| Re: My 12 year old wants a Rottweiler
Unless you want another dog, and a Rottweiler, one should never acquire a dog for a child. To give him a goal for life, he should know that when he grows up and is able to have his own home and support a dog for the rest of its life, he will then be in a position to have one.
Regardless of the love or even responsibility shown, a youngster grows up, goes away to school, or goes to live in an apartment or with roommates or travels to another community to find work. They are not in a position to make a 10 year committment.
I did a very successful adult placement with an autistic child, but the mother wanted the dog and I matched the right dog for that family and for the child. So, although the right dog can do very well with a handicapped child, it is the parent who must want the dog. Those decisions are too monumental to be put in the hands of children |