I've posted on here before, we have 1 dog- lakeland x irish terrier, and 2 cats. We are only 21 and 23 years old, both work, me a carer and girlfriend a vet nurse.
My query is "Do people think we are too young to have responsibilty of these animals?" Im only asking as when i chat to people they are surprised by that fact.
Our pets are well adjusted and happy, our pup just got a load of new toys- one being a squidgey reindeer for xmas!
But i do sometimes think- are we too young for this? We are happy with our little family, and are currently renting a cottage off my parents, in future we will hopefully buy our own home- gulp...!
Just would like some of your very honest opinions...dont get offended easily- just curious?

Ta ta for now- chris&maggy x

I'm sure you are both very responsible people :) but I'm afraid if you had come to me for a puppy I would have turned you down because you must be in the very early years of your relationship.  Assuming your relationship does continue on its happy path the other big change in your lives ;) may come pattering along at any moment too.

Well I had my first dog at just 16.  Got married at 19 then had my next dog, still with my husband 17 years later and now own 7 dogs. We adore our dogs, and each other. I dont fall into the catergory of someone who would say you are too young to be with someone, ha ha I was married and by 24 had my first baby.  It depends on how your relationship is with your boyfriend.  I dont sell puppies to anyone that are under 21. If they are working full time, as quite often puppies need someone around all the time.  For me I was lucky I worked in my fathers office, and took the dogs to work with me, then I worked part time.

Well we've been together 5 years now, and babies are a very long time away- we want to travel at one point- and my mum who has labs will take on my pets for the period.

ooh- and i only work 2 days, then 2 hours for the next 3 days, my oh is  home alot as he works in community, one of us it at home alot of the time, :)

Isabel

I was 21 when I got my first pup and then had a litter from her when I was 24 after lots of research and using a very reputable breeder for the sire :) I kept one of the pups :)

Are there no circumstances that you would let a pup go to people as young as the OP and me as surely there are exceptions to the rule ;)

I had kids and also split up from my first husband and kept my girls so perhaps there are some people you can see will be very commited :)

Lucy
xx

Considering there are 14 year olds with children I think your more than old enough to have pets.

Well I am 22, married (for five years tomorrow, makes me sound so old.... ;) ) to my wonderfull hubbie who is 35, we own our own home, we had our first child when I was 18, and I don't think that my young age has ever effected how well we live, bring up our son, look after our puppy, or our kitten, having said that, some of my friends who are the same age as me, I wouldn't trust with a teddy bear!!

I think it completely depends on who your are as people, and as a couple. Some people aren't good with comittment or dependancy, it isn't a put down, just who they are.

If you feel ready to take on such responcibilities, then why shouldn't you... we do all have to grow up some time!! :D

I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule |:) but as I don't have a crystal ball I have to assume things may go the way of many young relationships and many, many dogs arrive in rescue following relationship splits so no I, personally, would not risk it with my pups.

TBH, I don't think age has much to do with it! If your not responsible towards your animals at 21, I don't think you will be at 41 or 51 either! Only thing that bothers me in selling to young people is that they will go & have kids :D . I do get fed up witht the number of dogs that are rehomed because of "the baby" (although now, I've seen it happen because of "the grandchild" too) :(

It is one of my top rants about people rehoming when a new baby comes along :(

To be fair to the parents it is often the relatives and even the Health visitors who throw up their hands in horror about having the baby around dogs.  Some haven't the experience or knowledge to disbelieve the scare stories.  My Dad told me my daughter would be infertile if I allowed her to be around animals in the house!!!

Maybe but even rational talk to these people doesn't work :rolleyes:

They are IMHO people that should never had dogs anyway :D

Lucy
xx

I have friends of my age who aren't responsible enough to own a stuffed cat!  Yes, just because we/they :) are almost pensioners doesn't make people responsible enough to look after anyone/anything.  One friend is still the scatty cow that she was at the age of 16 - she's never had a permanent relationship/owned property/car - in fact I think she probably owns less than a bag lady!   She's never settled, moves from job to job to situation - she's a real "flower child" still.   She's often asked me for a kitten when she's been with us - and I've had no hesitation in refusing her.   She does recognise her failings though - thank God she's never had a hankering for children!

