My kids have wanted a pet for years, preferably a dog, but there’s a very important reason why I keep saying ‘no’.
I know what you’re thinking…
“Look how cute this boy and his dog are? How adorable?”
Let me tell you what I’m thinking…
“Oh look. He’s happy to hug it and play with it but picking up poop, washing, vet visits, walks, all my job huh?”
I’ve been resisting buying my children a dog for a very good reason and that’s because I already have three children to care for. I don’t have time to care for a dog which in my mind can take more work than looking after a child.
I can't pack a dog off to school for the day.
I can't drop the dog off at a dance class for activity.
I can't explain to a dog that when I sit down with my tea, that is not the time for a cuddle because tea can be HOT.
I just feel like my plate is full enough.
Celebrity vet Dr. Katrina Warren completely understands my hesitation. She says that parents have to try and avoid buying pets with the expectation that their children will take care of them properly.
"That's a big message of mine. Parents have to feed the animals, pay the vet bills and do most of the caring. They can't expect kids under ten to accept any responsibility with pets."
Dr. Katrina says that while parents shouldn't expect children to take full responsibilities for pets, they should definitely get them involved as much as possible.
"It's nice to get them involved and once they're older it's great and kids really enjoy them. But sometimes the novelty wears off."
Adding a pet to the family - and make no mistake, a pet is an addition to the family - requires careful thought. If you do decide to get a dog, it's becomes a question of what kind of dog. Dr. Katrina prefers not to recommend certain breeds to families but she does warn against some.
"You shouldn't get a working dog because they are high energy and highly active. I also don't recommend terrier breeds because they are very energetic and on the go. Same with some of the giant breeds of dogs. They are absolutely beautiful but Great Danes, for example, are dangerous to children due to their sheer size."
She says if your children don't give up on asking for a dog or any pet, tell them you're waiting for them to prove that they are responsible enough. "I think you need to tell them that you're waiting until they can prove they are responsible enough to care for a pet," she says. "Give them the opportunity. Set them tasks like cleaning their rooms, looking after certain things, being comfortable around animals and respecting animals."
"Children under a certain age don't understand or respect animals. They don't know how to touch animals. Young children can be erratic with their touch. You need to wait until they are old enough to understand how a living being works."
And while I'm not ready to commit to buying my children a dog, I do want to buy a pet for them because I know the experience will teach them some valuable lessons.
So, which pet is best? Dr. Warren says it depends on the family. She says there's nothing better than children growing up with a dog but it's a big commitment.
"Fish are always good because they can feed them. They are a pretty pet."
Sadly, I killed pet fish once, by spraying my hair with hairspray too close to the tank. RIP fishies. Not sure I'm mentally ready to explain to my children why I can't even care for a fish (and what Fish Fingers are really made of) so I have stumbled upon something that might just make us both happy, for now.
There's a range of toys called Little Live Pets and they are freakishly life-like and may be exactly what I need to stall my children so I can buy myself more time to mentally prepare for a real pet. We have the Little Live Pet Bird and seriously, the earnestness with which my five-year-old daughter Caterina is caring for it at the moment is comforting, and not disturbing at all.
Dr. Katrina Warren is a huge fan. "I think they're a great gateway to getting a real pet. I know a lot of Charlotte's friends love them and name them. They react to touch, chirp and are heaps of fun."
Charlotte is Dr. Katrina's seven-year-old daughter.
So I'm thinking that Christmas is taken care of. A 'pet' for each of my children should buy me about a year before they start hassling me for a dog again, right? And at least these pet substitutes aren't an app.
No offence Talking Tom.
Are your children hassling you for a pet? What have been the biggest challenges in your family when it comes to properly caring for pets?
Little Live Pets start at $12.95 RRP available from all major toy retailers nationally.
Everyone remembers their childhood pet. Sometimes we get lucky and our childhood pets grow up right alongside us. These amazing before and after photos show just how special that bond can be, even when they're all grown up. Images courtesy of EliteDaily.com.
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