The last time I owned a pet (other than a fish), I was 13. 32 years ago today (!) my family got a puppy.
The day we brought Licorice home, October 5, 1979.
Part Labrador, part Poodle and way before they were called Labradoodles, Licorice was black with a little patch of white fur on her chest. She was sweetest and smartest dog I’ve ever been around.
Running along the ocean was one of Licorice’s favorite activities and we had to spell the word beach or she would go bonkers.
Despite sleeping at the foot of my bed, to be fair Licorice was my mother’s dog. We had her for six years and when we moved, we gave her to some friends that lived down the street.
My mother and Licorice, circa 1982
It’s time for another dog.
My husband STRONGLY disagrees.
ARGUMENTS FOR GETTING A DOG:
- We’ve been wanting to add to our family. A pet would be a perfect addition teaching Lucas responsibility and giving him a wonderful life long playmate.
- We have a large backyard with plenty of room for a pooch to roam.
- I don’t think a more unconditional love exists than the one between a dog and it’s owner. Even when you’re feeling (and acting) miserable, they still love you.
- Lucas really like dogs, although to be honest (much to my chagrin), he seems like more of a cat person. WE WILL NOT BE OWNING A CAT!! EVER.
- I love to walk and vow to be in charge of this daily (and nightly) activity.
- Extra security… for when my husband travels.
- Opportunity to give a dog a second chance by adopting or saving a pound puppy.
- Who could resist these precious faces?
Image courtesy of Pinterest. Click image for source.
Image courtesy of Pinterest. Click image for source.
Image courtesy of Snowesti. Click image for source.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST GETTING A DOG:
- Discovering my favorite shoes chewed to smithereens.
- We can’t even potty train our son, how would we ever potty train an animal?
- No more spontaneous (or the other variety) trips – kenneling is expensive.
- Vet care, food, toys, bedding, treats, etc. are also expensive.
- Training. Ugh!
- Shedding. Sigh.
- Poop.
- Saying good-bye is inevitable.
Okay, he may have won this argument… for now.
What do you think? Do you own a dog? What love and hate about pet ownership?
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oh, the great debate! I think just about everyone with a young child and a puppy will agree that they should have waited until the child was 5 or so. It’s just too much. You will be a better dog owner if you wait. Other than the chewing, the other down side is the play biting or nipping that a puppy does. Also, when your child is in bed and you sit down to have that much deserved glass of wine, you have a dog in your face, needing training, knocking over your glass, pooping. If you do it, send the dog to training camp before it comes to your house. Petsmart doesn’t cut it. I couldn’t wait that long for Bernie to go to a camp and I should have sent him. Hindsight is 20/20 with this debate. Good luck! (you will totally get a dog anyway!)
I love the idea of training camp. Thanks for your insight. I suppose waiting until Lucas is a bit older is a good idea. Especially if we want to have another baby soon… Sigh!
I’m that horrid, dreaded “Cat Owner” you love to hate!
I think because my worst memory was finding my beloved dog dead when I was only 14. So my arguement is wait until Lucas is older so that when the dog does “move on” he’s old enough to handle it.
Just add a brother or sister! =)
We’re working on it!!
Oh, and cat’s actually hate me. I’m deathly allergic.
Big decision. I say go for it!
We have a dog and I love having him around. It was tough when he was a puppy – I was doing my master’s and he wanted to play ALL the time, and of course there’s the peeing in the house thing. But he’s great now.
I do find it tough some days because he’s the kind of dog that absolutely has to be walked every day or he goes nuts. I want him to get out anyway, but some days it just seems like the one thing that might put me over the edge.
Still, I love having a dog and if you want one and are up for the responsibility, I think it would be great.
Oh, and that beagle totally gave me heart flutters. Holy cuteness!
Beagles are so cute, but pee in the house is gross and smelly!! Maybe we’ll just work on Baby #2 for now. 🙂
Looking at those fuzzy puppy pictures just makes me want to go out and get one!