On the other hand, I know quite a few really responsible teenagers, who are more than capable of looking after animals and take on the responsibility commensurate with it.   I was 20 when we married, Ad was 23, we had our first dog within 6 months.

Margot

I think if you asked any of my friends then you would know I am and have always been totally commited to having dogs as part of my life :)

That poses a question do any breeders ask for references ? :)

Lucy
xx

I've been responsible for animals of my own ever since I was 14, and left school at 17 to work with horses, moved into my first house when I was 20, and got my own dog (a rescue) when I was a month off 21, hubby was just 23. OK, we split 12 years later, but my dog (by then dogs........) stayed with me (sent hubby back to his breeders LOL!)

BUT, there are 21 year olds, and there are 21 year olds - they're the ones I wouldn't let loose with a stuffed teddy, let alone a real live animal.  Bearing in mind you're experience in the vet business, I think you probably already have enough awareness off the commitement a living animal takes.

I don't believe age has anything to do with having pets either unless you are 3!!! Any body can have a relationship split at any age. I am 26 and my husband is 32 and we have been together about 5 years, i knew after 2 months we were for keeps. Hopefully if i am lucky enough to have children, Tyler my Gr will always be my baby. Just out of interest i noticed a few of you saying you would not sell a puppy to people of a certain age, at what age would assume is old enough? As most people i have spoke to would go on circumstances and the people involved, not there age. Just curious.

Well my best mates are pregnant, and they keep asking me if i want a baby, my reply is "no ta- i'll have dogs anyday, and my dog IS my baby anyway!"
But i dont like the occasionally funny looks we get sometimes, but then we rub it in their faces when their dogs are showing them up ie- no recall, and our pup is walking to heel and watching hand signals to cross the road- that perks me up a bit!!!
I suppose whatever you do- if you're young people are always going to judge, but it makes it more of a challenge, thanks for the honest replies   :)

maggy&chris

Babies and dogs do work together so long as the commitment is there from all parties :)

You sound very responsible parents to me ;)

Lucy
xx

Cheers lucy! Sometimes when we go through challenging times , (not looking after the pets), but having to cope with other peoples view on your lifestyle, its nice to hear the truth, and obviously the odd reassurance here and there!

When my last child was born I had 6 dogs. The health visitor went mental What on earth did we want so many dogs for? ;) Did we not think we should get rid of them? My answer to that was when was I last at the doctors because I was sick? Or any of the family? My youngest child learnt to walk using one of the dogs as a walking frame. She now owns 3 dogs of her own, and she is only 11years old! Mind you, her father feeds and walks the ones at his house and I feed and walk the one at mine! She helps out from time to time, but I don't push it. The dogs are cared for, and much loved, whoever looks after them.

If you are 'dog minded' at an early age you will always be, but if you couldn't care less then I don't think you will really understand the needs of the dog. So no, I don't think you are too young to have a dog. I would take every potential owner on their own merit. If I didn't like them, or their lifestyle, then I wouldn't sell them a pup.

Well I am 15 and my family have three dogs 1 of them is my dog and he is my responsibility. I do his training; I feed him, walk him, groom him, show him and generally do everything that he needs (I also show and groom the other dog who is his sister) I am home schooled so I have load of time to do all of this stuff with him and we are actually getting another dog and she will also be mine. It doesn't matter how old you are as long as the dog the right amount of care. People will judge you, I know because i have had loads of people raise there eyebrows when I say that I am looking for another pup and i would like to breed eventually, they soon change their opinion on me when they find out that I am at home all day, I attend all the health seminars, I know all about genetics ect, I have a realistic aim for what I am going to breed, I have looked after, bottle fed, socialised, cleaned up after (lot of poo! :D) and generally looked after numerous litters and I am not just the average teenager.  Many people will judged you on you age but as long as you think you are capable and you provide the animals with all they need then that is all that matters. ;)

Sarah xxxxx

"But i dont like the occasionally funny looks we get sometimes"  -  you mean people in the street / park give you funny looks because you happen to be young, in love and with a well behaved and looked after dog ?   

