He wants the snake, but I’m told it can grow over 10 feet long, which kinda worries me…
What would be the better pet? Snake or puppy? Whichever one we get him, I want to be able to teach it tricks and everything. By the way, my son is almost 5, so he is old enough to play with either I think.
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HE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF EITHER!!!
We have tons of animals in the house and even though they are my daughters too I am the one it all falls to. When she wanted a bearded dragon we researched all lizards and since she was taking care of it on her own because I refuse lizards we went with a leopard gecko for a first time lizard.
Remember a pet is a life it is not a babydoll or toy its a responsibility some for 18 years just like another kid.
Get a puppy. I don’t think a snake is a good ‘pet’ for a 5 year old. How do you want to learn a snake tricks ???? That’s impossible.
Well I personally would go with the puppy cause snakes are a little creepy and I don’t know if you can really teach a snake tricks.
Snakes have been known to swallow things larger than themselves.
the one that you are willing to look after the most. bcoz at the end of the day YOU will be looking after it.
the puppy definitely the puppy
Puppy. I’d wait until he’s over 10 to even think about getting a snake- they can constrict and kill somebody as young and small as him. Besides, he’s a little kids, a puppy will be just as good or even better (although I do like snakes)
For a five year old I would definitely get a puppy. That way he/she can become part of the family and grow and learn with your son. A snake can’t really do that. Either way you will most likely be taking care of it so get the pet that you feel most comfortable with. Young boys like the thought of owning a snake more than actually owning one. Best of luck.
Id go for the puppy.. especially if hes only 5 right now.. Or if hes THAT into reptiles maybe a turtle? What kind of snake are you thinking of.. a 10 foot long snake for anyone whos not experienced seems alittle dangerous to me.
Don’t buy a pet "for the kids." He is not nearly old enough to take care of either the snake or the puppy. It will be all you. Snakes have easier care in that you don’t have to mess with them directly every day, but it’s a different sort of care. You’ll have to feed them frozen/thawed prey items and be able to have a nice large vivarium for it. Is it a boa constrictor? Those are the most common that I can think of that get around that size. Females get larger than males. A better first time snake is a corn snake. They max out at about 4 feet, pretty easy to handle, friendly, many very cool colors, need a 20-30 gallon tank when they are full grown, and are typically good eaters of frozen/thawed mice. They are known as the golden retrievers of snakes, but sorry, no tricks.
Golden retrievers are heavily overbred and can have a lot of health problems like hip dysplasia, so make sure you go with parents who have been certified for their hips by OFA or PennHip. If the breeder doesn’t know what this is or doesn’t do it, WALK AWAY. Trust me! It’s better to spend a few extra hundred dollars now on a quality puppy than a few thousand on hip replacement surgery! Not all golden retrievers these days have great temperaments. Make sure the parents have been temperament tested by the ATTS or at least have their AKC Canine Good Citizen certification.
It depends…
Snake-
I have had a good experiance with a snake before, and dependeing on what kind they are they can be quite friendly.
Dog-
Dogs are nice, too, this is because you can play with them outside of the cage, without ever having to worry about losing them.
But it is your choice, so make the right one XD.
5 year old? Get him a hamster.
Snake is too much trouble, and puppies are too much work for a child to take care of.
Snakes do not learn tricks. If YOU want a puppy, get a puppy.
Don’t get a rowdy dog, but a golden retriever is great for kids. They are dumb to try to teach tricks, but lovable.
Go to the pound and get a real pal.
do u want the kid to turn out normal or gothy? of course puppy
A golden retriver over a snake for sure.You want something that will love you back and is happy to see you.Only a dog can do that.Wagging tail and greetings
O.K. be honest, what one do YOU want?
You will be the one doing most of the work, I have YET to meet a 5 y.o. that can take care of themselves let alone a snake or a dog.
So realistically, which do you prefer?
You didn’t mention what kind of snake, so it would depend on the kind. NOT all snakes grow to 10 feet long.