Well, not really, we live in an apartment so there’s NO WAY we can have pets. We had 2 cats before Monkey arrived, but had to re-home them 2 months after he was born. Just had no energy to give them the love and attention they need and deserve.
I would love to get a dog for Monkey one day, when he’s older, 6, or 7, and hopefully by then, we’ll have a house with a backyard. And at that age? He can be responsible for some of the dog care. 🙂 If you really want to get one now, I suggest a less boisterous breed.
I think waiting until children are older to get a family pet is a good idea. I’ll keep you posted. 🙂
We had one and had to get rid of it when B was born. I am determined to get the boys one when B is 5 and C is 3. Until then, we will continue to be a dog free family. Besides–I really like not having dog hair all over the place.
Ack… the dog hair. I think we are leaning towards waiting until Lucas is a bit older too.
I own three dogs, and I can not imagine my life without them (though, like you say, saying goodbye is inevitable).
I’m all for getting a dog, for all the reasons you mentioned. But not if it’s going to ultimately be more frustration than enjoyment 🙂
Excellent point. I really want one, but my husband HAS to be on board.
You know, if we get one, he’ll fall madly in love. But never admit it. 🙂
We got Big M when I was 4 months pregnant. Husband and son like him, I love him. He is the only one in my house that listens to me.
He is also a huge responsibility. And ultimately mine.
I cannot imagine my life without him. But looking back, life would be easier without a dog.
I don’t think I could handle one more responsibility. I do wish we had gotten a dog when I was pregnant with Lucas. Now I feel like he’s too young.
We have a great dog and two nice cats. The dog is way more work, louder and more expensive, but also more loving.
Our cats are cuter, gentler, easier to care for, quiet and entertaining.
The choice is yours, but I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want a cat.
Stopping by from writers workshop.
I am deathly allergic to cats. Plus, for the most part, don’t they walk on their poop and then all over your kitchen counters? Ew.
Thank you for stopping by. I’ll be sure to check out your post today today too.
I say get a dog. Even though the pain when they go is horrible, the years of love they give you far out weighs those sad moments at the end. Plus you are left with awesome memories for the rest of your life.
Pets are God’s way of making sure we have unconditional love and loyalty. Someone to always listen and love us no matter what.
Good points. I just HAD to link to your touching Louis post. xoxo
OK, I’m a cat person, I’ll admit it. But we have a dog that I really love and Luke loves him, too. Nothing makes him smile like that dog, and nothing is more precious than seeing a child play with an animal..it’s like the two sweetest, most innocent things in the world loving on each other. You’d have to be made of stone to not melt when you see that. so, you know, I’m for it. Spontaneous trips are overrated, anyway 😉
Like we ever take a spontaneous trips anyway. Great points, every single one. Thanks for weighting in.
YES! Get a pet! It’s such a rewarding experience to have an animal companion, for you and Lucas. And T will come around. Sure, it’s work and sometimes the pet becomes the pet when the kids demand all your attention but the unconditional love and excitement to see you that a pet, especially a dog, beings to your life is pure joy. We just signed up with 2 golden retriever rescue groups to adopt a golden. We just miss our Caleb so much. Out home visit is this weekend so hopefully we’ll have a new family member soon too! I day go for it!!
Our and say. Not out and day! 🙂
How exciting, Coreen!! I’m glad to hear you are ready for a new dog.
We’re still debating…. I’m thinking we need to wait until Lucas is a little older, but I want one SO bad.
I love the idea of a rescue.
If you are going to get a pet I too wold suggest a puppy! Remember that you will bea new mom again though, but once “potty trained”, and not “crying in the night”, then what a wonderful expansion to the family.
Lynn
I know… it’s such a hard decision. I keep thinking now maybe we should wait until Lucas is a bit older.
Hi from a total dog lover. Both of the girls and I couldn’t wait to get a dog once we “settled down” in the States. Get an older dog from a shelter and go for one that is a mix with a non-shedding dog. I have a Schnoodle, Di has a Cockapoo–no shedding, but they do need haircuts a few times a year. Older dogs usually are trained, but may also have some bad habits to be corrected. Work out a dog sitting arrangement with a friend who has a dog….Di and I do that a lot. The dog will be yours (you will be the main source of food, water and walks), but Lucas will love having a dog to play with. Good luck with the decision.
