Our son is 10 and has asked for a dog for two years. My partner is taking a career break and is now firmly on his side. My hesitation is not the cost or the mess. It's the ordinary day eighteen months from now, when my partner may be back at work, I'm in theatre by 7.30, and the caregiver's hours don't cover early mornings. Everyone says "we'll all manage". I would like to know who in your house actually ended up doing the walks.
Who will do the 6 am walk once your partner returns to work? That was the question that settled it for us, and we didn't get one. Nobody had a real answer, only enthusiasm.
That is exactly the question. The answer offered here was "all of us", which in my experience means whoever wakes earliest.
My partner is home full time and still said no to a dog for exactly this reason. Our 7 year old has since negotiated down to fish.
My brother's family fostered a dog for a month through a neighbour before deciding. They said it answered most of their questions faster than months of discussion. Is fostering an option where you are?
my son begged for 2 years. we said fine if he walked the neighbours dog every evening for a month first. he lasted 9 days. topic closed for now
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