Kids and Dogs

[Ipno]

Did you have a dog as a kid? If so, do you think it made you a better person?

I think it did. Growing up there was nothing like coming home to my dog Pokey. I grew up in the country, no leash laws. Pokey would greet me at the bus and then we'd run off and go hiking in the hills behind the house, or I'd go fishing in the creek and he'd jump on in, we built him a doghouse but he never went in it, he preferred to sleep under the porch.

Best dog I ever had. So we got in lots of trouble together but he was my best friend when I was a kid.

I'm older now and I have a kid of my own and I want to get him a dog. We live in the city now so I know it won't be the same, but I have a theory about kids and dogs. I think kids are better off if they grow up with dogs. I don't have much to base this on yet other than my own anecdotal evidence, and the fact that every decent person I ever met had a dog growing up. Well, I'm not saying if you didn't have a dog you -aren't- a decent person ... ah well...

 

[FoBoT]

we had a dog
she got hit by a dump truck when i was about 12 years old


i don't know, i don't see how i could be better due to having a dog back then

she didn't talk or teach me the secret of the universe or something profound like that

 

[Jeff7]

Nope - we had cats.

 

[Ipno]

I think maybe because I had a friend who I had absolutely no peer pressure to do anything from, other than perhaps to jump in a creek.

 

[djheater]

Being responsible for a dependant teaches responsibility, IMO. A dog is a good starter for that.

Young kids model parents and will practice parenting on their animals.

 

[MisterJackson]

My son has two dogs and they love him as much as he loves them. It's fun just to sit back and watch them interact sometimes.

 

[Josh123]

I too had dogs out in the country when I was growing up. If it wasn't for our golden retriever me and my sister would of been bitten by a rattlesnake that crawled up near the porch. I definetly plan on having a lab or golden retriever when I have kids. It's amazing how protective they can be of children.

 

[George P Burdell]

I have nothing to contribute to this thread, so here's a pic:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedza/353824771/