The Wandering Washingtons

For the past few years, Shauni has asked for a puppy every possible opportunity: her birthday, other peoples' birthday, Christmas, good grades, random weekends...you name it.  The thing is, we are not pet-less. We already have a dog and have had a few over the years.  To her disappointment, they have never seemed to longingly follow her around the house.  They do however, follow me everywhere.  She has decided that they are officially my dogs.  

She wants her own dog.

So, we caved.  We got her a puppy after a spectacular academic school year.   We even made sure to have the "puppies are a huge responsibility" talk, for good measure.  But truthfully, gifting your child a puppy requires a bit more thought than simply fulfilling your child's request for one.

Before you grant your child's puppy wish, here are some things you will want to consider beforehand.

Is your child prepared to take on the responsibilities of a pet?  Besides wanting to be constantly smothered in puppy kisses, your child may not know what taking care of a puppy really entails.  Will they remain committed after hearing that their responsibilities will include multi-tasking as Dog Feeder, Groomer, Walker, and Pooper Scooper, to name a few?  Discussing with your child exactly how you expect for them to contribute can help you better determine how serious your child is.

How is your child with current household chores and responsibilities?  Do they take initiative with their chores or are you constantly demanding that they clean their room and pick up their toys?   As cuddly and cute as a new puppy is, constantly feeding, training and cleaning up after them isn't nearly as enjoyable.  If you find that your child is not consistent with their chores, it may also mean the same can be expected with taking care of the puppy.  



Is your child's mood and behaviors compatible with having a puppy?  Getting your child and a new puppy on the same page can be challenging.  Kids simply want to hug and SQUEEEEEZE these tiny, adorable creatures, but not all puppies respond well to the constant affection.  This can be stressful for pets.  Puppies will sometimes need to take breaks between play.  Will your child be able to easily accept and adjust to the needs of a puppy and wait patiently to play again later?
These rambunctious fur balls can also be exhausting and downright stressful for some children.  Very young children and those sensitive to stimuli can become easily overwhelmed by an exited puppy.  It is important that your child is gentle enough to play and interact appropriately with a puppy. Puppies also have razor sharp teeth and their playful nips and bites can be both scary and painful. Knowing your child's personality, typical behaviors and emotional limits will help you determine whether or not getting a puppy is a good idea.  

Is there room on your child's calendar for any additional responsibilities?  These days, some kids have more on their plate than some adults.  Between extracurricular sports, school-related commitments, household chores, group chats and app games with friends, is there room in their day for anything else?  Do you have a teen considering a first job or heading to college soon?  Their work hours or on-campus college plans will likely change how often their available.  Be sure that your child will have adequate time daily to devote to caring for a new puppy.  

Are YOU prepared to pick up the slack?  Be prepared to do a lot more of the work than you think.  Depending on your child's age, many of the pet responsibilities will probably fall on you.  Some children may be too young to carry out some of the chores alone, while other times, your child will simply forget or will slack off.  Either way, you will likely be the puppy's primary caretaker.  Considering your own busy schedule to determine if you have room for this added task?


Good news!  Getting your child a puppy isn't always doom and gloom.  Welcoming a new puppy into the family can be very rewarding and a great learning experience for your child.  It can teach them responsibility, encourage selflessness and help your child show concern for something other than themselves.  And as a bonus, the unconditional bond that develops over time can end up creating a lifelong connection stronger than some friendships.