Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated..
Answer
Tigrillen:
Not knowing your daughter and your own living circumstances, how would be know?
Since you shouldn't get your daughter a dog if you don't want a dog and are willing to take over the care of the dog should she get bored of the responsibilities after a few weeks you might as well get the dog you want.
She also almost certainly will leave the dog at home once she moves out, though that is years down the road, if you get a puppy it will most likely be before the dog dies of old age or disease.
How much space do you have? How much exercise are you willing to give the dog?
Don't get an energetic large breed dog if you don't have more than an hour a day for dog exercise. Are you willing to take dog training classes with your daughter or how experienced a dog owner are you?
Your daughter has to learn from somebody and that is either you or a class. How much money do you want to spend on a dog? Generally a dog costs about $1000 a year to maintain, is that OK with you?
Lakelady:
I disagree with using a living animal as a child-raising tool. However,
children who grow up with pets do so much better in all areas of their
lives, NOT getting them a dog borders on neglect. She should have had
one way before now.
But, better late than never. Just research dogs that
make good family pets. There are hundreds. If I were buying a dog
solely as a family dog, I would probably get a newfoundland, but I
dislike the obsequious breeds like labradors and goldens.
Golden
retrievers are the most popular family dog in America by a lot.
Hearth-O-Gold:
I suggest a smaller dog, 30 lbs or less, also short coated as their
coats are easier to care for. I also suggest carefully considering if
you have the time to house train a puppy, which done properly, meaning
you are doing it in a positive way that does not frighten or damage the
dog, takes months.
You may want to consider a rescue, adoptapet and petfinder are both great sites to look at available animals. I have gotten purebred And mixed breed rescues over the decades, amazing animals, almost all were already house trained and some had had really substantial training.
You may want to consider a rescue, adoptapet and petfinder are both great sites to look at available animals. I have gotten purebred And mixed breed rescues over the decades, amazing animals, almost all were already house trained and some had had really substantial training.
Juliet:
Whichever breed that YOU want to own. Regardless of what you get, when
the newness wears off, the dog will be sleeping at your Daughter's feet
while she's on the computer. So, if YOU don't plan on taking full care
of this dog in every aspect, then don't get any dog. If you don't want
her to be on the computer as much as she is, put your foot down and
don't let her. YOU are the Parent so YOU make the rules.
Nekid:
Go
to the shelter together and look at dogs. Breeds like labs and goldens
are generally pretty good dogs, and do well with kids. Beagles are
stubborn.. but are sturdy and friendly. Even a mix of any of those
breeds will dog. Spaniel mixes also tend to be good pets.
Shelter volunteers who work with the dogs can also help direct you to a few dogs that they thing would be suitable.
Smazh:
It
depends more on the size of your yard than on your daughter. At age 11
she is old enough to take care of a dog, but it is still up to you to be
sure she learns how to do that. Get a book or two on training a puppy.
It's easiest to start with a puppy.
You train her, she trains the puppy.
Put those expanding gate things across the kitchen doors. Kitchen
because there is almost always somebody there. Cover the floor with
three layers of newspaper.
Every day throw out the top two layers and
put down two fresh layers using the old third layer for the new top
layer. Feed puppy in one corner and he will eventually dump only in the
opposite corner.
Then you only have to paper that corner. Every time you
see him dumping, tell him "Go potty" and praise him when he finishes.
When this has gone on long enough, take him for a walk and take that
third layer with you. Tell him "Go potty" and praise him when he is
done. After that always take him for a walk at the same time and go to
the same place.
Mark:
If you get a dog, *you* are responsible for it. Although your daughter
can help, she cannot be responsible any more than she could be
responsible for a baby. There are many dogs which might be suitable, it
depends on the individual dog. Go down to the shelter and look, don't
adopt the first one.
Jo:
You need to do your own research and find one that fits the whole
family since YOU not your kid, will be the legal owner and the one
legally responsible for the dog.
The dog has to fit all of your
experience level and lifestyle and not just that of an 11 year old kid
who will be mainly in school and not able to care for the dog.
belgian Nutt:
Whichever
breed YOU have the skills, energy levels, lifestyle, etc., to train,
groom, exercise. No 11 year old is going to be entirely responsible for
providing all the needs of a dog.
Alfajores:
First
make sure that your daughter understands what having a dog means and
blah,blah,blah,you know what I mean.But it's important.Then see if you
can afford future vet bills,food,ect...
Then do a research on what breed you want and what's breed suits your lifestyle.
Good luck
Then do a research on what breed you want and what's breed suits your lifestyle.
Good luck
