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Original poster

PETS.........What shall we get ???

49 replies

nutcracker · 05/09/2004 20:13

Dd's keep nagging me for a pet. Which particular one changes from week to week.

Dd1 would like a hamster but i'm really not keen on that. Dd2 would like a cat, but i think she thinks it will sit on her lap all day and she can play with it like a doll. Also she is asthnatic and she hasn't really been around cats enough for me to know if it would be a prob.

I would like a dog. Dp thinks it's a bad idea as it will mess up the garden. It seems to have completly escaped his attention that the garden is already a mess .
He also thinks it would leave us tied to the house to often.
I am a sahm so would be in for the dog all day. One day a week i'd be at college but could try and arrange someone to come and walk the dog whilst i was out.

The easiest thing seems to be to get fish

What pets do you have and do you regret it ???

OP posts:

oxocube · 06/09/2004 12:07

oh, I'm really pleased I came across this thread. We have had 3 cats since the year dot (or so it seems!) - they are about 13/14 years old. On Saturday, after weeks of discussion and about a year of longing on DS's part, we got a dog from a rescue centre. He is a golden lab cross - not sure what he is crossed with but some kind of hound, possibly greyhoud as he is very slim. He is adorable and very good with our kids aged 9,7 and 3. I haven't heard him bark yet, he is fine with the cats (scared of them actually!)and walks well on a lead, sticking close by most of the time. The only major problem is that he absolutely cannot be left alone, even for a couple of minutes, otherwise he becomes very frightened and panics and is supposed to be destructive trying to get out. He was found locked in a house and has been there for two days which explains why he is so nervous. We were made very aware of this problem at the shelter: they said it could take months of training so he could be left even for a short while and even then, there was no guarantee. He had been adopted before but the owners returned him after a month, presumably for this reason Like Nutty, I'm a SAHM so have lots of time for him, but I'm only starting to realise some problems, such as when I take DS2 to nursery, Where do I leave the dog when I have to settle DS in for 5 minutes? In the car? Not an option - I went for petrol this morning and even though the dog could see me paying as I was only about 5 mts away, you could see he was starting to panic. Tied to the railings right outside the nursery? There are probably lots of parents who would object to their children walking so close to a dog to get into the nursery. I'll come up with something but I'm just saying that I thought I had covered every possibility and I obviously hadn't.

He (the dog) is lovely, though!

Original poster

nutcracker · 06/09/2004 12:18

Blimey, thanks for all the suggestions.

We still haven't decided what to do yet really.

Oxocube - I'm sure i remember reading about a dog with a similar background when trawling through the dog rescue centres.
Am trying hard to remember what happened when we had our dog when i was younger.
She was quite nervous and did have to be left alone at some points during the day as my dad worked, me and younger brother were at school and my elder brother worked until early afternoon.

We did have a couple of occasions where she wrecked something (my shoe i seem to remember), and she did whine alot a first but she soon settled down.
I think we used to leave the t'v or the radio on, which seem ed to help a little.

At the mo dp objects to me paying someone to walk the dog on the one day i will be out of the house, but i can't see another way around it.
Fitting to walks a day in might be tricky too, mind you it would be good exercise for me .

I agree that kids should have pets as we didn't have any until my parents got divorced. Well my mom had a budgie but ther than that nothing.
When my mom left we had a cat and then a dog, and I loved it, alhough i have to say i hardly ever walked it, my dad did that.

I can see i'm going to have to have to think about this alot more anyway.

OP posts:

oxocube · 06/09/2004 12:24

Also, re the dog walking - its a lot!! As we haven't had a dog before, its hard to know if I'm walking him too much but yesterday was a bit like this
7am walk dog for 30 mins
10 am take dog to area of waste ground to be off lead and play for about 45 mins
4 ish take dog to woods for an hour, off leash, so he could run, sniff, explore etc
7 ish walk dog (about 20 mins)
10 pm last walk to do pees etc, about 15 mins

I should get fitter, at least

Oh and thanks for the suggestions Nutcracker. I can see him becoming calmer after just a few days but I hink the previous owners made the mistake fo trying to do too much too soon and thats what I'm anxious to avoid.

miggy · 06/09/2004 12:30

oxocube-speak to your vet- there are some drugs available (not tranquilisers-more like prozac) to make your dog more relaxed about being left alone. Not suggesting you keep him on them forever but he sounds a fairly extreme case and they would really help and let you get new behaviour patterns established.

oxocube · 06/09/2004 12:37

Thanks Miggy. We have an appointment next week and I'll ask her what she suggests

iota · 06/09/2004 13:12

nutty - IMO dogs require a GREAT DEAL more attention than cats - as others have said they can't be left for long and they require regular walking. They also make a lot of mess (hair and muddy feet) or need a lot of foot wiping , towelling on wet days etc. Also many have a 'doggy' smell - some worse than others - and may need bathing.

I'm sorry if this sounds bad - I love dogs - we always had them when I was growing up, but my mum did all the looking after stuff.

It's just that having a dog is a big responsibility and is time-consuming. If you are planning another baby you might not want to take on such a responsibility.

Cats on the other hand are low maintenance, can be left overnight, or all day as long as you have a cat flap or other suitable arrangement. They don't need entertaining or walking, don't bark or annoy the neighbours (although they might dig up their garden!!) Some are friendly and like loads of fuss, some don't, some are good with kids, some aren't. Mine has a not very pleasant habit of bringing in wildlife - sometimes still alive. As for being asthmatic, I am but I don't react to our cat.

good luck with your decision

Avalon · 06/09/2004 13:28

We've got 2 kittens. They're now about 3 months old and they're very tolerant with the kids. That's not to say the kids haven't had the occasional small scratch but I think they've now realised that the kittens have got a mind of their own. I do think it helps if you get kittens, as we did, from a family with young children.