Thanks, Carolyn. I really want one and know Lucas would have a ball with a pet and learn a lot about responsibility, etc. I think we are leaning towards waiting until he’s a bit older and/or until we have another child.
Adopt a Rescue! You’ll Love Having a Dog!
I wrote about Petfinder.com yesterday. http://www.aimeedesireepress.com/2011/10/05/10-tips-for-adopting-a-dog-the-first-steps-in-being-a-pack-leader/
And La Jolla Mom just adopted a rescue, too! http://lajollamom.com/2011/09/my-tips-for-rescuing-a-dog-meet-scooby-dillon/#comment-16382
Do it!!
Thanks for the links!! I love the idea of a rescue. I’ll keep working on the “man of the house”. 🙂
I haven’t read the comments, but here is another great argument – kids who grow up with pets, especially at a young age, are much less likely to develop asthma and pet related allergies!! They also learn empathy and kindness in ways that they can’t learn with stuffed animals or from “mommy said so”
If you were to adopt a young adult or an adult dog, you wouldn’t have to deal with potty training or chewed shoes. Depending on the type of dog you adopt, you can find “communities” of dog lovers that exchange pet sitting. We have greyhounds and we leave our dog(s) with another greyhound family when we go out of town and they do the same. No charges, no gifts, no headache! My friends with boxers have the same arrangements.
So now your pro list is 10 and your con list is only 5. Yay!!!
I want a dog. But my good sense so far has prevailed.
I’ve had a dog as long as I can remember so I’m definitely in the “adding a dog” camp. We got our little Westie, Chester, before having kids and they just adore him. (He’s a non-shedder, and sort of aloof like a cat, if that sways you.) I think it’s a wonderful way for children to learn about being kind to someone smaller than you, and they are slowly understanding responsibility of taking care of another living thing.
However, once Chester gets “sent to the farm” we will not get another pet. They definitely can tie you down if you don’t have inexpensive boarding available.
I think you should get one because you want one but I’m not a pet person. Some day we may have a fish. Maybe.
We own a dog and she’s a rescue and she’s a TON of work.
Let me just list some things…
1. she had serious separation anxiety & had to be on Prozac. She’s better now but has to be crated when we’re gone.
2. She’s ruined the winter pool cover, the solar cover, several pool hoses (that were attached to the pool).
3. Most recently she ruined the pool pump.
4. We have more holes in our yard that should be allowed. It looks like a mine field blown up.
5. She pouts. A lot.
6. Counter surfs.
All of this because she’s bored. And when certain breeds get bored they start acting out and are naughty. We were told to get another dog. But at this point we’re not sure that it’s worth the cost.
Oh… the point is no. Don’t get a dog.
Honesty time. We have a dog and 2 cats. We love them all, but they have seriously slipped down on the totem pole since having kids. But I’m glad we got our dog BEFORE we had kids. We crate trained him, and he was the picture of obedience, and still is for the most part.
The cats are assholes. I kind of hate them.
But I can’t imagine getting a puppy now that we have kids with all the attention it requires. Maybe adopt a dog that’s a year or so? I know shelters have a hard time finding homes for the older dogs. Good luck!
The only advice I can give you (my parents have always had dogs), is that you both really need to want a dog. It doesn’t really work if not. Luc has never wanted a dog, so I guess that’s why we got cats (who mostly lived outdoors). I don’t have any pets left today. It was nice having them come up to you in the garden to say hi! I miss that! My cat was more like a “dog” in his way of being with me! Not as selfish as most cats are.
As for my memories as a kid growing up with dogs, I remember most of the dogs we had, and especially one. Mac was lovely! We even bought him back to France with us when we left Africa for good. He lived up to 15 years!
Good luck!
