A children/dog/lie in related question

[ChickensGoMeh]

I have two DC, DS1 (11) and DS2 (8). I also have one puppy (7 months). Puppy is well behaved with the children, no chewing, is house trained and generally pretty good. Now my question is, would it be hideously irresponsible of me to let DS1 get up and give the puppy his breakfast while I have a bit of a lie in? Or is that really bad? Do you leave your DC with the dog unsupervised on occassion?

I was about 11 when I got my first dog and once she was trained my mum explained what I had to do/say with her. It depends on how big the dog is and whether or not you trust both the dog and your 11yr old but i'd say that it should be fine if the pup is only 7 months old and trained

hope this helps!

I have an 11 year old and I'd definately feel comfortable to entrust him with the job and he'd love it. Mine aren't puppys but 7 months old is well past the really needy stage and if you feel your son is going to do a good job then I say.... have a great lie-in!!!!

Jasper is a cocker/springer cross, but much more on the cocker size. DS1 is brilliant with him, so I have no worries that he would be irresponsible with the dog. I suppose I'm just trying to work out whether 11 is old enough to have that responsibility, and how I'd feel if it went wrong. Hmm.

I think 11's perfectly old enough. I'm assuming of course that everything's "normal" with the setup, your DS is reasonably sensible and you haven't been training your pup to attack or anything.

The youngest of kids - 7 or 8 upwards can let the dog into the garden for a pee and dollop some dog food out?

Well, I braved it. And then had to get up anyway as the puppy had destroyed his bed in the night and poor DS was greeted with a room full of white fluff and wasn't quite sure where to start the clean up operation

Oh well, nice try! Maybe tomorrow...