You know, we got two puppies in July. By September we had to find them a new home. It was too much for our family, our lifestyle, and my poor 6 year old's allergies.
My husband and I also work long hours and the kids are in activities at night...so we were not home enough.
HOWEVER - I grew up with dogs where two parents worked and all 5 of us were busy all the time. Our dogs were NEVER neglected. You don't have to work at home or be at home all the time to have a dog. Plenty of working families have multiple dogs.
It sounds like she has reservations like I did...and she may want to skip on the idea.
Also - I think a 9 year old is MORE than capable of the responsibilities. My kids at 4, 6, and 8 did honestly 90% of what the puppies needed.
Not a good idea at this time in life. Dog will get rehomed because they are not there. Dogs are pack animals and the family is their pack and if they are not there things happen.
When things change in 3 or 4 years maybe.
It is cruel to be left alone in a crate for 8 or 9 hours and it is also cruel to just leave them home all day long.
I vote no to the dog.
I have had several and miss them but they are part of the family and it is hard when you lose them.
I don't think a dog will be a good fit for them. Maybe they could foster one to try it out. I love our Boston terrier. He was my first baby. But dogs need a lot of care and there is no way that 9 year is going to manage that. So many people get dogs without really considering all the time, cost, and care of a pet. Just last week we had an unexpected vet bill of $200 extra. I took our dog in for two vaccinations and some heartworm prevention. He had something wrong with his eye and a yeast infection around his tail. Total bill $300!! Thank God we have a dog envelope in our Dave Ramsay budgeting plan. Just a few ideas to think about. Maybe they could pet sit someone else's dog at their house. But even that may be artificial bc that pet will more than likely have some training and be potty trained.
If they do they should make sure they have the budget for a dog walker to come by the house a couple times a week to let the dog out to play, walk, etc. And work on training so that he doesn't ahve t be crated all day (gate off the kitchen maybe? If they could accommodate these things, it could be worth it.
Ya had me at the "gone 9 hours per day". This family does not currently have the lifestyle required to own a dog. Please try even harder to convince your daughter of this.
We have always been dog people. When our last two had to be put down (2 years ago and 1 year ago) I told hubby that there would be no more dogs until and unless he agrees to help take care of them. Now, he will feed and bathe, but he refuses to pick up feces. I also don't mind feeding and bathing and would gladly do that if he would pick up the feces. During the 15 years we had the other two, I picked up the cr*p the entire time! I think he did it once and then didn't really do it (paid our grandson to do it for him!) He just said last night after watching a shelter commercial that he IS going to get another dog. All I say is, no problem as long as you clean up after it.
My 9 year old granddaughter is right on his same page - when can we get another dog. I tell her the same. She shuts right up because she already knows she doesn't want to pick up feces. I think your grandson has no idea what he's agreeing to do, but I don't know of any way to get that across to him.
I agree with you, dogs are not novelty items - they become family members and have to be cared for just like a baby. If you're not willing to do that, then you should not have a dog. And dogs should not be crated for 9 hours a day - I think that's just plain cruel.