When I was 14 our Springer had her first (and only) litter, we kept all the pups with us until they had had ALL their injections and were relatively well house trained, we kept one of the puppies ourselves and took another back from my very much 'older' brother, settled in his own house who just didn't really have the time for him.   I - at FOURTEEN - walked all our dogs on my own, trained all our Springers to walk in a way that lots of other dog owners said could never be done, because of my responsible attitude my parents got me a lovely doberman cross lab (she was gorgeous) and I had her for a whole year before a brain tuma took her away from me, but in that time I exercised her along with my springers, fed them, bathed them, used my mum as a taxi to take them to the vets, groomed them - you name it, if they needed it I provided it.   This and this alone taught me a very valuable lesson in life that animals and people deserve respect for who and what they are, you get back from an animal/human what you put in and I have passed this experience onto my own children (ages 15, 12 and 8)  they all help with exercising our dogs, feeding, grooming, vets visits, showing etc etc etc and I can tell that they will grow up to be responsible adults who at the tender age of 21 will look after any animal in a way that would leave some people blushing :)

Forgot to mention that I also had 33 rabbits, a guinea pig, three cats and four chickens - I was up (even in the coldest of winters) at 5.30 every morning to feed the chickens and turn over their pen, feed the rabbits and GP, sort the cats out and walk the dogs all before I went to school, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat :)

As long as you take care of your animals well it shouldn't matter what age you are.

Being young doesn't make a different, someone who is older may neglect their pet, people who are in their 40's may have only just met their partners, who knows... in two years they might split. Things change in everyones life so I don't see how can age possibly tell you anything about a person?

I have owned pets all my life and took the ones at home with me when I moved out at 17 (1 dog & 3 cats they were all mine anyway) We got our first kitten just after we got married when I was 18 and our pup when I was 20, the breeder didn't have any qualms about our age. I was 20, hubby 23. We own our own home, drive new cars and at the time I was a housewife, I don't see why I should be any less suitable to care for a pet than someone older than me. :)

Thankfully, pups breeder didn't either because he is a wonderful dog and I wouldn't be without him.

I imported my breed with 3 other people when I was 21!!  So I don't think that you are too young.  Thirteen years down the line I'm the one who is still breeding them, although the other person who is still in the breed only has males :d

Well by the time I was 12 I was showing animals and at 15 I had 53 animals in my bedroom -the national newspaper spilled the beans and so my mum found out just HOW many I had in there, LOL. (Obviously we are talking mainly small pets here, although I did have one cat and one dog, but they weren't confined to my bedroom!) By 22 I was married and had moved abroad (i.e. to the UK) and soon had well over 300 animals in total -3 of which were dogs and at that time around 4 cats. Then it just increased and increased, until eventually the small animals all but disappeared and the dogs and cats went up in numbers. When I was pregnant for the first time the health visitor told me "Children and animals don't mix!" and at that time I had no courage to stand up to her. Did however get a wonderful midwife who loved dogs! My first hospital visit for ante natal I told them I could not POSSIBLY come back at such and such a date for my next check as that was Gundog day at Crufts! I was also heard muttering about how much easier it would have been to get another puppy than to have a baby........ Some years later and I had 3 children and still as many animals. My oldest daughter went into the ring at a fun RSPCA show for junior handling aged 18 months, and picked her own show kitten aged 2 ½ -which became our first TITLED cat believe it or not. (She obviously has the knack.)

When I finally divorced after 13 years I put my children's feelings first and so it was that I took the dogs (and half of the cats) when I left but not the kids -but that's another story and believe me it WAS in the children's best interest and I see them every week. Also am a step mother of 2 now so 5 kids in total.

