Potential first time buyer

First of all are you ready to pick up when your son leaves off?  A dog needs to be a family affair.  Asking a 13 year old boy to be solely responsible for a dog is not reasonable.  He will be starting highschool soon right?  With that comes a social life.  I'm glad that he has been proving himself to you but you need to make the commitment as well. 

As for the type of dog you get, it depends on your lifestyle.  Your son will be home for a couple of hours at night.  He can walk a dog then, but will you be able to walk the dog during the day?  Do any of you have experience with dogs?  Labs are usually ok with new handlers.  They are mellow when they get enough stimulation and exercise.  Also they love people and are intelligent without being too intelligent(by this I mean thinking of better things to do with their time than listening to thier people)  Goldens are similar.  I dont know too much about small dogs having never owned one in my life.  Make sure the dog gets enrolled in a puppy class and basic obedience.  Its more for teaching the owners.  My dogs are pretty well trained but I'm thinking of putting BF in a class with one of them to teach him what he should be doing.

I know it is not reasonable to leave my son with a dog. I adore dogs just as much. Highschool is in 2 years. Soon summer starts and my son will have full attention on the dog. He will not totally neglect it nor will he ever.  My son has had experieance with dogs walking it and so on he has been helping his neighbor and everything. I have had a dog wen i was young too. But we will probably like you said go into a class. My son would like to train the dog by itself

I didnt mean to offend.  My parents got me a dog when I was 11 and then when I didn't take care of it like it deserved to be taken care of, they let it run away.  They didn't want the resposibility but I guess I was just a spoiled brat, plus I didn't know what the heck I was doing. 

My point was just that to a teenager, things that are number 1 priority one day dont necessarily mean squat the next.  If you are willing to take over responsibility of this dog when and if your son finds other things to do, then kudos to you.

I know he will take care of it. And you think i wont help? You are crazy if i will leave a puppy with a child. He still needs help

I didnt say I didnt think you would help.  I just asked to make sure you would.  You asked for advice.  Not me.  I'm not trying to be rude.  I just wanted to make sure you weren't thinking of just getting your son a puppy and saying you take care of it, he's yours.  Some parents do that.  I dont know you from Eve.  How would I know if you were one of these people or not?  If you are not going to do that then why are you getting defensive?

I would recommend that you go to your local animal shelter.  There are  a LOT of black and tan dogs there, and puppies too.  As long as you're aware that it's the family's dog and not just the boy's dog everything will be fine.  I think training a dog will be a wonderful experience for your son.

Let me share a story from my youth, many MANY moons ago.  From the time I first sat a horse at the age of two, I HAD to have one.....I was so horse crazy that instead of imagainary friends, I had imaginary horses.  I begged, I pleaded, I helped friends who had horses care for theres.  Finally at 12 I got a horse.  Once I hit high school and those teen years, well, I didnt have much time for old Pepsi......Dad went to our place in the country to care for him, Dad planted the field to alfalfa, Dad pretty much did everything....including finding him a home where he'd get the attention he deserved.  The high school years have the potential to change the most perfect child into a "don't give a darned" jerk.........just my 2 cents.

I think it sounds like you understand the commitment involved in getting a dog...  it is likely (and hopefully) a 10+ year commitment if you get a puppy...  You and your son both need to be ready for it - and be ready to share the work and the time and it sounds like you are... 
 
We had a family dog when I was a child, and I certainly didn't have much time for her when I got to high school, but my mom did - our yellow lab was a family pet and everyone pitched in and when some of us had less time the others made more time...  If you are going to be working from home, and are ready to spend some time with the pup during the day and your son will be able to spend time with the dog at night you should be fine.  Will the dog go with your son to his dad's on weekends or stay with you?  If the plan is for him to go with your son, I would make sure that this is something dad is up for too, since a 13 year old can certainly help and share in this responsibility, but cannot be the primary person responsible for a living thing IMHO... 
 
I think people can have a dog and have a life outside the dog, just like people can have kids and have a life outside the kids, so long as if there is a conflict, the dog or the kid, wins, because when you are responsible for a living being, that living being needs to be your priority- it sounds like you know this, so I say go for it!!
 
  I think there are a lot of great breeds out there and a lot of great mixes (check any shelter or petfinder) and I am sure you will find a dog that is right for you...I am familiar with goldens and labs and those sound like a good option if you like bigger dogs and are ready to spend a good amount of time exercising your dog (walks are definitely not enough for these breeds which in my experience are pretty high energy)...
 
Good luck and if you do get a dog, please keep posting, there are bound to be rough patches and people on this forum will have a lot of advice to help you through!!

There ARE kids who really love their animals and take good care of them, through highschool and life.....

I was allowed to have my first non-fish pet when I was 13. I got a rabbit. She was adorable. I bred her, which was stupid, but I was 13.... I found homes for all of the babies, but one. Daisy and Dusty ended up having to be seperated, b/c they fought. I bought the materials for seperate outdoor hutches, and I bought them inside cages (babysitting money). I bought them toys and baskets and all sorts of things. When Daisy got a hairball, and was deathly ill, my mom drove us to the vet, and I paid for her exam and medication. She came through just fine. The first time she had her nails trimmed, Mom brought us to the vet, and I paid $5 for the vet and tech to show me how to trim her nails. I kept them trimmed, myself, after that. Both girls lived about 7 1/2 years, and both succomed to cancer.

When I was 17, I was allowed my first dog. We'd had family dogs all along. I chose Grace. She was a Golden/Choc Lab mix. She had been diagnosed with chronic renal failure, and been abandoned by her owner. She was beautiful, and only ten weeks old. I had a part time job, after school. I paid for her K/D. I did her fluids, twice a day. When she crashed on K/D, I read up and put her on Wellness Senior, canned. She ended up living with me for three months. I held her while she died. I waited too long to put her to sleep, but I was 17. Grace was my first dog, and I desperately wanted her to live. She was just a puppy.

Did I mess up? Sure! Do I still mess up??? OF COURSE! That's life. I did take care of my pets, then. My  parents helped me, and supported me, but I did it. Some kids will.

I think a golden retriever or a golden mix would be a great dog for you.  A puppy may not be the best idea, maybe an older one from a rescue or a shelter.
 
My staff (kids) all take care of the dogs, but the are MY dogs and I don't expect they will take care of them, but boy let me tell you they are all quick to point out, look at my dogs, look they can do this trick look how great they are, LOL!!

A golden is a great dog.  A lab would  be a good dog but they are very destructive probably until they are two or older.
I would not suggest any kind of pit mix for a new owner nor would I suggest a chow chow for a first time owner.  They are great dogs but I think they need experienced owners. JMHO!
 
Don't know where you are located or I could find some rescues for you to check out. Let me know and I know you are also getting a digi camera to share pics of the new doggie!
 
Julie

It looks like we will geting a labrador retriever.

We would aslo like a doberman pinscher any suggestions on how to train those two

Labs are wonderful dogs.  They are a great dog for kids to learn training.  For the most part the breed is gentle and patient, with consistant, kind training.  The key with any dog is constistancy.  Because they are retrievers, most of them(not all) love nothing better than a long game of fetch and will happily get most of their exercise this way.  When socialized properly they get along well with other dogs too.

Dobes are a trickier breed.  They need a strong handler although the breed has a better temperment today than years ago.  Alot of research is needed for this breed, but the rewards are just as great.

Either way, once you do decide on a breed, go and buy a couple books, both bread specific and general for training.  You can also get a breed book to help you decide which breed to get. 

So do you guys suggest a puppy or an adult dog

I would say an adult dog....I just got a 2 year old Shih Tzu and he is house broke and he is wonderful.