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Young Children and Pets

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EDIT: This topic will also discuss the thoughts of ignorant pet owners

Please keep this clean and keep rudeness out of this.

Okay, so I don't know if this is just because of my experiences or if anyone else is seeing this as well, but I'm questioning whether the idea of giving a child a pet (and by child, I mean those ranging from around 5 to 10).

Don't get me wrong, the idea of teaching a child responsibility is great. My parents bought a family dog for us when we were young. But, at that age, I wasn't able to take care of the dog on my own. The most I did was brush and feed her. My parents did the brunt of the work. Was it fair that my parents did most of the work? It depends. Because now if I were to move out at this very moment, said dog would be coming with me.

I've witnessed a few comments/threads on another website about users who are about 8 who have their own dogs, pigs, fish ,birds, etc.

The main question is: Is it fair to the animal?

I can tell you that my 11 year old sister wouldn't know what to do with a fish if it happened to get sick. And she won't even go near dog poop. And as for the hamsters? She won't do anything more but give them food and water, but won't scrub out their containers.

So who has to do it? My other sis and I, or our parents.
My fish, birds, and dogs get 24/7 attention from me when I'm home. i know what to look for when they get sick/injured/etc. And that's only after either extensive research or from others on the internet. How would a 5 year old know when a dog is sick? And what if the parents really could care less about the health of a pet?
My mom and dad don't care about our birds, and they were the ones who claimed they were theirs. So it's pluasible that could happen in another scenario.

It serves responsibility, but only if the parents are putting their work into it as well. I feel like this doesn't necessarily have to happen, seeing as how I know some younger people who are extremely mature and are more educated than I am.

Now, I'm not saying that I'm the greatest at pet care. So please don't accuse me of something when I'm already admitting it. But I'm hoping that when I'm able to control my own finances, I'll be able to give my pets 100% of the care I need.

But these are my opinions and thoughts.

Anyone elses?

03-16-2013 at 8:48 PM

I had my dog since I was around 8, but it wasn't my dog completely. Tika was token care of by the whole family, and she loved it. I only think if the children is not the one taking care of it mostly, it may be okay depending on the situation. I may be wrong, because when I was young, and still, I cared about animals way more than humans... so it may just be me who was actually okay with the dog, and the dog liked me :P

01-5-2013 at 4:27 AM

I had a dog starting when I was 7. We lived in the country so I didn't have to walk Nicky. I did have to let her out into the yard and feed and water her. My parents were big on responsibility. If the dog didn't have food, I didn't get any. At 10 even without knowing much about dog health I was very aware of Nicky and was the one to notice when she was sick. My 10 year old niece walks her grandmother's Basset Hound. She is only allowed to go around the block ( because her 5 year old brother follows ) but she has no problems walking George. She knows that if she sees a strange dog walking towards her, she is to call out and ask the owner if the dog is nice. If it is a stray, she is to turn and take the fastest route home. Her family recently aquired a Golden Retriever. Princess is too headstrong to be walked by the kids. My niece understands that and doesn't try to do it herself. My husband and I currently own two Basset Hounds. By the time my (currently unborn) child is 10, they will be 13. By the time the dogs die, I feel that I will have taught the child to be properly responsible for the wellbeing of a pet. At that time, the child will be able to choose their own pet.

edit history

2013-01-05 01:27:30 by #3131

01-1-2013 at 3:15 PM

Interesting discussion. I strongly believe that pets belong to parents. Sure the kids can help a little with the most basic care of the animal (feeding, watering etc.) But it is the adults should be training the dog, socializing it. Kids will plead their parents for a puppy and after the dog turns a year old, the kid will most likely lose interest and the parent has to take care of the dog. I got Cody when I was 9. Having Asperger's and no friends I devoted my time to researching corgis and dog behavior. It took months and then I finally got to have him. He was a little thing I could devote my time to, since the kids were always so nasty to me. I took him on short walks, extending longer over time, took him nearly everywhere we went. Did obedience classes with him. Sorry for the life story, but most kids aren't and would never be like me. I did occasionally get my mom for a little help, I wasn't totally independent. But still, pets should belong to parents and they SHOULD be the dog's primary caretaker. They should always be prepared to still care for the pet even if the kid loses interest. A kid should never fully be responsible for an animal.

12-30-2012 at 7:17 PM

I do not believe children should be given the responsibility of any pet. Kids are kids, and you are putting the animal's life AND well being in danger. I do believe, though, that family pets are the way to go. Adults need to understand that in the future there is a 90% chance that their kids will grow bored of the pet, and that it will be the parent's responsibility to make sure the pet has a good quality of life. DO NOT EVER give a pet to a child to teach them responsibility. There is a VERY high chance that your child will commit animal cruelty to your imprisoned pet, and your child won't even know it...