So I'd say it all depends on how dedicated anyone is, not how old they are. I've not changed a bit over the years -in fact I swear I'm still 17. :D

Blimey Goldmali - when I was 17 I had 12 or 13 hamsters (though most were babies from the latest litter) but your bedroom must have been HUGE to fit so many animals in!! I wasn't allowed dogs at home, but we're on 3 so far and plans for a 4th in a year or two! :-) I agree with someone else's post that I'd rather have dogs than kids!

I'm 21 and have 2 doggies of my own (and 2 old hamsters :)).  I know what you mean about funny looks, etc, all of my non-doggy friends think i'm bonkers, while they're currently backpacking around the world, I'm at home house-training a puppy, etc... BUT i wouldn't swap it for the world!!!!  I know my dogs are far better cared for than those of some 'older owners'.  All my doggy friends are much older though - I go out for walks with what's essentially 3 generations of women - but it's a fab way to meet such a variety of people.. under normal circumstances, it's unlikely I'd be pals with a 63 year old!  It'd be nice to meet some younger doggy peoples though..
~Clare

Well done DextersLab

My son got his first house at 22 and his first dog at 23.  He lives on his own with his beautiful dog.  We did the research together, visited the breeder together - many times, researched the breed and eventually got a dog that was not for the faint hearted.  He borrowed his younger brother 15, for the school holidays and roped in a neighbour 25 to help him when he went back to work.

100% commitment.  I am so proud of him.  It isn't an age thing, its a maturity thing. 

I dont think age has anything to do with it.  I bought my first house at 23 and shortly after got a dog.  Have always had dogs when living at home but this was my first on my own.  Now at 31 I have 4 dogs and I am single.  If you are responsible, dedicated and realise your dogs are for live and wont be passed on when a baby comes along then I cant see any problem. :-)

Hey - dexterslab, know what you mean, i walk with 5 ladies who are all retired, and they love walking with me and flo- they offer some good advice too, while i update them with the new training techniques etc!
And yes all my friends are off around south america, thailand etc- but i dont feel thats the most important thing for me, i'll try that later, when im a little wiser!
But i never see any other young people dog walking- apart from my sisters, or my oh's sister!

Hi Chrisjack,

I would have no problem in letting you have one of my pups.  You are both in steady jobs, with a home of your own, and with your mother to look after your animals if you wish to go away, you sound very responsible.  Age has nothing to do with it, some 30 year olds, I wouldn't allow to have a hamster!  Marriages, partnerships can break up whatever age.  You sound to all be a very happy family unit, so stop worrying you are doing fine. :-)

>Blimey Goldmali - when I was 17 I had 12 or 13 hamsters (though most were babies from the latest litter) but >your bedroom must have been HUGE to fit so many animals in!!

It was quite big, and all I had in it was a bed and then shelves from floor to ceiling to fit all cages on. :) I kept it spotless as well, but now I don't udnerstand how I ever managed to sleep with all that noise from hamster wheels etc, LOL!!

Again I know exactly what you mean, those ruddy wheels!! :-D

I dont think you two are too young at all.

Me and my other half have been together ( I am 23 he is 24) for 8 years, we got our 1st horse 6 years ago, since then we have baught another 7, we have 3 dogs, 1 rat, 1 budgie and goldfish.   he works fulltime I used to work part time until my boss had to let me go, do to ill health.  Our animals are our life, and we can not imagin what our life would be like with out them all, I lot of our mates think we are crazy, because we dont go out on the drink, but we are not interested in those kind of things, but mind we do like to go out for a nice meal.

We always put our animals 1st.  All I ever wabted from being a child was lost of animals, and I was so lucky to meet someone with the same interests, I wont lie we do have to make sacrifices at times but our animals do always come 1st.  When I am well I am hoping to return to work and help financially.

