We got a new puppy this weekend, its name is Princess. My daughter named it. She wanted a pet, and this was a good operatunity to give her a pet and teach her some responsibility.
Anyway, I am not a pet person. I have no idea what to do with this dog. All I know is that it cannot run free in the house tonight, because it can get into too much trouble. there is garbage, toys, and other things that can hurt the dog right now. Our house is not pet proof these days. So I am stuck up tonight, because I cannot listen to the puppy whine. So, she is sitting on my lap as I write this, all nice and warm, tucked in my sweater. She will sleep if she is there, but as soon as I put her down, she cries. I can’t bear to listen to her cry, so I’m playing with her, and petting her, and she seems happy.
Did I mention, I’m not a pet person? Well, the puppy is sleeping peacefully on my lap.
Now you are. Has she had hiccups yet? Those are always fun. I thought our puppy was going to fall off the bed because of them. I also thought that something was dreadfully wrong with her. No biggie though. Oh, and the great falling out of teeth. Endless gnawing and blood. Teeth on the ground…ewww.
But they are sweet when they cuddle up next to you and lick you and paw you. They know how to worm your way into your heart. They are perfect.
So you want to teach your daughter some responsability by buying her a puppy… but you dont know the first thing about what it takes to care for a puppy?
How you think THATS going to turn out???
Also, do keep in mind that you’re (as in, an adult of the household) going to have to take ultimate responsibility for the dog. There is every chance that your daughter, no matter how much she wanted this puppy and swore she’d take care of it, will let her responsibilities slide. Somebody else is going to have to doublecheck that the puppy gets fed, walked, etc.
I am not a dog person, but there are lots of dog books out there. You might want to invest in a couple. Dogs can be a blast, but they do involve work, especially raising a puppy.
Yeah, what Whammo and whiterabbit said. I have a brand new puppy at home, and although I have had plenty of dogs before, and I have read almost everything there is to read about puppies, I still feel overwhelmed sometimes. Imagine then what your daughter will feel…
I don’t want to rain on your parade, dogs are a wonderful companion in any household, but please… Don’t let an innocent pet teach your daughter a lesson.
Click on the “Your New Puppy” link from http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/ Tons of good information at this site. I also highly recommend you read the “Crating Your Dog” link as well.
Puppies are like that. Remember that dogs are very social animals and need interaction with their owners.
Of course, this is being posted by the woman whose kitten tries to sleep in her shirt every night. Matter of fact, she’s curled up in my lap right now, purring away.
[sub]Who’s my Lil Spike Kitty? Who’s my little Acid Drop?[/sub]
Good advise by all of you. My daughter is too young to actually take care of the dog by herself. I don’t expect that. The only thing she has to do with the dog right now is make sure it has water when she gets home from school, and come with me or my wife when we walk it. That is plenty of responsibility for her, and it is something we can help her with.
Okay, I’ll jump on the awwwwwww train, too, but teaching your daughter responsibility should have started out with a little more responsibility on your part, dear blur. A little research, a little reading, a little talking to people who DO know how to raise puppies would not be amiss here-- before getting the puppy would have been best. Now will be the next best time. Way too often, the puppy (or kitten) is the one who suffers for the impulse of “Oh, you’re so cute, I think I’ll take you home.” That said, I hope all works out well for you, daughter, and little Princess.
Has she had hiccups yet? Those are always fun. I thought our puppy was going to fall off the bed because of them. I also thought that something was dreadfully wrong with her. No biggie though. Oh, and the great falling out of teeth. Endless gnawing and blood. Teeth on the ground…ewww.