Should I buy a chihuahua puppy for my 12 year old daughter?

Question

My daughter wants a chihuahua because the are loving companions to play and snuggle with. She understands all that is involved with caring for this breeder in great detail. She has researched heaps about the breed on the internet and has ordered heaps of books about dog care and training from the library.She is not involved in any school activities,does not go out with friends so she has heaps of free time to care for a dog she is willing to spend all her free time with it daily and let it sleep in her lap while she does homework. I know she will spend all her time with it and clean up its messes and has been reading a lot about training dogs.She also knows a lot of information on choosing from a good breeder and has drawn up a feeding and house-training schedule for one. We are able to afford a good chihuahua puppy with vet visits and care supplies. She has also drawn up things we need to do to puppy proof the house. She gets mostly B grades at school. Though I'm concerned about if it is appropriate to buy a dog for a child. We got her a cockateil last year and she still independently takes good care of that bird. Should I buy her a chihuahua? I know she is very committed in caring for one for the rest of its life and knows it can live up to 18 years.

Answer 1

She seems to have done heaps of research,I would say she deserves a puppy and would be a great owner.

Answer 2

It sounds like she has done her research, just make sure you have done yours. It is not reasonable to expect her to be able to care for the dog 100% of the time. Once she gets in high school, she will be in extracurricular activities or will want to spend time with her friends and she should be allowed to.



My family always had dogs when I was growing up and I got MY first puppy when I was 7. The deal was, that as long as I was home at feeding/walking time I was responsible for it. That continued up until I went away to college and my mother took over as the care-taker. I personally think that if a kid is responsible, and the whole family is on board, that a dog is a great thing.



If, for some reason she ends up losing her commitment to this dog, I certainly hope that you will step up and take care of it instead of placing it in a shelter. Chihuahuas are flooding the shelters and it's odds of finding a new home will be slim. Make sure that YOU want the dog, too. Otherwise there will be problems down the road. If I had ever lost interest in my dog, my parents would have NEVER rehomed her because they loved her, too, and if they had given her away, it would have taught me that pets are expendable, and that is a horrible lesson to pass on.



Find a good breeder, (not on a website or on craigslist) or better yet, go to the shelter. I guarantee that you will find a Chihuahua puppy and it would be a great experience and lesson for your daughter to learn about rescuing dogs.

Answer 3

Buy Chihuahua Puppy

Answer 4

Actually, most chihuahuas live for an average of 15 years. They are not good for young children, but your daughter is old enough. She sounds mature for her age. Remember, they need to have daily walks, like any other breed of dog. Your daughter sounds like a responsible young woman, and she will take very good care of her pet. I would recommend getting her the dog.



As I said, while they are not great for really young children, it is due to young kids being too rough, and causing the dog to snap at them. My first dog was a chihuahua mix, I got her around the same age as your daughter. She was a loyal companion all of her 16 years.

Answer 5

Normally, gifts aren't a good idea. But this doesn't seem like a "surprise" puppy, so I'd say go for it.



Plus, children (and adults) benefit GREATLY from having dogs. They lower blood pressure, some are protective, and they can even extend your life for three years. Plus, who doesn't like waking up to an animal who wants nothing more to please you?



Just be sure you don't treat it like a toy. By this I mean, pretend it's a large dog. Don't allow it to growl or jump up on people. Even though it seems *cute* it's really not. Growling and/or snapping and/or barking at people usually means the dog is fearful, which obviously means it's under stress. This type of fear/stress is caused when a dog gets mixed signals. If it's allowed to jump on you, or get into YOUR space when YOU haven't said he could, but then you turn around and get mad when he's snapping at you for getting in HIS space, the dog doesn't understand where his "place" in the "pack" is. Basically, you can have the dog in your lap all you want. You can pet and cuddle and kiss and love on the dog all day, if you want. But it has to be on YOUR time, and when YOU call the dog to you. Don't allow him/her to nudge or paw at you for attention.



Other than that, I wouldn't be worried at all. A dog is an excellent addition to any family.



xo VIE xo

Answer 6

It sounds like your daughter is incredibly mature for a 12 year old. I would say, YES, get her a chihuahua, but just be prepared to take care of it yourself if need be. A dog is a lot of work and sometimes the novelty can wear off. Hopefully not though!