08-24-2012 at 10:46 AM

It is really sad how little parents actually...parent their kids now days. Working at a specialized retail shop...a lot of parents there purchase their kids games and do their own thing. :( My Step-mom was a stay at home mom, so I learned a LOT from her.ESPECIALLY when it came to animals. Parents don't often think...'Hey my young child cannot be alone with our 100lb dog.' Most just are like 'eh whatever, go play games!' xP

08-23-2012 at 10:01 PM

I think with the proper learning, hands on care and a slow and steady process, kids CAN learn how to take care of animals properly. It just takes a lot of care and actual parenting. I definitely agree. The "actual parenting" seems to be hard for some parents, and it makes me want to be a parent for that reason, just so that I could maybe do the right thing myself. But then I hear my brother screaming for an hour straight and I realize, "nope. no kids" xD

08-23-2012 at 5:03 PM

Hm..this is an interesting conversation. Well let me join in. :) From personal experience, I think with proper knowledge a kid can grow up learning the essential information needed to take care of an animal. When I was 7, my mother got me my first pet. A hamster named Zach. I used to play with him and feed him. My mother did the cleaning, however she always made sure I stood there watching what she was doing and I even helped occasionally. On the other side, when I went to see my Dad and Step-Mom, they had 2 dogs and 3 cats at their home. I never grew up with much to do with the kitties other than petting them. However since I was 8, I was ALWAYS picking up dog poop in the backyard and helping to take care of the dogs. My Step-mom is partially paralyzed on her left side, so she could never really walk the two large dogs they owned. (Also my father worked 11-13 hours a day so I hardly saw him.) They hired dog walkers when I was not there, however when I visited them it was my responsibility to walk these two 80lbs dogs every day since I was 10 years old. One was very well behaved and very protective of me, while the other was a curious of everything. They never attacked nor were ever attacked. I learned from the dog walkers how I can protect myself and my dogs if anything were to happen. Thankfully I never had to use that information. Because of the responsibility that was taught to me while being raised, I learned how to take care of animals to the best of my ability. When they were acting weird, I was taught to get an adult. Soon after they started bringing me to the vets with the animals. It was a slow process but I slowly understood everything about when they need care, and when they need to be cleaned and fed. I think with the proper learning, hands on care and a slow and steady process, kids CAN learn how to take care of animals properly. It just takes a lot of care and actual parenting.

08-23-2012 at 4:31 PM

My dog had actually gotten into two fights around the time I was 10 or so. One left her with a scar on her eye, and the other with one on her nose. I feel terrible for both. The second one though still haunts me because the attacker was actually a dog in a backyard. My dog was walking by, just sniffing the grass by a fence when the dog came out of nowehere and bit her on the nose. There was a quick skirmish, but I pulled her aay from the fence with blood dripping down her nose. It was horrible and I wanted to call the cops so badly because this dog was vicious and could potentially attack a child. Luckily, my dog has mellowed out, I assume to age, and all she does is bark. Her lunging days are over,but I still need to keep a very good eye on her just in case. I remember there used to be a family around the arrea who had three pitbulls, and they let their kids walk them (kids were anywhere from 5 to 10 years, no lie). Now, these dogs were very well trained, but that is to say, when they see another dog, they're obviously curious. So they always tried to come over and greet my dog. I had no trouble with that. I had the trouble with the fact that while my dog is snarling and barking, teeth exposed and hackles raised, there were three dogs running over with children dragging behind. What would happen if I couldn't keep her on the ground in a way where she couldn't jump out? What if the leash fell out of my hands? I was scared that either the kids of the dogs would have gotten hurt.... But now I just fear ignorant adults as much as I fear the children. You'd think that people would notice an aggressive dog, especially if it's already in a battle stance. But I still have to watch out for anyone who either wants to run and pet her (bad idea), or bring their dog over without asking if it's okay (another bad idea).

08-23-2012 at 1:47 PM

Agreed, Alc. As a kid I remember walking my friends dog, he seeing another dog and trying to rip my arm off to get at the other dog. If our dog got loose and did get at the other one, I had to pull him out of the fight, and trust me, two large dogs rolling, snarling and viciously biting each other is NOT fun. Then again I was probably ~16y.o when this all happened and had educated myself in the proper way to break up fighting dogs.

08-21-2012 at 9:30 PM

I walked my dog by myself when I was like 9. If the kid is responsible and dog isn't wild and crazy, I don't see a problem with children and preteens walking a dog. Imagine finding out when you're 9 that your dog has severe aggression to humans and dogs on walks? Been there. Not fun. I almost broke my pinky finger, and I was scraped up from dangling behind the leash. She weighed almost as much as I did. She was ab absolute doll int he house, so none of us expected a reaction like that. Now imagine your dog gets into a fight, and both end up bloody and injured. Are you going to pay the hospitl bill? What if the dog ran away because you're only 80 pounds and the dog is also 80, with pure muscle? It's not easy to tell a "wild and crazy" dog from a calm one, My aggressive dog is both. You can ask the numerous people she's bitten.

