I want to add, that losing a pet hurts at any age ( I was not saying that only teenagers grieve extensively over a lost pet), we lost one of our dogs (old age) 2 months ago and I cried like a baby (literally sobbed) for a week, though I understand and have come to terms with it. My (youngest)--14 year old -- child still keeps saying how weird it feels not to have Emma, he says" "it feels so weird she's not here as that's all he knew...she was around him every day of his life, that there never was a time she "never was". something is missing. For another teenager, possibly without strong coping mechanisms I could see this situation being very detrimental to their emotional state.

I just wanted to welcome you to YT! Also, just to say although getting a puppy is always a happy time and super fun.....its still alot of work. Your daughter, being only 2 will have to be supervised around the puppy, for both their sakes and for you it will be like having another real baby in the house.

I'm not trying to discourage but just give information.

As a breeder myself, I have spent many hours educating and explaining and teaching new puppy owners and sadly have had to take puppies back before just because they were not prepared for all it takes to care for a Yorkie puppy.

I wish you luck in your decision and hope you stay around here on YT, if and when you add a family member!

Take Care!

Ladymom posted a good link and I Firmly agree with the read. As far as the price people pay for their puppies and dumping them at shelters after they have paid such prices, Yes it happens every day. Probably more in the months after Christmas because sooooo many people buy puppies as Christmas gifts. I'm sure ladyjane could tell a story or two about puppies and adult dogs who end up in shelters and rescues because the owner simply could not be bothered with cleaning up after them any longer when they soil the carpet because they never took the time to train the animal properly. I have 5 dogs now and 3 are pure bred dogs , all ended up homeless because the owners could not afford their medical needs and/or chose not to house break or train them in any manner. All are wonderful dogs and none deserved to be thrown away like a piece of trash. I also do not believe people should buy "Their Children" of any age a pet. Adding any pet to any family should be a family affair, meaning all should want the animal and all should take part in it's care. I am so sick of hearing parents say " if you don't take care of your dog I'm getting rid of it" or "if you don't clean up after your cat it's going to the pound". Parent's need to be the ones who take the lead & show/teach their children that pets are a very big and important responsibility and they are not toys and they are not disposable.

:thumbup: I'd just like to add that my Lilly who is a rescue came to rescue and then to me at 13 weeks of age. She was BOUGHT at a pet store for big bucks and then when her family realized the work etc. they dumped her at a shelter. She had barely any hair and was less then two pounds. The shelter contacted our rescue and we took her. I am happy to say that now Lilly is a very happy, beautiful three year old Yorkie. Happy endings with rescues. You give and you get back ten fold.

Elaine

Hi Vanessa. Welcome to YT!

I think its really terrific that you are thinking about such a surprise for your daughter. At the risk of coming across a bit negative, and that is not my intention, I would give you my honest opinion.

I would not consider getting a puppy for a 2 1/2 year old child. Particularly a small-breed dog. While your daughter is likely very affectionate, she does not yet have the ability to understand how to care for the needs of a puppy. She is just learning how to care for herself :)

Puppy Potty training, socialization, feeding, all require a significant amount of time, attention, and diligence. You may be thinking that this is the opportunity to "teach" her those things, by IMO she needs to be older to really grasp this, and also to serve the best interests of the pup.

Simply handling a puppy (especially a small breed) requires a lot of care and a small child is likely to mis-interpret handling a puppy with handling a "stuffed animal" and that can endanger a tiny pup, or cause it to build behavioral traits you will not find desirable

Ultimately the decision is clearly yours, however IMO I'd hold off a bit.

Maybe there is a way you and your daughter can begin working with animals - volunteering at the ASPCA - or something like that - so she can begin to experience what it is like to be around animals - in "preparation" for getting a pet of her own

Yeah I suppose people might dump off an expensive dog if they didn't pay for it and it was just given to them. That's why I don't believe people should give a "gift" of an animal if that animal wasn't specifically requested (by an adult!). Years ago someone gave my mother a "retirement gift" of a Pom --- she didn't want a little dog and did go to great lengths to find it a good and caring home (and would have NEVER just dumped it at a shelter if she had not been able to find it a good home, she would have kept it, but she interviewed several people and finally settled on the one she thought could give him the best home --- and they did, they kept in touch with her over the years).

I do agree people need to think through acquiring a dog before they get it. There have been times in my life I admit to getting a dog when it probably wasn't the best time, but all my dogs have lived long lives and died (in my arms) of old age, thus even if I "shouldn't have" gotten the dog, I kept my commitment to it no matter what. Which is what people should do. Commitment is a long lost art I guess.:confused: Post New Year's would probably be better if the holiday times are hectic. BUt for many, the holidays are merely another day, thus Christmas time can be as good as any time and if someone wants a puppy and one's available at that time, why not? So again, Christmas time can be a great time to acquire a pet...if one's lifestyle can accommodate the new little being.

