Help with sister who wants a dog and has no

[TheBlackMoth]

Please help me.

My sister - who lives in a fairly chaotic household - small rooms, 18 year old who is in and out, 12 year old, and five cats has decided she wants a Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy.

Now it sounds a recipe for disaster to me. So I need either to be reassured it will be ok - or to have good arguments about why she shouldn't do it.

She has already been sort of rejected by a rescue place who doesn't think she would cope.

 

[mattilda]

Maybe a quiet word in her ear about clearing up wee, poop and dog sick for the next few months would put her off. Plus the cost of insurance, innoculations and repairing/replacing all the stuff the pup will inevitably detroy!!

 

[soloabe]

Ask her why she wants a terrier?
Does she know about their characteristics?

Does she have time for at least 2 hours of walks a day?
And an hour a day for training?

Does she have the money for training classes?
The money to pay a dog walker if she works.

The money to buy a pup? Because for a well bred dog (which she will need if she plans to have the dog anywhere near her children) is going to cost her upwards of £600?

Does she have the money to neuter/ spay and give the puppy vaccinations?

Ask her what she will do when the puppy chases her cats away?
Or the worst and the dog kills one of her cats?

 

[nikicb]

Maybe she would be better with an older dog if she is so set on having one. We took on an ex breeding bitch from my friend once she had had a couple of litters and it was easy compared to the puppy we now have. In fact, I am very glad we have had the puppy for the experience, but in future I think I will go for the older dogs. You get all the enjoyment of having an established dog to walk, for company etc, but most of the basics are already done.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I would tell her that she is mental, no offence! It has been a lot of work with my two and although I love them, it might have been easier to have taken on a rescue/older dog.

Speaking to a friend who took on her first ever dog (puppy) 2 years ago, she said she was actually depressed about him and how hard it was to look after a small puppy as well as her 3 kids. It is so time consuming!