08-21-2012 at 5:45 PM

Most children don't understand dog behaviour and how to break up a dog fight (without being injured). If the dog is big, you're looking at possible injury as well if the dog darts off after something.

08-21-2012 at 5:11 PM

I walked my dog by myself when I was like 9. If the kid is responsible and dog isn't wild and crazy, I don't see a problem with children and preteens walking a dog.

08-20-2012 at 10:29 PM

okay, so it's not just me then... I didn't know if I did something wrong and I started to feel guilty... But now I'm concerned because she said she walked my dog before (presumbley while I was at college). I am so scared of it happening again so I need to set some rules in place before I leave.

08-20-2012 at 10:26 PM

I wouldn't let an 11 y.o walk a dog.

08-20-2012 at 10:21 PM

I am infuriated right now. The young girl who I've mentioned a few times has a SECOND betta. She's been keeping both in these ziploc food containers, beither of which is even CLOSE to even being a half gallon. She's also pulling off the whole "I now know everything" attitude. Now, I need to ask a question. Earlier today my 11 year old sister said she'll take my dog, a maltese, for a walk since my 17 year old was feeding my baby brother. I told her no. She asked "why not," and claimed that she will have to walk them in the future anyway. Is it wrong for me to be angry at that comment (I am also on my "female cycle" so I'm a bit more irritable than normal). I told her simply that I don't trust her to watch either of the dogs, and the other dog, my mutt, is aggressive. My mom never walks her for that reason. And my dad causes her to get too excited so she isn't even walkable. I'm the only one able to control her on the walk, and knows what to do if another dog or human comes near us. I explained that to my sister and she got annoyed. I don't know if it was my fault, or if it was just her being her hormonal pre-haircent self...

08-17-2012 at 6:50 PM

I had fish when I was younger that probably didn't get proper care (some of them did, but then we started listening to the pet store people - huge mistake that I feel horrible for now D: ). My first pet of my own was a White's Tree Frog that I had researched and researched for months before my parents let me get her. I loved her so much. She sadly passed away a few years ago (she had died and come back to life once before and lived happy and healthy for a couple years, then went through a couple rounds of antibiotics but never quite recovered from whatever she had [vet was nonspecific as to what it was]), but her friend is at least 9 years old and still going strong! Around the same time, I acquired a bearded dragon from my teacher's son - he wasn't caring for the beardie properly (never handled him, tapped the glass of his terrarium to taunt him, etc), so my teacher pulled me aside and offered him to me! I was never able to handle Moko - no amount of socialization techniques changed his mind about people - but he was great fun as a look-but-don't-touch pet. I did have him eating worms out of my hand, though! Ignorant owners drive me crazy. I'll admit, I was an ignorant owner in the past, especially when I was young and the internet was pretty new. It wasn't for lack of love - there just wasn't as much readily available, reliable information as there is today. Now that there are forums with knowledgeable people that can be easily accessed, I'm proud to say that I take care of my pets (now consisting of one dog, three rats, and the 9 year old frog) as well as I possibly can! I think children having pets is just fine, provided that they are closely supervised by their parents till they reach a more responsible age, like around 15 years old (and even then they should be supervised, even if it's more distant supervision). And I wish people were more responsible overall, and much more knowledgeable about their pets. It's such a shame that some folks just flat-out refuse to provide proper care for the lives they take on. :/

08-17-2012 at 5:45 AM

I Got my first dog of my own when i was 8, a cat at 9, a pony at 11, and another pony at 13 :) the responsobility was always mine, and i have always taken care of them.However, from around the ages of 5-8 i had pet rabbits, which i did nothing exept feed them and occasionaly stroke them.My mum did the rest.She didn't mind though, as she knew from the start i was too young to fully take care of them myself.

08-17-2012 at 5:45 AM

08-16-2012 at 7:23 PM

I edited it so now we can discuss ignorant pet owners without going off topic. Both are in the same category anyways.

08-16-2012 at 3:04 PM

I feel like what happens is the "It's just a fish" feeling most people get. And people of ALL ages get that... out of all my friend's bettas, mine are the only ones with tanks above 1 gallon AND get the correct amount of cleanings done. I asked my friend to watch Buddha once and it was for a 3 day weekend. She didn't have to clean the tank, but I just wanted her to feed him the food I had supplied her with. And well, she told me she had fed Buddha not only her pellets that he didn't like, but also about 1/3 of the amount of food I asked her to feed him. She ignored my specific requirements for taking care of him for THREE days, and eventually, she stoppped caring for her betta. She didn't care that my fish got unhappy and hungry. It was rude, and I don't like that mentality... But that is off topic...

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