If you believe that people who pay big bucks for dogs for them selves and those dogs don't often end up in shelters you are sadly mistaken. It doesn't really matter if a person pays big bucks or get's it for free off the nearest street corner, as you said and you are correct on this , a pet is and always should be a lifelong commitment to that pet. But Sadly more people feel ( it's just an animal ) then those who believe it's a family member. This is why shelters are full of homeless pets who the majority of will never find love and happiness again and millions will die , even the ones who were purchased buy a person for themselves and not as a gift for someone else. If Christmas time is not a hectic time for a person wanting a pet then they should by all means go for it, but that's not the case with most who purchase pets as gifts and why many are rehemmed or taken to shelters. As someone here has said and I agree, if I were a breeder I would NEVER advertise my pups for sale during Any holiday. Think about this, what happens to Most rabbits purchased for kids for easter ? It's no different for the Christmas present Puppy. If we lived in a perfect world maybe it would be different , but we don't and this is Sad reality.

It happens all of the time. Potty training issues, allergies (to a dog with no dander), barking, dog is afraid of the children who have been torturing it, husband does not like, moving and cannot take the dog with them.........oh, the list is endless.


Dogs are disposable to many. It is disgusting and the magnitude of it is just unimaginable.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Yeah, I guess you're right, sometimes it's hard for me to believe that people can be so cruel. I need to accept just because I commit to a dog for life not everyone does. My husband pointed out that for those that can afford an expensive dog are probably the ones that don't hesitate to get rid of the "hard to potty train" ones as those dogs are are the "pains-in-the-rear" and those people can afford to go out and get another one...and another one...and another one (dumping the "inconvenient" ones off before moving on to the next "try").
As far as Yorkies go (yes, I know other dogs are the same way, just speaking from my experience with Yorkies) they get sooo bonded to their humans I just think it's a double whammy for the little dogs to get 'dumped'. That's why, in part, I can't understand the breeder who just sells off a dog after it's served it's breeding purposes...that dog has bonded to them and is suddenly "dumped" (dumped is dumped, whether some cash was exchanged in the process or not) and I'm sure that dog can't understand why it was suddenly sent away from its only known home. Yes, I understand it would be "inconvenient" for a breeder to keep all the dogs once they are done breeding it...but to the dog there is little difference in the reason behind the "inconvenience". I don't think the dog understands: I'm getting rid of you because: 1) you aren't potty trained and are a pain, 2) you bark too much, 3) I can't afford you, 4) you're no longer breedable, 5) need a new young breedable bitch, 6) insert reason for dumping/unloading/getting rid of/selling off...
Maybe breeding should be a time-limited position. Breed for a few years and when you can no longer keep your dogs (as they've aged-out for breeding), time to get out and let the next breeder step in. That might be worthwhile legislation.
Kendra

An example of this, is our Lilly. She came into rescue at 13 weeks of age. Full breed Yorkie and one that some breeder's would call a Tea Cup. She was soooo tiny. Many may remember here on here when I first took her in. She weighed just a little over a pound, and had hardly any hair. I was posting looking for something warm in her size. Anyway, not to get off subject. She was bought (paid big bucks) from a pet shop and then dumped at a shelter. Can you imagine dumping something so small and helpless at a shelter? Well, the shelter knew they could not give her what she needed and they contacted rescue. Rescue had over 100 applications on her. I was the lucky pick. She is now a healthy happy four pound three year old:) And, I now volunteer with this rescue. So, YES people do pay big bucks for animals and then just dump them. Some just don't care about the money. I see people I know all the time make big money purchases and then don't take care of what they get; cars, computers, furniture etc. but it's really bad when it's a life at stake. :( Elaine

I hope Vanessa comes back and reads all this great advice and I hope she rethinks (very carefully) about getting a very small dog for a 2yr old at Christmas.

Vanessa - Labs are fantastic dogs to grow up with if your heart is set on getting a dog now.

They are great dogs, but that is another breed that people need to research before getting. They are difficult if not trained well...you really have to be committed to training them! Of course it is the same for any breed....I just say that because I have a good friend who rescues Labs and she finds that most people just assume that they are going to be great dogs for the family without any work at all!

Great post!

The SPCA in Raleigh won't even adopt out pets the week before Christmas. :thumbup:

Labs are wonderful dogs when they are properly trained. The problem most people don't realize is that their bodies grow so much faster than their brains do. You very quickly have a 60 pound puppy who's teething and jumping all over you.