I can not possible excersice all the horses myself, so I have a few friend who ride for me, and John (my other half) trains his own trotting horses.  Mind their is never a dull moment in my household :)

I had a friend who had a lovely little staffy bitch, who ment everything to her, until her baby came a long, she gave the dog away, I will never give uo my dogs when I have children, and I know all 3 of them are excellent with children, as my sister has 4 kids and visits a lot, they love the kids.

We are hoping to start a family one day too, not yet, am still young.

regards sheli

Sheli,

Just out of curiosity, why did your friend give her staffy away when she had a baby?  My partner and I do not have children yet but hope to in the next couple of years.  We have a staffy bitch who is now 15 months old and one of the reasons we decided on this breed was because of their excellent reputation with humans and children in particular.  They are known as the 'nanny dog' and are only one of two breeds deemed as totally reliable by the KC.  When we do have a child, we both know that of course we couldn't 100% trust her with a baby, as indeed you couldn't with any dog.  But with care and attention I'm sure it could have worked out.  Maybe it was because staffies are highly strung and could have been too stressful with having a baby aswell.  Like you, we wouldn't give up Poppy when we have children.  What we will do though is give her time and training to adapt to having a new person in the home. 

"They are known as the 'nanny dog' and are only one of two breeds deemed as totally reliable by the KC. "

I have seen this posted by a number of people and would like to point out that being good with children isn't written into moist breed standards as reliable temperament willb e covered elsewhere, and that point would be a give.

Why it was written into the Staffie standard I cxan only guess at, and may have s0omething to do with their roots as a baiting dog, underlining the fact that their gameness should not be directed towards people, or perhaps being a terrier (vermin dogs of shrp relexes and spirit) it was felt neccesary to underline the temperament side with such a powerfully built small dog.

I imagine that the vast majority of breeds, especially in the Gundog and Hound groups where agression is a distinct disadvatage and not required for any of the work they were designed for, are expected to be reliable family dogs.

hi Brainless,

I think you have a valid point here.  Of course many breeds of dogs are on the whole good with children but there are many breeds who aren't as tolerant to boisterous play, have a higher pain threshold etc as the staffy and other bully breeds.   Decades ago, the staffie was brought up as a fighter to earn extra money for the family.  Something which is totally unacceptable in todays standards.  Humans had to put their trust in their dog to separate during a fight when required, without fear of being bitten.  Often, an injured dog would be taken home in the pram with the owner's child. 

In the modern day staffie, unfortunately people only equate bull terrier with evil.  To be honest, I did the same when my partner told me about the breed.  Only after extensive research did I agree that the staffie was the breed for us.  And since we brought Poppy home I do feel that I have to constantly explain my reasons for taking on this breed.  Because of her breeds history and her compact strength I have many people standing aside when we pass.  Equally though I have spoken to many people who tell me how beautifull she is and how they love the 'staffie smile'. 

With what has happened in countries such as Germany I think this is a breed who needs all it's positive traits portrayed in as many places as possible.  This is a breed who is in severe danger of being classed as a dangerous dog in many countries because of it's dog fighting history.  Unfortunately people equate a dog fighter with a dog untrustworthy with humans also.  Therefore this breed needs all the positive comments it can possibly get.  And if this means explaining it as a 'nanny dog' (if properly socialised of course), then so be it.

Well said sezi

Staffys do seem to understand that the smaller the child the more gentle they have to be.  My Mother hatedthis breed because of its history, she thought I was crazy for getting one.  Since I got Bandit, she loves them and is even thinking about getting one as she has recently retired.

sheli

Sezi
Ahhhh I love the Staffie Smile too. It makes me so happy when I get up in the morning!

