Pet for your kid?

[emsumm]

Lol, this is the first time I've really hoped my H won't see what I post.

So.  Maya wants a kitten or puppy.  I am...not so enthused?  I like animals, but I already know I don't love the upkeep involved, and I already spend so much time trying to keep things clean.  I don't want hair and crap everywhere.  I'm also allergic to cats, so that's a no.
So anyway, when did you get your kid a pet?  What did you get?  I had sugar gliders for 10 years bc I was a stupid college kid, and the upkeep was just awful...cleaning cages, they needed fresh food cut up all the damn time, they got the run of a whole room.  Ugh.  I liked the idea of having them, but I ended up really resenting having them, because I had to sequester myself in a dark room to spend any time with them.
Maybe a fish.  A fish is sounding good.  Or what else is insanely easy and they can love it?  Or are they too young still?  (3).
Thank you for reading this spazzy post.

[emsumm]

Jul 23, 2013 15:05:57 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

pet rock

Legit lol.  Fair enough based on what I wrote.

[Deleted]

Honestly? A leopard gecko. They're cheap to care for, can be handled as much or as little as you like, fun to watch, don't smell, stay in a cage, are quiet, and don't bite. Here's a picture of mine.

[lime]

I think 3 is still too young, based on what you've said.

ETA - We had fish as a kid and I was never really interested in them at all. They didn't feel pet like to me and they died. all. the. time. 

[leancuisine]

A fish is a good idea, but they can die easily, so you might have to prepare them for that. Maybe a hermit crab? It could be fun to watch it switch shells or paint a shell for it. I have no idea what kind of care they need though...

[cbwm1]

We've always had cats, but recently got a puppy. Will is almost five, and knows that his job is to feed Sheldon every night at dinner and to play with him and help us take him outside to go potty (even though we hold the leash).

It's been an awesome experience so far. Obviously, DH and I do a majority of the work and Sheldon goes to doggy daycare five days a week, but Will and that damn dog love each other SO MUCH it kills me.

ETA: For three year olds, I think a kitten would be great, as you don't have to do a ton for them (unlike dogs). Fish are dumb. You get no rewards from having them. 

[snickers]

I would probably stick with a fish, and even then, an easy fish to care for.

[dizzydee]

I'd say 3 is still too young for a pet pet. I'd go with fish and get the small like 2-5 gallon aquarium. Also get fish that are easy and cheap to replace.

[sawyerthedestroyer]

Get a very ordinary 33-cent goldfish. When it dies, you replace it. Voila!

ETA: FWIW, one of DS's first chores was feeding the dogs every night after dinner. He loves doing it.

[circa1978]

We have a dog who has adopted him. He also has a fish my brother gave him for his birthday. He's 2.5. He feeds the dog and the fish at night. I think animals can be great for teaching responsibility and compassion but I wouldn't get one just for those reasons because for the most part, it's on you.

[simplyinpenguin]

Do you feel that your girls will have the maturity to take care of one?

I ask this because, when I was 4, my parents got me a terrier dog. One day, they left me unsupervised and the next thing they know, they're performing CPR on the dog. The dog wound up with brain damage and eventually ran away during one of his psychotic episodes. As an adult, I feel soooo horrible about what I did, even though I was only 4.

I could see a hamster, gerbil, or even a guinea pig. It's small, it runs. A fish just sits there. And you'd be the one cleaning out the bowl every time.

[dizzydee]

Oh and then when they turn 5 or so get them rats. Just like cats but waaay better. I loved mine.

[tacokick]

Fiddler crab?

[cbwm1]

Jul 23, 2013 15:11:22 GMT -5 simplyinpenguin said:

Do you feel that your girls will have the maturity to take care of one?

I ask this because, when I was 4, my parents got me a terrier dog. One day, they left me unsupervised and the next thing they know, they're performing CPR on the dog. The dog wound up with brain damage and eventually ran away during one of his psychotic episodes. As an adult, I feel soooo horrible about what I did, even though I was only 4.

I could see a hamster, gerbil, or even a guinea pig. It's small, it runs. A fish just sits there. And you'd be the one cleaning out the bowl every time.

Uhhh, what?

[idoinjuly]

Jul 23, 2013 15:11:22 GMT -5 simplyinpenguin said:

Do you feel that your girls will have the maturity to take care of one?

I ask this because, when I was 4, my parents got me a terrier dog. One day, they left me unsupervised and the next thing they know, they're performing CPR on the dog. The dog wound up with brain damage and eventually ran away during one of his psychotic episodes. As an adult, I feel soooo horrible about what I did, even though I was only 4.

I could see a hamster, gerbil, or even a guinea pig. It's small, it runs. A fish just sits there. And you'd be the one cleaning out the bowl every time.

Uh, what did you do to the dog?

[gretchenindisguise]

My kid has a fish.

She desperately wants a puppy. She loves puppies. I'm allergic to anything with fur, and we live in a place that doesn't allow dogs.

She has a stuffed puppy dog that will have to suffice until she moves out.

[thatgirl2478]

3 is too young for a real pet...