Please consider adopting....there are tons of homeless chihuahuas on petfinder.com and you'd be saving a life. I have two chihuahuas....one I got at 8 weeks old and one I adopted from a rescue at about 5 years old. Love them both, but the rescue dog is more well behaved believe it or not. Good luck to you....chihuahuas are wonderful, loving companions.

And as far as not liking kids, most don't love little kids who flail around and want to treat them like a doll....mine are fine with both little and older kids, but tire of the little ones after a while. A 12 year old would be fine.

Answer 7

I would say yes. Make sure the breeder health tests there dog's (gets them tested for eyes, hips, etc. to make sure they are not passing problems on to the offspring) and a person who shows there dog's is a plus.



Good luck getting a Chi! With the right training and socialization they are friendly little dog's. A family friend has a Chi rescued from a puppy mill and it's the friendliest dog, loves children, and her bestfriend is a little girl who's in 2nd grade. Don't listen to these people telling you they "aren't kid friendly".



Also, im a teen and I volunteer at a shelter and the Chi's all love me. So.....

Answer 8

Yes !! Absolutely get her a puppy!

She sounds very serious about this and I think she will be an excellent dog person!

If you are serious about a chihuahua I would start with a puppy. The are very stubborn little dogs and need trained and socialized. Pet Smart has excellent puppy classes too.

Answer 9

I am 14 I have 3 min pin 1 hound mix and in a few days I am getting a 10 week old Female Great Dane, I walk my dogs, feed my dogs, etc but my mom pays for food and vet lol

Get her the puppy:)

Answer 10

Yes,I think so defiantly.I have lived with dogs pretty much all my life and they just make life better.I like them so much because they actually really do love you.How excited they get when you come home!Your daughter seems super responsible and really dedicated.They are a lot of work,but if she has been reading that much about it I think it's okay.She has proved she can take care of pets and the chihuahua would be a great companion for her!

Answer 11

DEFINITLY YES!! I have gone through that as a child and I was READY but never got my puppy. :( She would be thrilled and it would be a very good step in responsibility for her too. Your family sounds perfect for this dog, I have a chihuahua now and it is 10 and very attatched to me. Attatches to whole family and very fun dog :) PLEASE get this for your daughter :)



AND THEY DEFINITYLY DO NOT HATE KIDS AND TEENS! Well I guess that may depend on the dog but your daughter did enough research to know what dog is right for your family. I have a dog and it is VERY loving and attatched to my 13 year old daughter and we got a baby about 2 years ago and she loves him as long as he doesnt try to jump on her :) she will sit next to him showing she wants attention from him - so cute :)



Oh-when she goes off to college my 10 year old chihuahua is very laid back (except for when you mention the word 'walk') and has been for many years :)

Answer 12

She sounds like a responsible girl who has done her homework! Good for her! If your family has the resources to care for the dog, I would start researches breeders in the area! I got my first dog at eleven, and she taught me a lot about responsibility and compassion. Because of her, I got out in nature a lot more and developed a love of the outdoors.

Your daughter sounds ready for the challenge, and as long as you're willing to welcome another animal into your home, I would go for it!

Answer 13

yes i think you should get your daughter a chihuahua . they are great pets. I had one. they live long healthy lives. and very smart so easy to train. they are loyal to their household family. but if you do not get them socialized they will hate everyone outside the house. boy chihuahuas love girls more and girl chis love boys more. they will follow you around. they have a lot of personality and very humorous. my chi makes me laugh everyday. he was very easy to potty train and dont have to worry bout them running away because they automatically are leashed trained they dont go far from their owners. Lastly they are low maintenance and easy to take care of. they dont eat much b/ c of such small bellies, and they waste is soo small.



one more thing....unlike other puppies they are not able to ruin your furniture because they are never big and strong enough. I never had that problem with my chi when he was a puppy.

Answer 14

are you prepared to take over the care of the dog in 6 years or so when your daughter goes off to college (should that be an issues)?



otherwise, there's nothing wrong with it. she's prooven herself to be responsible and has done the research, thats alot more than most 12 year olds would do!

Answer 15

Of course.

You answered your own question.

If she takes care of it, of course, if ur willing to pay for the food&&leash && other things to care for a dog.

Answer 16

You should consider adoption, and the dog would be yours and your daughter's. You'd help her care for it, and she'd help you.

Answer 17

i would say definitely. she sounds very responsible and as long as she knows that it may not live that long AS WELL AS live that long she sounds like she would be a wonderful owner

Answer 18

They hate kids and teens