I have many people who come up to me and say oh what a lovely dog, what is he? When I tell them they back away! Something I find hilarious as mine seems to know when people are wary and will make a beeline for them wanting to lick them to death. Suffice to say they normally come around :)

My Dad was the same. When I told him what we had got, he told me that I was irresponsible and totally unprepared and that they were vicious ROFLMAO!!! He had a point about being unprepared as we did have to take him in rather a rush because of the conditions he was being kept in. Sox seemed to know that my Dad was scared as he was super firendly towards him. I went away for a weekend and left him with my Mum and Dad and when I came back Dad and Sox were best mates! My mum told me that she had even heard my dad defending Staffs to some old biddy down the road, I was amazed. I asked what had chanaged and Mum said that Sox had been relentless in pestering my Dad for a cuddle. Eventually he got onto my Dads lap and thats where he stayed for the next 3 days. He does this a lot and I think that the best way to win round the public is to let them see how loving and sweet the vast majority of them are.
(Mine does this by letting 14 week old puppies hang off his ears in the park. Much to the old dears delight - they now bring biscuits for him!)

Well done for speaking up.

Caroline

Hi Caroline,

Aren't dads strange?  I have two sisters and my dad has always been affectionate with all of us.  But when we were younger, we had a cross breed (don't know what - she seemed to have a bit of everything in her) and dad was always the disciplinarian with her, not the one who gave her cuddles (although we did catch him occasionally making a big fuss).

A few weeks after my partner and I got Poppy, we went on holiday and mum and dad looked after her.  Mum has always shown how much she adores her but dad had always seemed a little stand offish with her.  When we returned, he still seemed to not be fussed by her but my mum told me how Poppy and dad had been having cuddles every evening. 

They have since come over to our house to Poppy sit when we have gone away overnight and my dad takes great glee in telling me the hilarious things she has been up to and relishes in the fact that she shared her love (licks and cuddles) equally between him and my mum. 

Another staffie convert methinks!

Hi sezi

She claimed that it was to much for her to cope with, I can understand that it would be difficult for the 1st few months, until dog settled in, she kept complaining because she would not leave the baby alone, I tried to explain to her that this is quite normal for a staffy, when my sister comes round, my staffy would be in the pram with the baby if he got his way. but unfortunately my friend just was not willing to give her a chance.

I was angry when she told me she had given her away, as I only had my staffy at the time and they got on really well, I would have loved to have the opportunity to have her.  As far as I know she was passed from home to home and she never knew were she ended up. :(

Its a few year ago now, I have spoken to my friend since and she totally regrets it. 

Staffys are fantasic with children.  Mine is more than happy to snuggle up to them when they stay at my house he goes to bed with them, but them on the other hand he can put up with any ruff play they put his way,  if we put the baby on the floor he loves to lie down next to him,  I am very lucky because my other to dogsare great with children too.

Sheli

P.S, Brainless, what is the other breed, that is said to be good with children my the KC, I have always wondered?

No idea???

Hi Sheli,

As I've said, we don't have children of our own but we ensured from the day we brought Poppy home she would be socialised with children.  We started with older children we know and she was amazing with them.  They played rough and tumble but never a growl was heard. We supervised it though and told each party to take time out.

Then came a 5yr and 8 yr old and I was amazed to see how Poppy was more gentle when playing tug etc that she was with older,stronger children.

The last test for us was a 7 mnth baby who was crawling around our living room.  Poppy just lay down next to her, giving her the occassional lick.  When the baby crawled, Poppy just dragged herself across the carpet to be wherever the baby was.  Poppy did bark a couple of times but when the baby cried at this, she soon stopped. 

I am so looking forward to having our own child but of course Poppy will always be an amazing and loving member of our family.

Why would you be too young at 21? A lot of ppl have had babies by then and a dog is no more responsibility than a child. I was 21 when I got my first dog, who fortunately I still have, the idea of being to young never even occured to me. So no, I certainly don't think you're too young. :) TBH I was responsible enough by the age of ten whereas a lot of ppl aren't ready for dog ownership by their 40's.

