To convince my parents to adopt a dog?
I was recently browsing our local cats and dogs home website, and found a dog which I immediately fell in love with.
She is a black and tan female German Shepherd dog, and is four years old.
Her desription reads as this:
Trixie is a lovely girl who starts of shy but soon makes friends.
She is finding her time here a bit stressful, and she may bark at you at first if she is unsure so doesn't show herself well. Please see past this and get to know her.
She is strong on the lead but is better with a harness on. She is confident with other dogs and could live with another big and playful dog.
She would be fine with older children who are used to the breed.
If you would like to adopt Trixie, we would ask that you visit a few times before adoption to create a bond so you both have the best start.
My dad has wanted a dog since he was my age, but never got one due to commitment. My mum, however, has had a dog in her life up until she was 22. We go on holiday once every two years, but due to schooling activities we appreciate we will not be able to go abroad for at least 4 years now. We only go to our grandparents house in Poole for a week or so in the holidays; and they'd definitely let her stay too.
I am 13, my brother 10 and my sister 8. The main concern for my parents is not the space, commitment or cost, but our ages. She thinks that because of my brother and sisters' age, they are not old enough to take her on walks and thus says no to a dog. I have wanted a GSD from when I was 4, and my siblings dearly too.
It's really my mum we need to convince. We DO have plenty of space, we CAN afford a dog. Adopting a shelter dog is cheaper and we'll be saving a life, so I don't see why not. I am going to ask this Friday, and need the best advicce possible to ask etc. I know I am young, but I swear I am not one of those kids that get bored of something after a week - so no rubbish about waiting till I move out please... just positive comments! Thank you 
Comments
Jazz, I think it's wonderful that you would like to give a home to a rescue dog, but I'm going to say some things here I think you need to take on board first. They're not all 'positive' comments, but please do read them.
You don't say whether both your parents go out to work. If they do, it's unlikely the rescue centre will let you adopt a dog. Most rescue centres these days make you sign a guarantee that you won't leave your dog alone for more than 4 hours a day.
If you've never had a dog before, a German Shepherd Dog is not a good dog to start with. They are the most wonderful creatures, but they need a really experienced owner. I've shared my home with GSDs for nearly 30 years and can't imagine life without one, but they are REALLY hard work! They don't just snooze all day and then go for a couple of walks (like, say, greyhounds) - they are on the go constantly and need mental stimulation. If they don't get it, they can get frustrated and destructive. (My first GSD ate my sofa and all my carpet underlay, and that was through separation anxiety whenever I left him on his own! I gave up a very well-paid job to become self-employed, so that I could spend more time with him, but right to the end of his life he was inconsolable if separated from me.)
I know exactly what it's like to long for a dog - and particularly for a GSD! - but please do this before you go any further ... go to your local library or book shop and borrow/buy a book on the breed. Read it cover to cover before you try to convince your parents that a GSD is the breed for you. I do think that it might be better for you to think about a less demanding dog at the moment (say, a Golden Retriever or Labrador) and to wait until you have much more experience of dogs before seeking to adopt a GSD.
Last of all, let me pass on the most valuable piece of 'dog' advice I've ever had. I asked a police dog handler what advice he would give me about raising a training my GSD. He said: 'Just remember that you've taken on a 3-year-old child that will never grow up. Treat him like a toddler and you'll be fine.'
If you and your family do decide to adopt Trixie, that's my advice to you too. If that's your decision, I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world!
Actually I believe that as long as the children in the family are all over 5, having a dog should be fine because all of them should be able to pitch in with the work that's involved.
However, having said that, it is VITAL that mum is on board with this because once the novelty wears off, and it will especially given that all of you will be having a social life more and more over the next few years and beyond, it will all land on her. And it could be that she's just not wanting this at the moment.
Waiting until you are older, and able to move out isn't rubbish. It's sound advice. I know - I was like you, but even after I was married and had my own house etc., I still had to work for quite a number of years, so until I could afford to stop working, at least full time, there were no dogs. It's not about you, it's about what's best for the dog.
If you just want to hear 'go ahead', then just ignore my words, and maybe it was pointless asking?
Stop being such a spoiled brat. Don't say you are not, you are.
Your parents have told you NO. Shut up, suck it up and accept the fact you can't have a dog. Spoiled brats don't get everything they want.
Your mother and father have both told you there is no space, they don't want the commitment of a dog since they will be the ones taking care of it not you. All kids claim they will take care of the pet but never do. They told you they can't afford then they can't afford it, you whine they can. Are you looking at their bank accounts and think they can afford a dog? You must be. Dogs are expensive and they have bills and the like to pay.
"We DO have plenty of space, we CAN afford a dog. "
So you have your own house that is big enough for a dog and you have a job and can and will pay for the dog in its entirety? No? Then you can't have one. Its their house and their rules and they said no. Stop being a brat
"Adopting a shelter dog is cheaper and we'll be saving a life"
No its not. Your parents have to pay the adoption fee and still have to pay for vet and food bills so its not cheaper
You will get bored of taking care of the dog and your mother and father will have to take care fo the dog and clean up after . They told you no, they have plenty of good reasons not to get a dog, you refuse to stop whining for a dog and that makes you a spoiled brat
I Always Got What I Wanted When I Was Younger By Showing My Parents How Responsible I Was (Tell You Siblings To Do This Too) And If That Didn't Work, I Would Have My Younger Brother Cry To Make Them Feel Bad. Not A Loud Annoying Cry, But One That Will Make Your Parents Feel Bad.
Show your mom first that you can handle taking care of a dog. For instance, do your chores without having to be told. The best age to get a dog is around five for most young children. The should not be an issue.
I have a wolf-dog hybrid, Shepherd (one German, one Australian), an Akita mix, a terrier, and a malamute. All adopted. How did I get my parents to adopt these wonderful dogs? I asked the people at the shelter how long they had to live, with my parents standing right next to me. My malamute, Montague, had 1 day left to live before being euthanized, according to the person at the shelter. Well, as you can guess, that won my parents over and we got the dog. My other dogs have been within the 1 week of being euthanized. When it comes to life and death, almost ALL parents will adopt a dog to save it's life. Just make sure your parent get the message that the dog will be put to sleep if it isn't adopted.
The thing is to get to bribe your mom.
Try saying the good things if you have a job like. i will clean up more , do well in school , get a job , help out , do what ever ,
Mom needs to be convinced! Tell them that it will keep you company