Please, Oh Please Can We Get a Dog: Parents' Guide to Dog Ownership

by Cheryl Peterson

Book Overview

That's one of the most dreaded questions children ask. This book helps you give the right answer-even if that answer is "no." It reminds you that getting a dog is making a commitment, and that an adorable, little puppy can turn into a boisterous, big dog. It helps you take a realistic look at your family situation and the challenges and rewards of dog ownership so you can objectively answer questions such as:
Is your lifestyle suitable for a family dog?What is involved with responsible dog ownership, and how much will it cost?How much can you reasonably count on the kids to help once the newness of owning a dog has worn off?What breed or mix will best fit your family?How do you find the right dog?How do you train the dog?If you decide to take the plunge and get a Chihuahua, Rottweiler, Poodle, Golden Retriever, Dachshund, or mixed breed, Please, Oh Please Can We Get a Dog? helps you get off to a good start so you and your kids can experience the joys of dog ownership for years to come.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764572970
• ISBN13: 9780764572975
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Howell Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Please Oh Please Can We Get a Dog? The Parents' Guide to Dog Ownership

DOG WORLD MAGAZINE -- BOOK REVIEW -- October, 2005 Reviewed by Janine Adams This engaging, informative book is a terrific resource for parents who are considering buying a dog for their children. It opens astutely by positing, "Two of the most dreaded questions children ask their parents are: Where do babies come from? [and] Please, oh please can we get a dog?" Peterson, a dog trainer, fully understands how children can benefit from having dogs in their lives. But she wants to help educate parents about the commitment a dog requires. She gives them a reality check when it comes to expecting the children to care for the dog, endeavoring to make sure that potential first-timers know that dogs should never be purchased on impulse. Peterson has written something unique: a book specifically designed for parents to read before the dog is purchased. As such, there's room for great detail on some important topics that can help keep parents from making a big mistake. She takes the reader through a series of realistic questions. (Will your family's leisure activities accommodate a dog? Can you afford to keep a dog? Is your marriage healthy?) She even devotes a chapter to helping parents decline those pleading puppy requests. For the parents who get through the first few chapters and still want a dog, Peterson includes detailed pages on how to choose a breed (including a comprehensive table of breeds prone to a variety of genetic diseases); where to purchase and equally importantly, where not to purchase a dog; and how to find and recognize a reputable breeder, even when reading a newspaper ad. She paints a clear picture of what a responsible breeder is, and what puppy buyers can expect from a breeder. Then she helps the reader prepare the house for the new dog. This is the perfect book for the responsible parent trying to find the very best way to answer the daunting title question. That answer may well be no. But if it's yes, this book will help parents and children make the very best of that decision. [...] Janine Adams is an award-winning writer and the author of seven books. Her latest is the You Bake `em Dog Biscuits Cookbook (Running Press, 2005). BowTie, Inc., publisher of Dog World, grants permission to re-publish this review. Text copyright © 2005 by BowTie, Inc.

Excellent book for parents

"The spiritual and emotional connection that we have with our dogs doesn't just happen. The process begins long before you bring a dog home, and Cheryl Peterson's "Please Oh Please Can We Get A Dog?" is the perfect manual to help parents prepare their children (and themselves) for adding a four-legged member to the family. Peterson leads you through the process, helping you ask the right questions to find the right dog to match your family's lifestyle, and then to help you provide proper stewardship for the life of the dog. With Peterson's help, your family will be rewarded richly with the unconditional love and loyalty that only a dog can give. -- David Frei, Co-host, The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on USA Network and for The National Dog Show on NBC."

Very Helpful

This is a must read for any dog loving family. The author is obviously knowledgeable and passionate about dogs and the families they are coupled with. She takes a prospective dog purchasing family through all the steps needed to make a decision as to type of dog they should bring into their home, if any at all. My family has been lucky enough to have a dog with us for many years. My children have grown and moved on. They are looking to introduce a dog into their family. I was happy to present them with this book.

An Outstanding Resource

My family found the book to be very beneficial as it helped to guide us through the process of getting a dog and opened our search to other areas other than the newspapers and pet shops. The author explains how to research your life so that the dog you are looking for complements it. She also explains how to research the breed for health and temperament problems and gives many questions that should be asked of breeders with sample answers that we should receive in return. Working with breeders can be intimidating and this book helped to ease our fears because it explained what we really needed to know in order to work with breeders and organizations to get a dog. I think anyone looking for a family pet will benefit from reading this book.

Very good, knowledgable

I found the book to be very informative. She provides more information than many other similar "dog" books. This isn't a coffee table book so of course the photos are not large color glossies, but they do get the point across. I recommend this to anyone who is on the search for a dog - puppy or adult.