As for tricks with snakes, I think you are very limited as to what they can be conditioned to do. You may be able to get them to come to a spot in the habitat, for feeding, but that would be about it.
Dogs you can train to do many tricks.
If you want to be the talk of the town, by all means give him the snake. I’m sure all your neighbors will talk about it, and leave your son’s little gang of friends completely enthralled.
There’s just a downside – you can’t teach a snake a bag of tricks. And obviously, the snake’s instincts are, to put it lightly, almost impossible to tame.
Now, if your aim is to give your son an experience he would not soon forget, teach him the essence of responsibility, and give him a notion of loyalty and friendship, give your son the pup.
Whatever your decision, think long and hard about it. If it were me, I will put my son’s safety on top of my list and give him the golden retriever. It’s documented that dogs have such a fierce sense of loyalty and protectiveness to its owner that it saves them from mortal danger from time to time. I can’t say the same thing for the snake, though.
Good luck!
A snake can kil him! He’s almost 5 he’s way too young for a snake! A golden retriever is a wonderful first animal!
Do some research about snakes and you will find a lot of stories of grown adults that have been attacked by ball pythons and other snakes!
Get him a dog instead of a snake please snakes aren’t really meant to be pets!
Hi GoZags. I would definitely say the puppy would be a better choice. Maybe your son would be happy with just a large, realistic looking toy snake for now. Then when he’s 12 or so, he could get the real one if he’s still interested. If he still had the dog at that point, it would serve as extra security if there was a snake present.
What kind of snake? A python would be too large for an average home. A smaller one may be more manageable.
Unless you’re experienced with raising a dog, I highly highly discourage getting a dog, esp. a puppy. A puppy needs to pee/poop every few hours, and requires constant attention. A retriever esp. takes up to 2 years to mature, so you’ll essentially have to give it attention 24×7 for 2 years! Please think about who will be cleaning up pee/poop all the time, and most importantly, obedience training. Who will drive the dog to the vet? You’ll need to get 3 shots minimum (DHPP) plus bordetella and most likely many other trips like diarhea, poison, etc etc. Who will pay for the vet bills and buy dog food, etc? Dog ownership is not something that should be taken lightly. YOU (as the parent) will do most of the driving and caring and paying.
I urge you to think about alternatives. I know it’s cute to get a dog, but this is a decision and RESPONSIBILITY that’ll last for at least a decade. Please think about it carefully. I too thought it was cute to get a puppy but did not realize all the responsibilities had fell onto me (not my kid) when I got a puppy. I should have read http://petgiving.com first, however we’re all good now, no regrets.
(Happy and a little bit worn out owner of a super active 8 month pup)
If he is almost 5 he should get a puppy. Even though the snake is trained he can still get out of were you keep him. The snake will scare your whole family and you will regret getting a snake. So my opinion is getting a puppy.
i think a snake is just a pet that he thinks might be cool to have…i do have my own corn snake, and dog so here are some things to think about that i can come up with…
SNAKE
-boring most of the time…they rest and hide decision the day
-playing with a snake is the same every time
-are you comfortable feeding it mice?
-do you know the cost of mice to feed? (i get frozen mice, a small pinkie costs a dollar each and a large full grown mouse can cost around $5 and i feed my snake about twice a week)
-need the proper tank/lid/bedding/hiding spots/lights/light timer/water dish ect
-are you willing to care for it if your son looses interest?
-what if it bites you/your son
-what if it gets out
-and snakes dont learn tricks
DOG
-needs shots/vet check ups ect = $$$
-(a dog the size of a retriever) needs regular walks
-do you want to deal with house training?
-much better companionship than a snake
-i think a dog would teach caring and responsibility better
-is there space for a dog that size
well you get the picture about the dog stuff
maybe your best bet would be to go to a good pet store and talk to them about the pros and cons as well
personally i would get the dog if it is the most practical, because they are loving and entertaining…it will be more of a family member than an oddity like a snake would be
good luck with your decition
Get whichever YOU want more, because your son is only 5, therefore, the animal will be YOUR responsibility, not his.
Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll be happy with whatever you choose.
There are other kinds of snake that do not grow that large. Try a corn snake
i would definitly choose a dog. it will teach him responsibility and most dogs are loyal and just want to be loved.
neither!
Both animals require extensive care and interaction. It sounds like your son is interested in some kind of Boa or Python–either snake can be dangerous once they top the 6 foot plus size–they require live prey most times, but if they are young can be taught to eat thawed pre-killed animals. Snakes of this size graduate from eating mice, to rats, rabbits, whole chickens, and if they escape can move on up to eating family pets and are a real serious danger to even children and grown men–death results in strangulation, even if the purpose of killing for a meal is thwarted–so these things MUST be taken into account when taking on the responsibility for a pet snake—a five year old could easily become a snakes target if not supervised at ALL times with their interaction…also remmeber that more than likely YOU as the adult will be caring for the snake, NOT, as charmingly sounding as it is-your son. Snakes are one a several animals humans try to keep as PETS, but you must also realize that a snake is NEVER domesticated! You CANNOT train a snake to hinder its feeding urges, or train it real tricks, the ONLY thing you can do with a snake is feed them and take care of them. Snakes can recognize their "people", and can and do bond with their "masters" but it will never be on the same level as a mammal or bird. IF you got a snake I would first start with something smaller, hardier, and a bit less of a burden–a snake like a corn snake, or a King snake–they can grow to be quite large too, but not usually exceeding 5-6 feet in length, and the largest prey for them to eat will usually be just a normal sized rat. There is a WIDE variety of colors available and their prices are usually a little more reasonable. A snake of this type could be a GREAT introduction to the whole world of keeping snakes, BUT they are more easily cared for and aren’t as potentially dangerous as their larger cousins–at least it would be a starting point, to see if your son really is as committed to the care of an animal as you think he is–I would recommend the snake before a puppy…snakes are an EASY first pet for any child.
I am an AVID dog person (I have 9), and as such I MUST remind you, as the adult, that puppies are absolutely NOT a subject to purchase on a whim. Of all domesticated animals dogs are a LOT of work, time, patience, energy and MONEY to raise, train and care for properly! The adult in any situation of this type must always remember that they will be caring for the animal NOT the child! Kids can help and be a very big part of raising a puppy, but to do it properly the adult has to always set the example. Puppies are common gifts for children, and as romantic as it sounds to have the child grow up with a puppy to be his "best friend", the reality is that puppies are eating, playing, chewing, sleeping, biting, pooping and peeing MACHINES–absolutely NO child is skillful enough to be in charge of such a volotile young creature! Children can play a HUGE role in the care for a puppy, but adult supervision is neccessary at ALL times. Puppies grow FAST and can quickly, as in the case of a golden retriever, grow to be 50 pounds by around 6-9 months of age—"cute" puppy antics aren’t quite so cute when they start becoming adholescents–if not properly trained, walked and exercised puppies FIND activities to do ranging from eating the couch, digging up the yard, roughhousing with other pets AND the children, non-stop barking, escaping and roaming and often becoming a neusance. Most dogs in shelters are dogs between the age of 6 months and 2 years–the prime ages where puppies become tempermental like angst ridden teenagers–a lot of breeds get cocky, pushy, independent and testy, ESPECIALLY when they have not been spayed or neutered prior to this phase–more often than not males are worse when not neutered–as they hit "puberty" they have the same type of raging hormones as human boys do and they can get into a LOT of trouble–becoming roaming escape artists and testing the family for "rank", and other dog aggression can escalate in these stages. Average people hit their limit of tolerance around this age and hence dogs are either picked up by animal control and never "re-claimed" or are dumped off at the shelter and "gotten rid of"–thrown away for having vices CAUSED by people’s lack of attention and care. Spaying or neutering is crucial to hinder some of these hormonal urges, but more than that proper socilization, training, health and INCLUSION within the family household is neccessary to raise a puppy