I do sometimes wonder if I have burnt my bridges by getting so many dogs. I've never travelled and won't be able to until I'm well into my 40's as I have stuck myself with dogs until then, assuming they live that long of course. I wouldn't have children all the time I've got them either so no children for me but at the end of the day you have to go with what your heart wants and for the time being, its dogs. Maybe I will look back in years to come with some regrets but then again, if I hadn't filled my life with them then look what I would have missed out on.....poo, sick, the cost, destruction, noise.....ok so here's the last bit of advice, make your choice and then whatever you do, don't look back! :D

Hi Chrisjack, I'm 24 and my boyfriend is 27 and we both show and love our dogs to bits. You are definately not too young. We got our first dog together 3 yrs ago and haven't looked back since! I have been brought up with dogs but Paul had never owned a pet before but I have to say he is a natural with dogs! I think as long as you are both responsible adults and are really passionate about dogs and have the time to devote to them then go for it!!
Kind regards, Clare

I dunno I don't think your to young....

I met my hubby at 19 and already had a child she was a year old, and my hubby came with a year old dog Cuervo I guess we both came with an addition to our family soon to be. I soon got Taz and shortly there after we had a child. Since then both the dogs have passed away and we now have 5 boston terriers and the oldest being 7 years old. We have been together 12 years and married for 10 of them.... I think it all just depends on how responsible you really are.... I lived on my own at 15 1/2 and had 2 cats but had to rehome when I met hubby as alergies to them were really bad and well I loved my cats but could not see life with out my husband.

Just to echo what others have said, I don't think age has anything to do with it, I was 13 when we got Chloe and, despite being at school, did as much as I could to help care for her. I fed her when I was home, trained her, exercised her and generally learned what a huge responsibility a dog was but also how fun and rewarding it was. And I was lucky when we got Kayla that I took a gap year from college, instead of travelling I looked after her, she was a demanding pup and I don't think my mam could have coped without me :D

And now we have the Beard Boy I only work part time and am planning my career so that I won't be away from the house all day every day so can help with all the dogs while I'm still at home and once I move out I can have my own dogs.

I would much rather spend my weekends training, showing and meeting up with people who are as interested as dogs as me, I've met such a diverse range of people that I don't think I would have met otherwise and me and the dogs have a great time travelling around to shows etc. Lots of people I know from my year at school have 2 children, don't work and look as miserable as sin when I see them in town, I'm just glad I opted for dogs and not babies :D :D Not saying I wouldn't ever have my own but they would have to fit in around the dogs :P :D

My brother is 3 years older than me, 23, and got married in October but I don't think he is as responsible as me, and certainly couldn't look after a dog, I don't ever think he would get a dog, but different people are different and I wouldn't discredit someones ability to care for a pet, be it a dog or whatever, just because of their age.

JMHO :)

I wasn't even born when our first pet came along and I was brought up being told to respect him and he bonded to me more than the rest of the family as we grew up together. I would imagine it would depend on the person and not their age. I was 24 when I bought my first house and a couple of years later my first dog came a long and I was closer to him than anyone else.

We are thinking about starting a family, so we are sociallising our puppy with children of all ages although I want her to grow up a little first and not be so hyper as puppies are. There is no way I would think about rehoming her because a child has come along. I wouldn't have a problem with our staffy around a baby, he is as soft as anything, but I beleive that they still need as much love and affection as they had before the baby came along.

Why should age the the stumbling block? I bought my first house at 19, had my daughter at 22 and my son at 28, three years later I had my first family dog, only because my son was petrified of dogs. This started the dog craze with us and it still applies.

Everybody see life differently and reacts differently. Age and maturity DONT go together and people should not be judged by age alone.

I dont think your too young! I got my first dog when I was 10 (Im 17 now). A border collie, from sheepdog parents (the kind everyone says dont go to if you want a pet!). Well he has been a dream, we are now mad into agility and obedience, and I have another collie who is 3, and hopefully will be getting another collie or a sheltie soon.

If i had a litter, which I'd like to have in the future, I think I would be a bit worried tho, just due to the number of people i know who are about your age, have split up and got rid of the dog. But then saying that it can happen at any age, my parents were together 18 years and split up last year, but there was no question about it the dogs stayed with me and my mum, if my dogs had had to go I would have gone with them!