Need frsh ideas on how to dissuade moron from getting new puppy for Xmas

[khaski]

The moron would be my sister-in-law, an otherwise bright woman. Her 9 year old has been begging for a puppy for months, and they plan to get one for Xmas. Mind you, she was raised in a petless household, and has never had a pet. Period. They want something small, but she hasn't done a lick of breed research, and will undoubtedly buy whatever's cute and availible. We added 2 puppies to our household this summer, as we have been desperately wanting to do for a long time, and were finally able to when we bought our house in june. I have had dogs most of my life, worked a few years in a vet's office, and am forunate to have a friend who is a professional dog trainer. They figure if our pups are turning out so well, theirs will too...but they have no idea the hell it is getting the puppy to that stage! I have tried to nicely point out all the things she's not even considering, like housebreaking, puppy teething and chewing, training, vet bills...she dismisses them all. Her son has promised to take very good care of the puppy, and we all know how that one works out, no matter what the child's intentions. Training? If the puppy needs training, her husband is responsible for it (side note: he is a HUGE pot head who barely takes care of himself!). Basically, she does NOT have a foot in reality about this whole thing, and i am half expecting in a few months we will get a phone call from her asking if we can take the puppy, who will be not housebroken, untrained, and a holy terror. I, being the sucker I am, would say yes, of course, but i don't wan't to deal with that, nor do I want to see this poor impulsively purchased puppy get a start in life in a household oblivious and uncommitted to caring for a puppy/dog. This woman thinks RABBITS are too hard to care for, for Gosh sake's. Her son wanted one a while back, and she thought going to the hutch 2x a day to feed and water it a tremendous inconvenience she couldn't stomach. Ideas? Experiences? Anyone know of any books detailing how tough it really is to own a bundle of poo and teeth, as all puppies tend to be their first few months? Sounds harsh, I know, but if you knew these people and saw the attitude, you too would be horrified by the 'We're getting a cute puppy and it will all work out nicely without lifting a finger' attitude. now that I've vented....;)

[cleolover]

and then they will get mad and get rid of the pup... sigh. I don't think there is much you can do ( I know here the humane society will not ADOPT during the holidays because of all the problems.) Maybe they should start of with something a bit easier... maybe a Pet Rock? LOL I know, there ought to be a Stupid Tax. Lame, but how about suggesting the child have Allergy tests before getting a pet? ttys Norma

[SapphireWolf]

You could print her out a copy of my latest post ,
'Another sad story to make people more aware "How could you?" '

[LionNLamb]

a month or two after X-mas tip the MSPCA off and let them rescue the dog.

[Roz]

Try to point out that puppies and dogs are more work than a rabbit, as they are. If she refused a rabbit, you should just need to compare the two, and make a dog sound worse.

Tell her to give her son a goldfish and see if he can keep that alive, first.

Tell her how much it's going to cost to care for a puppy/dog. Vaccines, de-worming, check-ups, fecal flotations, monthly heartworm prevention, the possibility of fleas and ticks and what must be done to prevent them and/or be rid of them when an animal gets them, food, etc.

Find out what's most important to her and make her believe the puppy/dog will most definitely interfere with that thing that is so important to her.

Oh, and try not to make your dogs look so great to her. Start complaining about them. Exaggerate their flaws.

... Be creative ...

[willow15133]

That sounds just awful. First, I think you should persuade the entire family to do extensive research on dogs/puppies. They do not sound ready for a dog yet, which is one of the hardest pets to care for. I also think that a dog should not be given as a gift, especially without the person receiving it's knowledge. I agree with Roz that they should get a smaller pet, a goldfish or rat, that...with no easier way to put this...have shorter life-spans than dogs. This will teach the son about caring for a pet and how to deal with the loss of a pet. If the son takes care of the "trial pet", then the parents could consider giving him the dog (not puppy) at an unexciting time of year. Lastly, she shouldn't be persuaded in a matter of months. It should be at least two years! Anyway,I suppose I'm telling stuff you already know. Hope this helps.

[Erika]

It sounds like all those suggestions are worthy ones. I am currently going through the puppy raising stage with my Lilly, and it is a lot of work, but it's more rewarding than anything in the world. There is a chance, if your sister in law has any kind of a heart that things will go fine. It might be a really great thing for her little boy to have a dog to turn to while others in the house are going up in smoke (a confidante, source of perpetual love etc.) For his sake, it may be worthwile to support the dog adoption idea, especially if its all he's ever wanted. Plus it would mean one less dog sitting very bored in a Kennel somewhere. I think its great that you are warning about all the work, they need to know these things in advance. Also advicate the "absolutely no violence during moments of frustrations" since the pup will become the dog it has been treated to be. I think that dogs are more endearing than rabbits and they demand (and reciprocate) love and attention, so I wouldn't necesarily jump to the conclusion that it will receive the same treatment as the yard bunny.

hope it all works out either way!

erika