I was 7 when my parents FINALLY agreed to get a cat. Then a year later they agreed to a second cat only because it was trapped in the trellis under the porch and it's momma had abandoned her. Those cats were around for - I shit you not - 25 years!

I had was responsible for scooping the cat box & feeding the cat - but when I went off to college that responsibility fell on my parents. Keep that in mind.

We - as a family - have pets (2 dogs, 2 cats). After the dogs pass on, there will be no more dogs for a while. After the cats pass on ... I'm unsure ... there MIGHT be another cat MAYBE 2 but not 3 again.

[CherHorowitz]

Hermit crab or fish?

[emsumm]

I find the hermit crab idea compelling. They love painting shit!
Hmmmm.
Thank you guys for the advice. I'm going to look into some of these suggestions and contemplate for awhile...at least until M asks again.
And I'd get a kitten bc cats seem kinda cool and aloof and you don't need to board them to go away overnight, but I'm way too allergic.

[idoinjuly]

I feel you emsumm. DD has been asking for a pet, namely a dog or cat. I'm just not up to keeping another creature alive and fed. I'm thinking a fish (beta?) or a hermit crab.

To be honest, I'm not an animal person. I don't want something that I'll have to touch and hold. I know that sounds awful, but I get really squeamish around animals and I have to wash my hands a million times when I'm around one. We never had pets for any extended period of time when I was young, except a parakeet. My parents bought him for me for one of my birthdays and I was petrified of him. He became my sister's baby.

[statlerwaldorf]

DD had a betta fish. He lived a few years. I can't keep goldfish alive for more than a week. Plus goldfish are dirty and you will need to clean the tank more often. They also need a bigger tank. I had a cheap 1.5 gallon tank that came with a filter. I think they sell them for around $20 at Target.

IMO they are too young. If you take on a pet, they really aren't going to be able to help much. I've been considering getting my 4 year old a guinea pig, but I think I'm going to wait and let her do it for a 4H project.

[Dusky]

What about a hermit crab or a turtle? They tend to be relatively low maintenance.

[cbwm1]

Jul 23, 2013 15:16:12 GMT -5 emsumm said:

I find the hermit crab idea compelling. They love painting shit!
Hmmmm.
Thank you guys for the advice. I'm going to look into some of these suggestions and contemplate for awhile...at least until M asks again.
And I'd get a kitten bc cats seem kinda cool and aloof and you don't need to board them to go away overnight, but I'm way too allergic.

[slug*bug]

We had a cat and dogs growing up (so, we all love animals, etc.) but my mom now tells me that it was no accident that the first pet didn't show up until I was in kindergarten and my brother was potty trained.

(I was wringing my hands over worrying whether it was somehow depriving our kids to not have a pet, yet, but like you said, I've got enough to clean right now and envision a pet as being more hassle than I can deal with right now. She put a lid on that for me in 2 s. flat.)

[emsumm]

Ok, now, also, just for the sake of information:
What is the easiest dog to own? Is this a ridiculous question? I actually run a lot, so I could take the dog running. That sounds kind of fun. But I don't like hair. And also, if it could wipe its paws and stuff, that'd be nice.

[emsumm]

Jul 23, 2013 15:18:59 GMT -5 cbwm1 said:

Jul 23, 2013 15:16:12 GMT -5 emsumm said:

I find the hermit crab idea compelling. They love painting shit!
Hmmmm.
Thank you guys for the advice. I'm going to look into some of these suggestions and contemplate for awhile...at least until M asks again.
And I'd get a kitten bc cats seem kinda cool and aloof and you don't need to board them to go away overnight, but I'm way too allergic.

I am lmao imagining Maya's (Mava's) face if I brought that home and presented it to her.  Lololol.

[simplyinpenguin]

All I did was hug the dog but I ended up hugging him too tightly and wound up choking him. He was my first pet, we only had him a short time, my parents were working with me on "gentle" and "no, that hurts the dog". They just happened to walk away and I was just hugging him, just around the throat . I wandered into my dad's office and said "doggy sleeping, daddy". He wound up having to give him CPR.

Believe me, I LOVE animals. I feel TERRIBLE about what happened when I was 4. I feel terrible that I chose not to go with my dad to put our next puppy down (hip dysplasia) when I was 5, even though I didn't understand what was happening. Hell, I feel terrible that I didn't take action sooner when I saw what I thought was an infection, was actually a cancerous tumor on my Rottie just 3 years ago. I was just a 4 year old who loved her "live" stuffed animal too much.

[cheeseandcrackers]

beta fish?

i don't think any dog is easy, especially not a puppy.
maybe if you adopt a small adult house trained dog.

[Deleted]

Jul 23, 2013 15:21:01 GMT -5 emsumm said:

Jul 23, 2013 15:18:59 GMT -5 cbwm1 said:

I am lmao imagining Maya's (Mava's) face if I brought that home and presented it to her.  Lololol.

My sil is allergic to cats. Not the saliva, just dander. If dander is your problem they make something called allerpet that helps with that. ILs have 3 cats, and none are the naked kind.

Sent from my totally awesome galaxy s3.

[Deleted]

Jul 23, 2013 15:11:22 GMT -5 simplyinpenguin said: