Believe it or not, the post started at 4 am this morning. My oldest son (3.5 years old) walked in our room asking the question "When can we get a dog?" I'm pretty proud of my response - no yelling, groaning, or sleeping through it: "When you are old enough. Now, let's get back to bed."
Now, I've had several dogs in the past as well as cats, rabbits, mice, fish, a snake, and bees. (The colony probably did not consider themselves pets but I still include them in the honorific hall of pet fame.) But now, "the question" has arrived, courtesy of a sleepy-head 3 year old.
I've done a good bit of thinking on this. I got "my" first dog when I was in 3rd grade though our family had a dog when I was 5. We had enjoyed a wide array of fish and hamsters by then but I always wanted my own pooch.
So, is that the right answer? When he's 9, he'll get a dog? What about his younger brothers (currently ages 2 and 10 weeks?) When will they be ready? What would be best for the dog? Do we get a new puppy or an old hand?
I did some research and, as you would expect, there are lots of helpful ideas and warnings out there for what to bring home and when to do it. I like the HSUS's comments best - depends on the family, the child, and the pet. Just make sure you get all the questions right before you do it!
As for us, we'll wait until the youngest can help with the pooch and disciplined enough not to be too aggressive. If I were a betting man and the over-under was 9, I'd take the over. But not by much.
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