[BadDogGoHome]

Lots of kids want a pet dog. But many kids can't have one because:

-rental rules forbid them
-family member is allergic
-parents decide their child/teen isn't responsible enough
-not compatible with the family lifestyle (too busy, frequent travel)
-don't want to ruin the floors, carpet, car interior, and yard (feces)
-too much effort to train and maintain
-noise
-costs to care for a dog (tight family budget)
-biased against dogs
-the kids is outvoted by other siblings
-too many other family pets already (cats, guinea pigs, etc).
-Many other reasons (share yours).

When those kids who were 'denied' a pet dog grow up/move out, do they eventually adopt a dog later in life?

 

[Rain]

That's person dependent. It depends on how much the person is interested in owning a dog, and if they have the time and finances to have one, among other things. Also some people will take into consideration time, and finances, and others do not.

In my case I had a childhood dog for 3 years, I had to give her up when I was 12 due to my mom passing away and my aunt who took me in being allergic to dogs. I've always loved animals and I really wanted a dog, so when I moved out when I was 19 I got a puppy. I lived in a place that allowed dogs, but to be honest I never really put in the research that I should have. I jumped in with both feet and made it work, my boy was spayed, he was up to date on vaccines, saw the vet when neccessary and I was darn near homeless a few times when I had to move and it was hard to find a place to rent that allowed dogs. I was far from a perfect owner, I did a lot wrong, but I had that dog till he passed away at the age of 17 years 8 months.

From the age of 12, to when I moved out at 19, I used to play with other peoples pets, one of my next door neighbors had a colony of cats and I spent a lot of time with them, another had a Yorkie mix and I used to play with him. What I learned from the cat colony was the importance of vet care, I saw a lot of cats lose eyes do to upper respiratory infections, and a lot of sick kittens.

 

[Lucillle]

Kids become their parents. When kids grow up, situations and rules that seemed to be unfair to them, many times later in life make sense. Many of the situations and rules above are valid reasons not to have a dog, and so those grown up kids may choose not to have one.

That's person dependent.

I agree with Rain, getting a dog depends on the person, who will decide to put in extra effort and make the dog/person relationship work.

 

[kelly528]

Both my mentor and I share a similar story... We grew up dog-obsessed in dogless homes. Now we are dog-obsessed and in homes with dogs, planning all our hobbies around dogs, building careers around dogs, sharing dog videos on facebook every day...

Then on the flip side you have someone like my SIL. Didn't grow up with dogs or any pets, quasi-afraid of them, might like one as a pet if it was low maintenance and mellow, but by no means an "animal person."

 

[natenqen]

I think I agree with the it depends on the person. For me, growing up I've always had dogs, BUT if they were medium-small and bigger, they had to be tied up outside. (Grandparents rules.)

Growing up, I told myself that when I get older, I will have an indoor dog no matter what size. I had a lot of help with movies like Homeward Bound, the Lassie series, Rin Tin Tin, The shaggy dog (The old one not the new one.) A lot of those dogs had slept and lived inside the house and I wanted so much to have a dog inside to play with, love on, and what not.

It has been a rocky start for me, but my hubby doesn't like dogs inside no matter what size and I got him to let us try one dog in the house and he instantly fell inlove and can't imagine living without the company of a dog. He still says they have to be small, but I fell I can change that slowly.