How to Convince Your Parents to Let You Keep Your Dog

Last Updated: October 29, 2022 References

The thought of losing your dog can be scary. If your parents want to give away your dog, they probably have a good reason for it. Maybe you’re not spending enough time with the dog, or the dog is too aggressive. Thankfully, most problems your dog might have can be fixed. If you promise to address your dog’s issues and you can show your parents that having a dog is good for you, they’ll be less likely to go through with giving your dog away.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Diagnosing the Problem

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Ask your parents why they want to give away your dog. Before you can fix the problem, you'll need to know what it is. Since your parents are the ones who want to give away your dog, they’ll probably be able to tell you what your dog is doing wrong. Be respectful when you bring up the issue. Your parents will be more likely to hear you out if you appear mature.^{[1]
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- Approach your parents at a time when they’re free to talk, such as during dinner. Say, “I know you’ve been wanting to give away my dog and I was hoping we could talk about it.”
- Be specific with your questions. For example, instead of asking, “Why don’t you love my dog?”, ask, “What problems are my dog causing that makes you think we need to get rid of her?”
2
Evaluate your dog’s recent behavior. If you spend a lot of time with your dog, you’re in a good position to notice any issues your dog has been having. Chances are, if you notice the problem, others have too. It’s also possible that your dog only acts badly in specific situations, such as when it’s around other dogs.^{[2]
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- Ask yourself whether your dog has been acting differently lately.
- Think of how many times your dog has been aggressive or pooped in the house.
- You can also evaluate your dog’s behavior by putting your dog in potentially stressful situations, like being around other dogs. Take your dog to the park and see how it reacts to other dogs.
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3
Talk to a vet about your dog’s issues. If your dog has been acting out of sorts, they might be sick or have some other problem. A vet will be able to tell you exactly what is wrong and what you need to do to fix it.^{[3]
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- Bring up the possibility of a visit to a vet with your parents. Tell your parents that you’re concerned that your dog might be sick or injured in some way.
- If your parents think going to the vet is an unnecessary expense, tell them you’ll pay for it out of your allowance. This will show them how important your dog is to you.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Addressing the Problem

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Promise to spend more time with your dog. If your parents complain that the dog doesn’t get enough attention, tell them that you'll take more time to care for your dog, and it's your responsibility to care for it. If they believe you will do it, this will assuage their concerns. If it is your dog it’s your responsibility to look after it, and it’s unfair if you're not. And if you don’t look after the dog, your parents will think you don’t want it.^{[4]
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- Your parents want to see that you’re serious, so instead of saying, “I’ll spend more time with my dog,” lay out specifics. Tell them, “I will to walk my dog every morning and spend at least twenty minutes playing with him when I get home from school always.”
- If you know you’re going to be away for a day or two, tell your parents you’ll ask someone to either care for your dog while you’re away or come by the house and walk the dog every day.
- If your dog is aggressive with other animals, doesn’t respond to commands, or barks whenever someone knocks on the door, your dog might need to go to an obedience school. Obedience school will teach your dog that it will only get attention when it displays good behaviors. Obedience school is expensive, so offer to pay most of the money, or half of it if you're not sure if you have enough money. Your parents will likely understand.
- Try contacting obedience schools for dogs in your area, and find out how much they charge and what their schedules are.
- Tell your parents you’ll pay for half the schooling out of your allowance and you’ll use your own time to take your dog to school.
- If you can’t afford to pay for obedience school, ask your parents by promising to find the school and keep up with your dog’s training at home.
2
Tell your parents you’ll clean up after your dog. If your dog causes a lot of mess around the house, either by pooping inside or tearing things apart, you need to take responsibility for your dog’s behavior. If you promise that you’ll clean up after your dog, your parents won’t have to worry about being stuck taking care of your dog’s messes.^{[5]
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- Promise to clean up after your dog every time your dog makes a mess.
- Also promise to repair or replace anything your dog damages.
- It’s important that your parents know you’ll do these things without them having to pester you. So make it clear that you take the responsibility seriously.
- For example, tell your parents, “I know I haven’t been very good about cleaning up after my dog. But it’s my responsibility and I promise to do a better job from now on. You won’t even have to remind me!”

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Highlighting the Benefits of Dog Ownership

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Tell your parents that you’re learning to be responsible and encouraged . Your parents want you to learn the value of responsibility. If you can show them that caring for a dog is making you a more responsible person, they’ll be less likely to give away your dog.^{[6]
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- Make a list of the responsibilities you’ve taken on since you got the dog. List the daily chores you do to clean up after your dog and the scheduled walks and playtimes you engage in.
- If you have siblings or any other relatives who have seen you care for your dog, have them chip in on your behalf and express how responsible you are in caring for your dog.
- For example, you might ask your sister to tell your parents that having a dog has made you more aware of your actions affect others.
EXPERT TIP

Being around animals can teach you to be more present, how to self-soothe, and even, ultimately, how to grieve.

Adam Dorsay, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist & TEDx Speaker
Dr. Adam Dorsay is a licensed psychologist in private practice in San Jose, CA, and the co-creator of Project Reciprocity, an international program at Facebook's Headquarters, and a consultant with Digital Ocean’s Safety Team. He specializes in assisting high-achieving adults with relationship issues, stress reduction, anxiety, and attaining more happiness in their lives. In 2016 he gave a well-watched TEDx talk about men and emotions. Dr. Dorsay has a M.A. in Counseling from Santa Clara University and received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2008.

Adam Dorsay, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist & TEDx Speaker
2
Show your parents that you’re getting more exercise. Most kids spend a lot of time on their phones or computers, so any time spent outside exercising is seen as a good thing by most parents. If your parents think having a dog is making your more physically healthy, they’ll be less likely to want to give the dog away.^{[7]
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- Tell your parents how often and how far you walk your dog. If you run with your dog, highlight how your dog keeps you motivated to keep going.
- For example, you might tell your parents that since you’ve had a dog you’ve been running three miles a day.
- Highlight the benefits of exercise. Tell your parents that walking and playing with your dog makes you feel energized and better able to complete your schoolwork.
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Let your parents know that your dog is your friend. Your parents might not know how much your dog means to you. If they understand that you think of your dog as your friend, they might think twice about giving away your dog. The best way to let your parents know you love your dog is to show it.^{[8]
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- Spend time with your dog and show your dog affection.
- If your parents don’t see you playing with your dog or they don’t understand that your dog is your friend, tell them. Try saying, “I love my dog and she’s like my best friend. If I were to lose her I would be really sad.”
- Tell your parents that you’d be lonely without your dog. For example, you might say, “My dog helps me feel less alone when you guys are gone or when I’m alone at night.”