We have a dog. I love dogs and last year for Christmas I decided we needed another. HORRIBLE decision! The training, pop, whining, barking, shedding, vet bills, the time it takes when I can’t keep my responsibilities straight now, finding a dog watcher when we needed one, etc. As cute as those faces are and as tempting as it is to do it again, I just think I would lose my mind. But, your situation is a bit different. Good luck deciding and if you do get one I would love to see all the pictures!
I am such a huge dog person! The unconditional love, companionship, and security they bring to the house is amazing. I say go for it! Lucas will love having a dog to play with!
It really depends on the dog to be honest. There are some dogs that are basically just a joy to be around and are no trouble at all. All they require is walks and to clean up poop. The dog my parents have no is a wonderful yellow lab. She is fantastic and such a sweet dog. She doesn’t cause any trouble. My parents got her when she was one. Having her puppy phase be over certainly helped.
Other dogs we have had have been pretty good and I loved them all but some were more difficult. One dog we had liked to fight other dogs. A pain sometimes and fantastic in others. She was a great protector. So my advice is if you are going to get a dog get a one or two year old and not a puppy.Puppies are adorable but will be a handful.
We don’t have a dog, but we used to. We had a rottweiler, and my son LOVED him. I was somewhat scared of him because he was huge and he’d growl at me. Oh, and just so you know, I never wanted a rottweiler. My husband picked him. So, I always thought he’d growl at my son or try to bite him. But, he didn’t. He was wonderful with him. Very protective. My son would get on him, grab his ears, and that dog wouldn’t do a thing except move away when he was annoyed. Sad thing though was that we found out he had diabetes when he was only 3 years old. I never even knew dogs got that. So it got pretty expensive with giving him insulin shots everyday and having him on a special diet. It was hard looking for someone to care for him when we were away. He passed away when he was 9. After he died, I told myself I’d never get another dog again. But, now I really want one. And, I know my son would LOVE to have a little friend around.
Well, we’re total dog people. We currently have two, and I know when they’re gone (they’re 11) we will get another.
One thing to consider is it is very tough to have a puppy around a 2 year-old. Puppies jump. They bite (and those baby teeth are SHARP!) and two year-olds are not the most gentle of creatures. You might consider a dog who’s a teeny bit older.
I am a total dog enabler, so I say go for it!!
When I started getting that “baby” look on my face right around this time last year, my Husband took one look at me and informed me I could have no more children until he gets his dog. It’s been a year. Am I pregnant? Mother of a brand spankin new infant? Negatory there ghost rider! I am, however, the main caregiver to a dog I NEVER WANTED. Lucky for him, the dog… the Husband on the other hand, I have a soft spot for fuzzy animals and can’t turn them away and make sure they’re good and taken care of. Still waiting on that baby… Maybe this time next year I’ll be enveloped in that new baby smell? We shall see! The dog ended up being a shelter rescue that I picked out because he was the ONLY dog that didn’t dry hump the gated “cell” when the kids walked in the holding area. My Husband would have chosen the one that looked like Cujo.
I have 2 dogs and they are great with the kids. It’s so fun to watch the dogs and the kids play together. But the poop, oh that part sucks, I mean stinks.
We just recently added a dog to our family, too. Have you checked into adoption of an older dog? We found a 4 1/2 year old black lab. She’s already fully trained and grew up around children. She’s been the PERFECT fit for our family…if only I could find a cure for the shedding!!
You know we are struggling with this right now, too!
For now, we’ve said no. We’ll see what happens when we move and have a fenced in yard!
We own two dogs (and 2 cats, but it’s clear you are NEVER getting a cat, so moving on…) we love our two dogs. And one of them doesn’t even shed so bonus! I’m advocating for the dog! The good far outweighs the bad! How’s that? Have I swayed you with my law-school worthy argument?
Ha, I feel the same way about potty training! Pets are a pain, I’m with your husband. There is a special bond between a little boy and his dog, but I’d wait until he’s old enough to clean up the poop 🙂
If you do get a dog, I will be there in a second to dogsit! : ) haha I would love a dog soon one of these days! You do have a great yard for one!