Help me convince!
 

Howdy Yall, I need some help trying to convince my mom to let me buy a hunting dog. As for some background Info. I'm 15 Years old, have a car so I can transport a dog. I am the Co-Trainer of this years Kansas Pointing dog. I'm also working with another lab training it for next years season. My problem is that my mother says we already have a dog (a mutt). And my mom says the only way I can get my own dog is when we dont already have a dog. I'm willing to buy the dog and pay for its food. The only bad I can see in my situation is that I'm going off to college in a couple of years. If youv had to convince your wife to let you get a dog, what did you say. I'm in dier need of some advice on how to convince my mom to let me get a dog.

RE: Help me convince!
 

Honestly, your mom is right. Wait untill your in a better position to properly take care of it.

RE: Help me convince!
 

Well I honestly think I'm capable of handling a pup, the only reason my mother dosnt want me to get a dog is because she hates animals. The only reason we have a dog now is because we got if for christmas when I was 4. Any other advice would be a huge help

RE: Help me convince!
 

And what will you do with the dog once you go to college, and are either in school or doing homework/studying for 16 - 18 hours a day?

RE: Help me convince!
 

And what will you do with the dog when you are in college and either in school or doing homework 16 - 18 hours a day?

RE: Help me convince!
 

Here are a couple of questions for you. First who will be the promary caregiver for this dog when you are in school/ collge or first move out and arn't set up to care for a dog?

I understand that right now you would give all your time and attention to a dog. It sounds like you know a lot and would be great witha dog. That isn't the problem though. I had a dog when I was 14, I showed her, we did 4H, and she was trained as a therapy dog, we went to nursing home sect.... But even after all that hard work, when I moved out did the college thing it realy became my mom's dog. There isn't much of a way to avoid it. pLus is it realy fair to a dog to do all the training, getting attached, and having such a strong hunt drive, when you won't be there to do those things with it?

Sorry but I have to say I agree with your mom.

RE: Help me convince!
 

Doesn't look like your getting much help. Probably because everyone here knows how much change is going to occur when you head off to school. You've mentioned that you have helped train some dogs. Can you kennel him with the dog you helped train? Could you train a dog and then sell him before college?
Where will you go to school? On-Campus or Off-Campus housing? Some schools will require 1 year on-campus for freshmen. No way to have your dog in the dorm.

Seems like yesterday but it was 9 years ago when I bought my first CBR. I was living off-campus and had the ability to put up a kennel in the back lot. I was entering my junior year and had a heavy class load. I did manage to get my dog trained and my schoolwork complete and hunt but there wasn't time for much of anything else, except work. I worked at night as a bartender 4 nights a week. None of it was easy. All of it was fun. Wouldn't change anything.

The difference in what I did and what you are asking is that I was on my own paying my own way at school so I didn't have to ask Mom. Had I done it all 15 years ago then perhaps mom would have my dog. The first two years at school will take up a lot of time. There will be parties and ball games and road trips. A dog will alter your ability to take part in all this.

Train one and sell it. Put the money into a moneymarket account and pull it out when you have the ability to take the time to be with a dog and buy another. That may be in college or it may be after.

RE: Help me convince!
 

Thanks for all the feedback! If I'm able to get a dog, I'm going to show in 4-H for sure. As for what to do during the college stage of my life, I'm planning on attending Kansas State University. My grandparents live just outside of the town where the college is located and thats where my uncle has his kennel and breeding program. I'm sure I could house my dog on the family farm. I am also looking at attending the Community College in my city. That way I could live at home and take care of a dog. One alternative is selling the dog before I go off to college. One reason I want a dog is for the band that is made. My dad got parkinsins diesise when I was 2 and my parents split up when I was 8. My dad and I never realy got to do anything father son wise and I juss want a dog to bond with.

RE: Help me convince!
 

Who is paying Vet Bills?(Every dog will get sick or injured at some point.)
Who is doing everyday care?
Who is running the Dog daily?
I had a better situation in school and I couldnt of taken care of a dog.
To get a dog to bond with cause of daddy issues is a wrong reason.

Getting a Dog would be poor choice at this time.

A good choice would be to study your !@#$ off and in 4 years you will be able to aford all the dogs you want.

You should let your mom read these post:D

Good Luck

TE

RE: Help me convince!
 

I'm realy displeased with the post from TreeStandEd, I thank you for your input on the situation. But you have no room to judge OR to tell anybody even me a 15 year old kid what are good reasons to get a dog and what are not. The comment about my father was un-called for. You could have said "the situation between your father and you" instead of "daddie issues" I'm sorry for all this but I took great offense to the comment. My so called "Daddy Issues" are not the only reason I want a pup. I would like to get a dog as a family pet, to increase my hunting success, companionship, as a 4-H project and many other reasons. I'd be glad to elaborate more or are those reasons good enough?

