I would compromise and get her a hamster for now- they are cudly, too. I don`t know how old your daughter is but if the wish for a bigger animal continues after she is old enough to look after the pet herself you may consider a dog again.

My daughter also wanted a dog but with noone at home during the day it had to be left too much alone. Luckily someone in the neighborhood was looking for at dogwalker- now she walks a dog 3 times a week and earns a little money doing it.

Hope this helps you make a descision?

Roze, please don't do it.

Okay your little girl will be upset but any pet is a tie and to consider a Labrador is, I'm sorry to say, probably not the brightest idea you've had today.

They are truly beautiful animals, but add to that, big, hungry, in need of LOTS of exercise which you would have to give it unless your child is exceptionally strong. They are expensive to run (have you been to the vet recently?) and can do a lot of damage if left alone all day.

To get a dog, any dog, in your situation would be unfair on both it and you, and when it all gets too much and you have to get rid of it, how upset is your little girl going to be then?

Have I convinced you yet?

A hampster or guinea pig would be a reasonable compromise if your daughter just wants a pet to fuss and look after but otherwise you need to be cruel to be kind and say no.

Sorry, no other way to say all that.

Good luck

OK you don't like guinea pigs, try gerbils, mice, white rats, fish (but in a proper aquarium)  hampster, snake, giant land snail, tarantula.

Anything but a cute little puppy that will soon grow into a large eating and pooping machine.

Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, I like all animals, better than most people I've met if I'm honest (BWW excepted) but please Roze, take a sensible pill.

No offense intended.

Dear Roze -I can see your dilemma This may be a  time for one of those pros and cons lists  Remember that logic and emotion will conflict even in making the list.

Hey  if you're looking for more stress- this is from my perspective as a dog owner- go ahead. There is a time and place for pets in one's life  . It's  quite a responsibility as you know . The age of your child comes in to  it and the temperament of the dog.  Our younger child at the age of 9 accidentally trod on our sleeping dog's tail. The injuries were terrible . A smaller  child could have been killed .The dog was otherwise friendly and devoted . The dog was put down our child recovered and years later we bought a very small dog. But the experience looking back was HORRIFIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love , Cate

Roze, I'm afraid a promise is a promise, and going back on a promise to one of your offspring is a bad idea - unless, of course, you can blame somebody else...

There are some old cliches about cats: dogs have masters, cats have slaves; the only reason cats stay with humans is that nobody makes a can opener that can be used by paw; a dog comes when you call it, a cat takes a message and might get back to you later, and so on ad nauseam. But a cat as a companion animal has a lot going for it. Cats are low maintenance. A well-fed cat will keep itself clean. A badly-fed cat will feed itself. Do you have a neighbour with a fishpond? If you do, feeding problem solved...

Here in Australia cat-keeping is a bad idea in lots of areas, due to their liking for small native animals and birds and their not liking to be shut in at night. But in most of Europe cats have been part of the ecosystem for so long that they present no danger to the balance of nature. Go ahead and keep your promise - you will feel better for it. Just make sure your sprog takes responsibility for cleaning up after it.

Rotsa Ruck.

Hey Roze,  The promise you made to your daughter is for a kitten.  I don't know whether your daughter feels the same way about puppies as kittens - just reading through the thread it's easy to see that people have preferences.

I reckon that you might like to promise yourself a dog but you need to make a gift of that for your own birthday or some other occassion:) - but I think your daughter might like you to keep your promise to her and unless you are able to tell her well in advance that you are not allowed to have pets and you are sorry for making a promise you can't keep, then I reckon you need to honour your promise.  This is going to be a memorable occassion one way or another - either your daughter will remember the delight of the kitten for her birthday or remember not getting the kitten.  Don't leave it to the birthday though it would probably be a bit of a heartbreak for her.

As for me, I love both cats and dogs.  At the moment I have one of each and would love to have more - as for hamsters and other small animals well they don't really make me feel the same.  A horse, a cow - they could be good and I had a great time when I was a kid looking after a friends piglet - then I had a pet lamb that had been abandoned.  

I chose to buy a cat first - my mum had died and after years of spending every holiday travelling to stay with her, we could now stay at home and I decided to get a cat. I really wanted a black and white female and I went out the RSPCA to find one - there were three to choose from but then I saw a fat little fluffy ginger tom who had just come back from having his bits snipped.  I decided that he would need a cuddle after his ordeal and asked if I could give him a pat.  So the attendant opened the door and out ran the crazy 8 week old kitten - simply tearing up the corridor straight past me who by now was down on my haunches ready to pet hem.  He skidded to a halt - sauntered back down the corridor to me, climber up my leg and polar fleece jacket, curled around my neck and started playing with my earring.  So much for the black and white female - I had been chosen.    He is a double coated gentle giant - just great with my kids and tolerant of my dog - who arrived about two years later.

During the time, of dealing with the grief of my mum's death, nothing was as comforting as having the kitten curl up on my lap and be with me.  As he got older he became more independant - now he chooses between the laps of all four of the humans in the house and sometimes cuddles up with the dog (must be cold though). Cats are company without being too needy, funny to play with - lengths of twine and ping pong balls, and fairly easy to look after.  Your daughter might find her cat to be a play mate, a bed warmer, a confidant, a subject for drawings and writings and songs and so on.  I have so many happy memories  as a young girl - with cats and I love seeing my kids play with ours and the fun never ends.

Sorry this is so long but I thought cats needed an advocate - whatever you decide roze, not easy but as with all things it is often the smallest things that define a relationship - so you will work it out in context of how you want to build your relationship with your daughter. The kitten is not really the central issue it is your relationship and you don't have to buy her a kitten as long as you are honest with her and deal with it early.

Can I change my nickname to catwoman?