would be YOUR advice!!!
Oh god – so true! I still get annoyed when I have to wipe a bum.
but is borrowing a dog really like having a dog?
It would be like babysitting, right? A novelty that I’m sure wears off quickly…
Rats are perfect!
We started with fish. Gold fish are easy, and if they die they are cheap to replace and as my twins were not extremely attached, we could replace them easily, and they learned how to feed and care for them.
But my daughter was hooked on a “Hammy”, a cute cuddly? thing. Being allergic to cats (although I love them) and not having time for a dog (nice, but a child that will never grow up to leave home) we settled on a pair of Fancy Rats! The most intelligent small pet you will find. Able to make a relationship with you, trainable and responsive, but lives in a cage that you only need to clean once a week. They are constantly grooming themselves, and prefer not to poop when outside their cage (unless the are frieghtened). They need to be carefully monitered by an adult if taken out to play. I’m finding that I enjoy them too, but don’t have to deal with them all the time.
I know it sounds odd, but they are really cute and easier to manage, if you really need a pet without as many strings attached as a dog.
“How do we know if we are a pet family?” In my opinion, if you have to ask the question, you are not a pet family. No matter how good it would be for the kids (and yes, having pets teaches kids wonderful things), it is ultimately the mom who ends up being the responsible pet owner, and if the mom is not a fully committed animal lover….well, that’s partly why our Humane societies are so full.
My husband and I were given a cat as a wedding gift. I have always loved cats and, while the timing wasn’t good (our apartment had a no pets rule), I was very happy to have him. When I had to make ‘the decision’ when he was 15 with issues, I cried for a week and said I would never have another pet. 2 years later, after months of research and waiting, we brought our new puppy home. While my kids are good about walking and feeding him, he is definitely my dog. (He doesn’t bark, doesn’t shed, is never sick, and slept through the night after day 3) For Christmas 2009, I received the most wonderful gift ever – a bag of cat treats and a note saying we could go pick out our new pet, signed by my whole family. While I never said I wanted a cat out loud, they could see me pining at the pet store, and holding my friend’s cats every chance I could. Our cat has had a more positive impact on all 4 kids than I could possibly imagine. My husband, not an animal lover, has adapted. I tell him some people are just meant to have pets, and he married one of them.
If you are not one of them, please don’t get a dog. It is a huge, long-term, and often difficult commitment. The ‘cute’ wears of quickly – but it will poop and eat and need vaccinations, and possibly surgeries, and……for the rest of its life.
BK (before kid) I had 2 cats and 2 dogs….now they are all in pet heaven….my heart misses them every day…they were like my children……but I don’t miss the messes, the yard that got torn up, the furniture that got shredded, the barking, or the medical bills which increased as they all aged, the expensive pet food which their delicate stomachs eventually needed and then eventually the day I had to put them in the forever sleep. I miss the company and the affection, but I don’t miss any of those things enough to get a new pet. My daughter also asks often and I tell her when she is old enough to get a paper route (i.e – responsible) then she is old enough for me to consider a pet again. I spent almost 20 years combined picking up doggie do and changing cat litter and I am in no hurry to revisit that task….
With 3 little people already under your belt…. personally I agree its a hard decision to add on a “little dog”… because are you said… you have to take care of it like a little child that will require cleaning up after just like a two year old that is being potty trained. OUch!! But once you get past all that dilemma…. and they learn the routine and when their go time is… its much less stressful.
I have two little ones at home now and we have had our PUG (gagne) before the kids. So ofcourse he’s accustomed to his habits and well trained, well behaved and loves the boys. Almost like a protector. If they cry… there is gagne by their side looking up (no bark, like I said… trained) and giving us the worry look.
So the question is… would I add a little puppy pug NOW after the kids (at this age)… THE ANSWER IS NO. After 5 years old… YES.
your gonna love me for this chris…dont do it. you have 3 lovely kids to look after . thats enough for you luv!!
I feel the same way and even more so because M is an only kid. This is a HUGE commitment and the attention soon drops. You know who’d be taking care of the adorable little pet. You are busy enough. That’s my weigh in on the topic. K
DON’T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is my advice.
end of story.
I agree here, wholeheartedly. If you can, see what it’s like to borrow a dog for a while, maybe.
As you know, we recently had to put our dog down (which of course, was a sad, terrible time) and I miss his little face in the house… but I DO NOT miss having a dog. He was a very well behaved dog, who almost never barked at all (I swear!) but I don’t miss having to clean up after him, or j-u-s-t sitting down to dinner at 8:30 PM and having to draw straws about who was going to walk him… all that stuff.
But, the puppy-training period is relatively short, if you’re hardcore and consistent… unlike pesky, immature babies… (Heh.) Good luck!!
i love pets…just other people’s! i am done cleaning up human poo and i wish to no longer clean up poo of any sort. i will therefore never have a pet that poos…or sheds…or makes noise…or eats. so i’m out! 🙂
We are definitely a dog family (my husband and I each had them growing up and the kids love other peoples’ dogs). However, given our work schedules, desire to be able to travel somewhat spontaneously, weekends at the cottage, hockey/baseball tournament weekends, etc., we know we wouldn’t be very good dog owners. It does make me sad because I think the bond children develop with the family dog is so special, and I know that my kids won’t feel the same way looking back at their relationship with our guinea pig, but I know we couldn’t be the dog owner that we’d want to be at this stage in our family’s life.
Having said that, if we’d rationalized having children to the same extent we rationalize our decisions to get pets, would we ever have had them??!!!
I will say this – dogs are about the most high-maintenance pets going, so if you’re not sure you’re up to a pet, it may not be the place to start? Do you have a friend with a dog you could babysit for a week, maybe, to see how that goes? Or a local shelter that needs foster families for pets so you could try out a pet or two to see how you fit a dog or cat into your family’s life? A dog is a huge commitment, one I know I would not be ready to make, and I love having a pet!