How to Get a Dog While You're a Teen

Proving that You are Responsible

Be proactive with your chores. Instead of waiting for your parents to remind you to do your chores, do them ahead of time without them having to ask or remind you to do them. This way, when you are convincing your parents to let you have a dog, you can reference these instances to show them that you are committed to responsibility. For example, if one of your responsibilities is to clean your room, then clean it regularly to ensure that it is tidy. The next time your parents (or one of them) see your room they will be impressed that they did not have to tell you. Instead of having your parents wake you up for school every morning, wake yourself up every morning.

Take on more responsibilities. Ask your parents if they have any jobs for you. Tell them that you want weekly or monthly jobs, not just daily jobs. This way, you will be able to show them that you can commit to and sustain a job over a long period—an important skill you will need to take care of a dog. Extra jobs that you can take on are cleaning the dishes after dinner every night, yard work, offering to help take care of younger siblings, and/or taking the garbage out.

Keep your grades up. Keeping your grades in good standing is another important way to show that you are responsible. If your grades are low, now is the time to improve them. By improving your grades on your own, you are demonstrating a certain level of responsibility and initiative—skills that are needed to take care of a dog. If your grades are low, speak with your teacher and other students about ways to improve your grades. If you have good grades, use this as a way to demonstrate to your parents that you have a sense of what responsibility entails. Hopefully, this will help your parents to change their decision.

Get a part-time job. If you can keep a part-time job for at least a couple of months, this will demonstrate that you are ready to take on more responsibilities, like caring for a dog. A part-time job will also enable you to help pay for any expenses that come with owning a dog. Offering to help pay for some of the expenses might also persuade your parents to let you have a dog. For example, mow your neighbors’ lawns, babysit or pet sit for your neighbors or family members, get a job nearby at your local grocery store, or take on a newspaper route.

Doing the Research

Look into dog breeds. When looking into dog breeds, it is important to take into consideration the size of your home, family members’ allergies, your family’s schedule, and the amount of time you are willing to sacrifice to care for the dog. Research different breeds’ activity levels, grooming needs, trainability, diet, and other important factors. For example, if you live in an apartment and you and your parents are away from the apartment for most of the day, look into getting a small, low-maintenance breed. If your parents do not like the idea of shedding, look into breeds that have minimal shedding. If you are knowledgeable about different dog breeds, then you will be able to choose a dog that fits your family’s needs. This will increase the chances of your parents agreeing to you getting a dog.

Determine the costs. Owning a dog involves a lot of costs. There is the initial cost of purchasing the dog, plus food, grooming, entertainment, and healthcare costs, to name a few. Come up with a list of items that will need to be paid for upfront. Plan to help pay for some of the costs, as well. For example, make a list of items like food, treats, food bowls, toys, a leash and collar, a crate, and a bed. Visit your local pet store’s website and write down how much each item costs. Total the cost and determine how much you will help pay for these initial costs. Also, come up with a list of other potential costs that your parents will need to cover if you determine you cannot, like vaccinations, training, and grooming.

Devise a plan. Taking care of a dog requires a lot of time. You will need to feed, walk/exercise, groom, train, and take your dog outside for potty breaks each day. Therefore, devise a plan that outlines what time you will wake up each morning to feed your dog when you will take your dog out for walks, and how often you will bathe and groom your dog. Also, consider how you will train your dog. Will you enroll it in an obedience class or attempt to train it yourself? Dogs need guidance and can misbehave if you don't train and lead them. These are important considerations that, if planned out ahead of time, will increase the likelihood of your parents agreeing to let you have a dog.

Convincing Your Parents

Prepare for their questions. When you present the idea that you want a dog, your parents will ask a lot of questions. However, by having your answers prepared beforehand, you can make a more persuasive case. Being prepared for their questions may also be another way to show your parents that you are ready to take on the responsibility of having a dog. Questions your parents might ask are: “What kind of dog do you want?” and “Is that breed the right breed for our family’s lifestyle?” “Who will take care of the dog?” “What are the costs of having a dog?” and “Who will pay for these costs?” “Will a dog distract you from your school work and other responsibilities?” “What will happen to the dog if your grades begin to slip, or if you stop taking care of it?” “Who will train the dog?”

Ask during a convenient time. Before approaching your parents, make sure they are not busy with things like working, cooking, or taking care of a sibling. Additionally, do not approach your parents when they are in a bad mood, for example, if they are stressed or angry. Instead, wait for your parents to be in a better mood before bringing up the topic of getting a dog. Examples of appropriate times to ask are while you are out walking while driving in the car, or after dinner. If you want to ask, but your parents are busy, you can say, “I have something to talk about with you guys, when is a good time to talk?” or “Mom (or Dad), do have a minute? I have something to ask you.” Additionally, you can ask for a delayed response where you give your parents time to think before they make a decision. You can say, for example, “You do not need to decide right now. Think about what I said and review the information before you decide on a yes or no.”

Make a compromise. If your parents are leaning towards no or are undecided, offer to make a compromise. Perhaps they are worried that you will not have time for schoolwork or other responsibilities, or that they will end up having to take care of the dog if you stop. Figure out why they are undecided and negotiate with them instead of arguing with them. If they are worried about your grades slipping, or you shirking your dog's responsibilities you can say, “If my grades begin to drop, or if I cannot take care of the dog, then we can put the dog up for adoption.”

Remain calm. If your parents decide on a definitive no, do not get angry and begin to yell, whine, or cry. By becoming angry, you are only proving to them that you are immature and not ready to take on the responsibility of having a dog. Instead, remain calm, and attempt to figure out why they said no. In the meantime, work on making their no a yes. For example, if they think you are immature, take on more responsibilities around the house or obtain a part-time job. Remember, if you leave a good impression, they are more likely to say yes if you ask them in the future. Another way to change your parents' minds is to get someone you know who has a dog to talk to your parents. This way, they may be more open to listen and consider the idea more.