Original poster

nutcracker · 06/09/2004 13:56

Hmmm I am slightly coming around to the idea of a cat.

I would have to send dd2 round to my neighbours house first though to see if she had any reaction to her cats.

Dd2 would prefer a cat i think.

Suppose i could get a dog then when they are older.

Iota - We have decided we are not having another baby now, hence me going back to college.
Wouldn't of conisdered it if we had of been trying still.

Suppose i'll have to stop looking at the dog pages now . Just seen the most adorable puppies on there .

OP posts:

Original poster

nutcracker · 06/09/2004 13:57

Is it best to get a kitten then ??? and should we get more than one ???

OP posts:

posyhairdresser · 06/09/2004 14:24

ants...escaped/died - not sure which

vkone · 06/09/2004 14:57

Hi there, I suggested gerbils earlier, but I currently own 3 cats (to moggies and a burmese). If you get cats/kittens do get two, preferably littermates. Kittens are v energetic and need a play mate if they're left alone. They are great fun but do need someone round at first (for at least part of the day) like babies they need food little and often (tho not at night). Theres a great site called fabcats which gives details. I can heartily recommend burmese, if you want playful cats for life.

Avalon · 06/09/2004 15:00

My three girls wanted a kitten each but I thought that was a bit too much! The 2 kittens we have are half-brother and -sister (from 2 queens living in the same house) so were friendly with each other to start with. They get on very well, sleep together and play together. Having 2 kittens also 'shares the load' when the girls want to play with them.

vkone · 06/09/2004 15:01

sorry it's www.fabcats.org

poppyseed · 06/09/2004 21:51

Errrm, sorry - regret getting our cat.... She's 2 now and is too unpredictable with small children. I have to shut her in the back of the house when the kids go to bed as I don't like the idea of her upstairs on their beds when they are asleep. Being careful not to let the cat through is a pain, as is seperating her from the kids when I can't be around to see exactly what is going on (not to mention the mice/birds/frogs that come in through the catflap . Cats are great if you have the time for them, but I would think very carefully, especially if your children are small. DD was badly scratched for no reason the other week (honestly)and I was very close to finding her an other home (the cat, not DD ) but now I play the separation game and put her in an other room during the day to go to sleep....
Went to friends at the weekend who had an Irish Terrier - great temperament and as she is wire haired there is no smell of dog and very little hair to mention. DH who is usually affected by pet hair was fine and could breath!!

JoJoo · 06/09/2004 22:16

We've just bought 2 baby guinea pigs for my 2 girls (18 mths and 4 yrs old). They are so sweet and the girls love them.
The poor things are very scared though, when I put them on the kids knees they freeze with fear. The lady in the pet shop said they make great pets for young children as they don't bite or scratch and once they get used to you they love to be handled.

stupidgirl · 06/09/2004 22:55

Nutty, I don't think it's necessary to get kittens, although they are fun!

I got my cats from a rescue centre - one was 3 and the other 18months at the time (the cats that is). They are really good with the children - especially the older one. They are fantastic cats, really part of the family.

Slinky · 06/09/2004 22:55

We've got 2 cats - cats have been around WAY before kids were born.

The cats are extremely loving/gentle and the kids in turn have always treated them with respect. From early on, I've always encouraged them to stroke them, told them not to pull tails etc.

Children and cats get on extremely well IME and I would never have considered getting rid of the cats just because we were having children.

Slinky · 06/09/2004 22:57

Personally I wouldn't get a kitten. If you go to a local Cats Protection/Rescue place, you'll find loads of lovable cats available - and you'll have a job choosing (as I did which is why we ended up with 2 instead of 1).

Cam · 08/09/2004 16:35

I have found hamsters to be the easiest pet (except for the fact that they don't live long, or is that a good point - don't get upset animal lovers, only joking). They only need cleaning out every week and feeding once a day and its always easy to find one of dd's schoolfriends to look after her when we go on holiday. Apart from the first time we handled her she has never bitten us (I think she was frightened the first time) and she responds to being talked to and stroked and held. I think if you're looking for trouble-free this is the one.

cellulitequeen · 08/09/2004 19:23

Definitely a dog Nutcracker, only if you can give it the commitment of course. We have a Miniature Schnauzer and she is wonderful: they have fabulous temperaments and don't moult. They say that the breed is happy with as little or as much exercise as you can give it but my dog can walk for 4 hours quite hapilly. We had the dog before DS came along and she has been so good with him. We don't have to worry about her messing in the garden either as she will only do a number 2 when she's taken for a walk! (which we do twice a day). We have 3 cats too but IMO you don't have the same bond with a cat as you do a dog, probably because they are more dependent on you.

jodie1990 · 03/10/2004 14:10

we also have a mianiture schauzer and he has come to be the most loyal dog we have ever owned. his name is cruet and loves the fuss and cuddles but also like to be the man of the house. we also have a nutty lurcher who lives up to the lurchers rep; loopy!!!!she is calles mollie and has just turned one. i wouldnt trade them for anything!!!

cellulitequeen · 03/10/2004 22:13

They're great aren't they Jodie? Obviously Cruet is an P+S? .

Original poster

nutcracker · 04/10/2004 11:32

Just to say, that we still haven't decided what to get.

Dp is still saying we can't have anything, but i think he is starting to break, as i mention it at least once a day.

I would still prefer a dog, but am also warming to cats too.

God we'll end up with a housefull at this rate.

OP posts:

cellulitequeen · 04/10/2004 19:02

Nutcracker, I also work on the "ground em down" theory. It's worked every time for me .

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