into a GREAT dog. Many people still have the notion that a big dog belongs outside in a pen or on a chain, and that little dogs do better indoors because they are smaller, take less space and do less damage–this point of view could not be FURTHER from the truth!!! ALL dogs, regardless of size, breed, gender, coat length or temperment are SOCIAL animals that require a sense of "pack", be it with other dogs, other pets, kids or their whole family. Some breeds or temperment types are more independent minded and independent thinkers, requiring less of a human "leader" to point the direction or give orders–while other breeds are like velcro searching your emotions, actions, and requests for the easiest route to a treat, or a pat on the head or scratch behind the ears–being nonstop, at your side companions. Keep in mind also that the NUMBER ONE cause of dog attacks is keeping a dog on a chain! Dog attacks also more often than not involve children, usually a child the dog has grown up with or knows prior. News and press stories about dog attacks often fail to note that the dog was on a chain, or an intact un-neutered male experiencing heightened levels of testosterone induced aggression etc….the story becomes about breed, breed, breed— The BEST advice I could give is to research your breed of choice…AKC is notorious for telling people the top breeds on a registry list, naming only a skimming description of the breed(s) identifying the "family" factors, and good with children, bla, bla, bla–what they FAIL to tell you is that these breeds are often ALSO top of the list in shelters!!! WHY? Because not every family SHOULD have a Labrador or Golden Retriever! They are a HUNTING breed! Hunting breeds are bred to have high intelligence, HIGHER than average drive and activity levels, excellent noses and a follow the leader mentality–BUT not every family is prepaired to do the WORK involved to awaken the good traits in the breed to HAVE a good dog! There are also external factors relating to their bloodline–if all of the dogs in the line have been top of the line, champion athletes and hunters, chances are pretty high that their puppies will have the same type of drive that got these dogs such status…but if the dogs used in the breeding program were service dogs for people in wheel chairs and therapy work that requires easy going temperment and adaptable personality coupled with a working mind, puppies from this line will most likely make better family pets than a dog that has the drive to be chasing birds and retrieving from water.
What to do?
Check out the dogs bloodline for hunting or service dogs.
Research your breed, talk to people who own them, breeders can have good advice, but they can also have a biased opinion to help make a sale, talk to veterinarians, rescues and shelter workers. Have a trainer available for advice and tips, and perhaps time to work with you PRIOR to getting your puppy, to help familiarize you with the training process.
Keep an open mind and concider a mixed breed, or shelter dog–but also remember that shelter dogs end up in shelters because they might have problems or lack of training, and that you will often be starting from ground zero to UNDO all the issues that got the dog to the shelter in the first place—most times it just takes time and patience, but don’t be afraid to seek advice…there are also some shelters that evaluate dogs before they are available for adoption–these places are more highly recommended than an average pound, since the dogs may have already received some evaluation and possible training…if you go the rescue route also look into breed specific rescue organizations, as these people are often more knowledgible about the dogs they have, have worked one on one with them, and possibly fostered available dogs in peoples actual homes and therefore know the dogs more intimately than most shelter workers do the dogs hip-hopping up and down in their cages.
I hope this helps some….any other questions could be answered….
Ugh, get the puppy. The puppy can play with him, and it has a personality, especially goldens. We have a lab, and any retriever is good with kids. A friend of ours breeds goldens, and her house is full of them. They’re very friendly, and irresistible.
how could you even be considering these for the same purpose? i could see asking about a cat vs. dog or puppy vs. adult dog, but a snake and a puppy? there is no comparison!! Snakes dont do tricks, what planet are you on? if you want a pet, just realize you are the one that will be taking care of it and training it. puppies for children are not a good idea unless the parent actually realizes the child is too young to be responsible enough to care for it as it needs to be.
I personally would get him a snake they can actually live longer and love to be handled