RE: Help me convince!
 

Easy "kid". TE is giving you feedback he feels important enough to share regarding your situation. He didn't sugar coat it but you did post a question that opens up a lot of feelings for dog owners. TE wants what is best for you and any dog you may get I'm sure. He is right to tell you to study your a%% off. Get a solid foundation for your future income in college and you will find many things in life will come easier. That includes everything from the truck you drive to the hook you hang your hat on and the places you get to go to hunt.
I am sorry to hear about the situation with your father. My wife's family has a history of the same disease and her cousins shake already. Makes it hard for one of them when he is hunting. He has muffed up 4 gobblers in 4 years that I've called for him. Good luck with your endeavors in school and the pursuit of Ditch Parrots around Garden City.

RE: Help me convince!
 

It sounds as though you have realy put a lot of thought into this. perhaps the next step you should take is to talk to your grandparents and ask their imput. If you did atend college there would they be able to house your dog?

Next try writing out a 'dog budget' Fugure out the cost of food, and training supplies, then the cost of routine vet exams and vacinations. Then add in some emergency money. Detirmine if this is something that you can afford on your own. Also keep in mind if all yor moeny goes to a dog, what are you not going to be able to spend it one that you may presently buy. Perhaps note that as well.

Figure out how much time you would reasonably be able to spend training and working with a dog and put that down. Make a rough draft for a training schedule.

Do some breed research on the type of dog you want and the breeder you would like to buy from and how you will pay for it.

Also come up with a plan for where you are going to keep the dog when your away at school - like a kennel. Try to think of what you can do when the dog is a pup and not housebroke to minumize the impact on your mom.

Once you have all of this planned out and written down, ask your mom if she would be willing to listen as you present your data. Tell her you have spent weeks or however much time it took to gather all of the information and that you have tried to come up with a way to make it easy on her. If you can put all of it it in writing like a book report you will probably impress her. It is not a garantee but even if it doesn't happen I am sure she will be proud of the work you put in. Plus if you do 4H, you will have to do similar trackign of expenses and time anyway and it would be good practice. Remember it is ultimatly her decision. Plus you may want o quit bugging her about it for now. If you keep at it she will probably get annoyed and then you have no chance with presenting your facts.

If you need any help figureing how much a dog cost I am sure anyone here would be willing to help you.

Good Luck!

RE: Help me convince!
 

Thanks again for all the comments,

I'v only asked my mom about a dog a couple of times and maybe that was around a year ago and when she said no I didnt pursue it any further. I'v kept my wanting a dog of my own on the quiet side.

As for most the the ideas I'v already done.

I'v already made a budget and from what reasearch I'v done it would cost me around 600 dollars yearly to care for a dog. Thats paying for it on my own. Both of my uncles on both sides of the family are dog breeders and owners. They could help with training equipment and anything else involving a dog.

I'v already researched breeds. I'm looking for a German Shorthair Pointer
or a Lab. I'v researched what medical conditions each breed of dogs are prone to.

Since my mom is the County 4-H agent it would be a plus to mention the dog as part of a project.

RE: Help me convince!
 

433 food 25/bag/3 weeks
135 all first yr shots/exam fee DLHPP/Kennel Cough/rabies
20 wormer at home administration
100 flea treat (4 times at $25.00)
20 collars (you will need a few as pup grows
20 leashes (fit and show and obediance leashes)
25 grooming suplies (nail clippers, tooth brush, ear cleaner, miscl)
50 dummies/whistles
100 live birds for training
50 chew toys for teething
15 AKC registration fee
175 electronic collar (for feild training)
500 price of purebred pup if not from family
*****************************************
$1,643 for first year expenses

RE: Help me convince!
 

Yes very true except I have most of those products or can get them for no charge.

All ready have
Collars
leashes
grooming supplies
dummys and whistles
chew toys
electric collar
and I dont plan on spending $500 for a pup, at most $250

Deducting those items it comes out to $938, I plan on cutting costs as much as I can if I get a dog anyways

RE: Help me convince!
 

KID that was not personnel attack, its sound advice based on information you have given and life experience. The choices you make in life good or bad will have lasting affect on your future.

That’s awesome LB. My own calculations came to 1,760.00$ and I will add 200$ for unexpected vet bill for total 1,960.00$.

This is overly simplistic, and was the question posed to me before I was ready to own and train a dog.

Can you afford a child? Time and $$$.

Good luck




TE

RE: Help me convince!
 

Let us know how it goes!