Here is my delima, my 13 yr old daughter wants a puppy real bad, there is a guy down the street that his blue heeler had pups. The guy says that the female is100% blue heeler and the father is blue heeler/Australian Shepard mix, he has both parents. He is asking 50.00 for a female puppy who will be 6 weeks this weekend, he's trying to get 250.00 each from others but I'm not sure he's going to be able to get that much without papers. Also someone around Oklahoma City has great pyrenees pups for 75.00 and 100.00. I know Pyrenes get real big and heelers stay around 40 lbs, big question should I get the blue heeler from the guy down the street....the pups are outside, living in a small shed and no idea if they have fleas, or should I get the Pyrenes for my daughter to play with and home protection? Never had either one, I'm aware that the heelers are supposed to be real intelligent but unsure about the Pyrenes? My other option would be for my daughter to wait and see what shows up on craigslist, she really wants a female husky or border collie but I'm unable to spend much more than a 100.00 at present time. We live in a 900 sq ft house at present time with huge back yard, we would allow either dog to come inside at times. Please help, I know what I'd do but since this is going to be my daughters dog I can't pick what I would want and expect her to be happy if her heart is on another dog. Also she is wanting a young puppy, this female blue heeler / Australian Shepard mix knows my daughter very well cause she has played with her since the pup has been born, never raised a heeler but this one seems to like my daughter. Thanks
NO, Sounds like BYB,if you can’t afford to buy from a reputable breeder why not get a rescue, they usually have puppies. Dogs are a lifelong commitment and your daughter is young, would be better to consider this a family pet as you will be doing most of the house-training, feeding, walking and socializing when she is at school, and in the event she might loose interest or leave home in a few years are you prepared to take over the dog. Think you need to do lots of research and find a dog that is best suited to your needs rather than get a breed just because its cheap to buy.
Cattle dogs tend to be super high energy and drivey, I would avoid them unless you are dedicated to LOTS of exercise and plan on working the dog in herding or another sport.
I do worry about parents buying dogs for teenagers, though I have to admit to mithering my parents to despair into letting me have my first dog for my eleventh birthday. It was the start of a serious addiction. Move on twenty seven years, and I had a houseful of Cavalier KCS, but they were mine and my daughter insisted that she should have a dog of her own. I kind of saw her point, and gave in. She cared for her dog, exercised, groomed and trained it, and had completely lost interest by the age of fifteen. The dog lived for another ten years. I did love her, but it was not what I needed. I guess what I am saying is that kids can learn a lot from owning a dog, and some go on to have a lifetime of attachment to them. However, if you are going to be left holding the baby when that teenage time bomb goes off in their head, make sure that it is one that YOU can live with. If you are a couch TV type, do not get a high energy dog. Although a puppy is cute, perhaps you could visit a couple of shelters, and pick something that might suit both of you.
My answer would be no to both of them, blue heelers and Australian shepherds are both very high drive dogs, so not a good mix, and 100.00 for a Pyrenees, sounds like both are BYB, Pyrenees dogs would cost you anything around £800.00 upwards in the UK, and I dont think it would be much different in the US bought from reputable breeders. Buying dogs for children is not the best way to go about it, do you want a dog, if you do them that`s OK, because usually children want something then get fed up with it, and its them down to you to take over the care. If any of the breeds you have mentioned are what you want, them research and buy from reputable breeders, it will save you money and heartache in the long run, if you are happy with a xbreed, then got o your local rescue and adopt one from there.
Please don't get either of them. Not only do they sound poorly bred with little care or thought gone into their breeding, but both breeds and mix thereof are certainly not good 'first time' dogs, or dogs I'd pick out as companions for a young teenager. You're talking high energy, very high need of mental & physical stimulation in a Aussie/Heeler mix without which will drive you bonkers. And in a Great Pyrenees is going to be a massive dog with a strong guarding instinct. Honestly, that aside, buying a dog for a 13 year old kid of which no doubt will go on to college/get a job/move on with life in the dog's lifespan, is not advisable unless you're 100% committed to taking on the majority of the responsibly yourself i.e training, walking, vet bills etc. Kids often like the idea of a dog, but unless they're incredibly doggy and quite sensible, they tend to lose interest. Another point to make is that if you have no more than £100 or in your case $, to spend how on earth do you plan on spending out on expensive veterinary care? Vaccinations alone can quickly approach those kind of prices, that's without worming, flea treatments, rabies jab, tick prevention, feeding costs and general expenditure on necessary items required ( leads/collars/toys/training equipment etc etc ) If your daughter is keen for a dog why not ask her to demonstrate some commitment first by volunteering at a shelter, or even a local boarding facility? See how she takes to that, what level of enthusiasm she still shows months down the line. If she takes to it well and is still hoping for a dog, discuss what you both want in a dog, what will fit in with your lifestyle long term, and not just pick what is ready there and then. If your daughter volunteers she will be in the right place to potentially find a suitable companion in rescue which is certainly better than supporting a BYB.
