Should I get a puppy for my kids?

Should I get a puppy for my kids?

By Sandi Birdwell, CVT, Bellalago Veterinary Hospital

So your child wants a puppy.  First you’ll hear, “Please can I have a puppy?!” then it proceeds to “I promise to take care of it. I’ll feed it and walk it,” and after a while of this you begin to relent.  You think it might be good for your child to have a pet, think it will teach them responsibility.  STOP.  There are some very important things you need to know before you go out and purchase that puppy.  Having a puppy in the house is like having a toddler running around your house without a diaper, and it will be near impossible to get a child to clean up after it.  Raising a puppy can be a great experience for children and adults, but one needs to remember that a puppy comes with responsibility and costs!

The price you pay for the puppy is just the first expense you will encounter.  Puppies need vaccinations.  The vaccinations they get will prevent Distemper/Parvovirus, Bordetella (kennel cough), and Leptospirosis, all are highly contagious and deadly diseases.  They will receive a series of these, as well as yearly vaccines for Distemper/Parvo, Bordetella, and Rabies.  The rabies vaccine is tracked by the county you live in and you will need to have your puppy registered with the county.  Your new puppy needs to have their feces checked for intestinal parasites, which can spread to you and your family.  They will need to be tested for heartworms, which are spread by mosquitos. As their name implies heartworms gather in the heart and will cause heart failure if left untreated.  You will want to purchase heartworm preventative.  It is best for the puppy to be spayed or neutered.  Un-spayed females will have heat periods where they will bleed.  Un-neutered males will mark their territory by peeing on things. Males will also wander looking for a female to breed with. Your puppy will need to be walked, which will make it happier, healthier, and less likely to tear up your home. Puppies also need to be properly socialized, meaning contact with lots of people and other dogs. If not properly socialized, your puppy will either be aggressive or terrified of new people and animals. You will want to feed your dog a high quality food, so he is well-nourished, happy, and his feces stink less. All of this adds up to a large expense. 

If you think your child can handle the responsibility and you can handle the financial part of it, and you still want to get that puppy, I have a few suggestions.  First, go to your local shelter; there are many very sweet and healthy puppies to choose from (Check out PetFinder or the ASPCA website to find some great locators for pets needing homes.). Many of these dogs come from homes that could not afford to keep them as well as many strays. PLEASE go here first as there is only so much room at these shelters and if they have no space for a homeless pet, some will be euthanized.  If you want to get a purebred dog, make sure you get it from a reputable breeder.  They will be able to show you the parents of the dog so that you will know what size your puppy will be when grown. They will also have vaccination and deworming records for the puppies.  [Florida has laws to protect pet purchasers from others within the state.]  DO NOT BUY FROM A PET STORE.  Most of the puppies at pet stores come from puppy mills. Puppy mills are places where puppies are produced for money with no regard for the health of the animals. A reputable breeder will not breed a dog that has genetic issues that it can pass on to its puppies. Research the breed you are interested in.  Some breeds do well in apartments while others need lots of room to move around. Some dogs will be good with children while others tend to be less patient with little ones.  You will also want to know which conditions a breed is prone to, for example, English Bulldogs are prone to bad skin and Cocker Spaniels are prone to ear infections.

If after all this, you still want to get a puppy for your child remember this: You as the parent are ultimately responsible for the welfare of the dog.  No matter how mature you feel your child is they are still not responsible enough to be in charge of another’s life.  Having a puppy can be a wonderful experience and one that children cherish for a lifetime, but it doesn't come without some problems.  I hope this has been helpful to you in making you decision.