help! - pet woes!

kimberley wrote: omg i don't know what to do but everyone in this house wants a pet. i have been leaning towards a bunny for some time but now dh wants a dog
i already told him i don't do dog baths or "pick ups" but he really wants one and the kids are back and forth between the dog and the bunny. i am a wimp! how do i say no? should i say no? ahhhhhhhhhhh!

kimberley replied: this is Remmie...

Crystalina replied: A bunny for in the house or out? That may seem like an odd question but I know people who litter train. If you don't want "alot" of hassle then go for the bunny. Dogs are just like kids. How about a nice kitty? You never even know they are around unless you forget to clean out their box.

ataylorm replied: Take it from someone who has had MANY bunnies. DON'T GET ONE! They make terrible pets. They can't control their poop, they don't litter box train despite what the pet store might tell you. They never really warm up to people, and have nasty bites. Oh and especially with the males, they do this jump and spin pee thing that spreads it everywhere!

mckayleesmom replied:
Im going to with you....maybe you just got some bad ones. I had a male rabbit disagree named Gordon and he was an awesome pet. He was litter trained and as friendly as a cat.

I suggest a rabbit first and see how they take care of that before letting them move on to a dog.

mom2my2cuties replied: I am just gonna say Remmie is CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I finally talked Andrew into trying another dog and so far we have been doing AWESOME! (except for one minor mishap that poor Augie couldn't help)

kimberley replied: Hobbie...

kimberley replied: bunny for inside. and we can't get a cat because my son is allergic. and if we get one, it will be from a rabbit rescue not a pet store. they indicate whether the animal is child friendly or not. i found them on petfinder. we are looking for a female animal

luvbug00 replied: Dogs are children with fur. need I say more.

Bunnys scare me to be honest so what about a hamster? or a farret ( they kinda smell though) ? a turtle??

booey2 replied: Stick to your guns girl, because if you don't you will be the one to look after whatever you relent to getting. We have fish and I end up taking care of them and reminding DH to feed them. I wanted a dog but shook myself and decided against it. They will also tie you to the house more and $$$ in care and food.

Hugs

Terri

kimberley replied: LOL Nadia! you crack me up. no on the ferret and hamster.. btdt, didn't like either.
turtle is a possibility but carry salmonella (sp?).

just fyi, we live in a multi-level townhouse with a moderate sized yard. next door has a dog.

kimberley replied: i think you are right, Terri. it is just so hard to slam the door on getting a dog when you look at Remmie

mom2my2cuties replied:
Augie is sometimes worse than my kids - I can't seem to go two steps without tripping over him most of the time. Lately it's where ever I am - there he is. And I have found lately - I am constantly saying "Andy don't hit Augie - Andy be gentle - Augie don't growl at Andy"

hawkshoe replied: Don't do it unless it is you that wants it. No matter what the kids say, the pet will end up being your responsibility.

Christie replied:

I don't have any children yet and I imagine it would be hard to take care of a dog and children, but I have always been and will always be a dog person. I have three dogs right now, but they are ages 10, 11 and 13 and they are all house trained so they are really no work at all. All I have to do it love on them, make sure they have food and water and open up the back door when they need to go outside. Do you live in a house with a backyard? If so, I would suggest getting an older dog who is already house trained so you wouldn't have to worry about picking up messes. I always had dogs when I was younger and I want my kids to have dogs also. They are just such loving animals.

CantWait replied: My puppy was cute also, see......



.....however, Ron promised he would "pick up" when we got him, and once it was time to do it, all of sudden it made him sick.

luvbug00 replied: Found this site.. JUST FOR YOU! LOL!

http://www.mrscleanjeans.com/pages/FAMILY/...intenance).html

gecko?

holley79 replied: Love I have no clue.

Boo&BugsMom replied: Get a rat, they are awesome pets!!!

Crystalina replied:
Really?

If you are leaning towards a rabbit you need to know that their pee is very stinky. I mean, all pee is but this is borderline "cat pee" stinky. Just so you know, in case you can't litter train.

booey2 replied:
I saw the pic after posting, I started posting the reply and had to deal with a few things before finishing it. He is a sweetie. In our house I want the dog, if only we lived in the country and I was a stay at home mom, then maybe, maybe DH would agree. Remmi is a cutie .

Terri

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Yes! They are so gentle, timid, can do tricks, the whole bit. They don't bite (well, aren't suppose to anyway, but I'm sure you could get an abnormal one like any other animal). They are easy to clean up after, don't smell (unless you never clean the cage), I could go on and on. I've had 3 of them growing up and all were awesome pets.

mom2my2cuties replied: This thread reminded me of something -

For those who have cats and HATE litter box time (like me)

Well I found something that works so well that even when you put it off until things are caking inside there (*gives Andrew the "look") that you can't even smell the cat pee...It's Tidy Cats Small Spaces.

kimberley replied: i actually had a rat before i had kids. i won't do it again. he ended up with cancerous tumors and was crippled after 5yrs. it was horrible. not to mention cost $65 to put down for a $2 rat!

i have always had cats so i am prepared for the smell.

Marie, i love that pic! your kids are so cute and wittle! and puppy is adorable!

gecko huh...

TANNER'S MOM replied: Well.. nothing against RATS...but if I was in a house that had a rat I would move. how can they be great pets? Do they even remember who you are to love you back?

Now I am a dog person.. I love dogs..but remember when DH let Tanner have the cutest puppy in the world. Well he is still cute in some ways but in others a big old pain in the butt. He chews up stuff in my yard..thinks it's a Thanksgiving feast if a shoe gets left outside cause it's muddy, thinks every bit of paper blown in the yard needs to be shredded to the size he specifies. He pee's on my tire all the time and loves hiking his leg on everything. He has now learned to hump the girls dogs who are fixed..and every time he does the kids all laugh this laugh that makes me afraid to look.. As I am typing this, I am calling the vet to make him an appt to get fixed.. I can't stand the humping.. Oh and pee's on ya when he is excited..which happens to be everytime you say his name. Now Tanner says he is the best dog in the world...he can ride the four wheeler with him.. he loves to play chase, he loves to run beside Tanner when he rides his bike. Tanner can say his name and he runs as fast as he can.. and jumps right in his arms.. So to Tanner he is worth all the mess...me I am not so sure.

The vet can't get him to fix him for another week..Great!

Now I have had rabbits too. They are okay pets.. there is some work involved in pet proofing. But since you have a baby in the house I am sure it wouldn't be much different. They do get excited and scratch.. they do mess if not litter box trained. If it was me, I would go with a young one so they are used to kids.

Be careful getting an older animal of any kind around the kids, especially if they haven't been brought with kiddo's. The young years are the messy ones but then they bond with your family, and soon they are a part of your family too. As much as I don't like Zeke right now, I guess he is good entertainment for Tanner!

Oh we have 3 dogs... NONE of which is mine. Daisy is Dh's , Zeke is Tanner and Sheena is Justin's.. who do you think cleans up the mess.. bathes them, feeds them and waters them 99 % of the time.. Yup me..

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Depends on what you're looking for in a pet. There are lots of pets for different people. I love all animals, but yes, I did find that rats also like to be snuggled and will fall asleep on your lap. I love them! I'm allergic now though.

PrairieMom replied: puppie! puppie! puppie!

want mine?

amynicole21 replied: I love my dog to pieces, but wouldn't do it again with small kids. He's 5 and still pees in the house every day