I decided to get my 6 year old a dog, thinking it would help teach him responsibility and companionship. At first, he was super excited, he’d take the dog for walks, feed him, and play with him nonstop. But now, the excitement has worn off. I have to remind him (constantly) to do basic things like refilling the water bowl or taking the dog outside. And sometimes, when I ask, he gets annoyed, like it’s a chore. I really don’t want him to see his pet as a burden, but I’m starting to worry he’s not ready for this level of responsibility. How can I help him see this as something meaningful and not just another task I nag him about?
I went through the exact same thing with my son when we got our dog. He was over the moon at first, but after a few weeks, the novelty wore off, and suddenly, I was the one doing everything. I started giving him small, non, negotiable tasks, like every morning before breakfast, he had to give fresh water and a treat. No water, no breakfast. Harsh? Maybe. But it worked. Now, it’s just a habit.
The other thing that helped was talking about how the dog feels. Like, Imagine if no one fed you all day, how do you think the dog feels? That made it more about empathy and less about Mom told me to. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s better than me doing everything while he plays with the dog only when he feels like it. 
Stick with it! It’s a big adjustment for a 6 year old, but they can learn!
My daughter begged for a cat. She swore up and down she’d do everything, litter box, feeding, brushing. And guess who’s scooping litter at 10 PM? me. 
I don’t even like cats.
And honestly, it’s frustrating because I want her to follow through, but I also don’t want to be the villain who’s constantly saying, Did you feed the cat? Did you clean the litter? Like, how do you make them want to take care of their pet??
The hardest part is I don’t want her to start resenting the cat. But at the same time, I can’t just let the cat starve or sit in a dirty box. I keep telling myself that maybe it’s a maturity thing and that she’ll get better about it as she gets older… but right now, I feel like I’ve basically adopted another child instead of getting her a pet.
Anyway, no advice, just solidarity. If you figure out some magic solution, please share. Because I am tiiiiired. 
Been there, done that, got the t shirt. My son is 7 now, and he’s finally responsible with our dog, but when we got him at age 6? Forget it. I did 95% of the work. And honestly, I don’t think most 6 year olds are developmentally ready to be fully responsible for a pet. They love the idea, but follow, through is tough.
Here’s what worked for us:
Pair pet care with a routine task. Example: Before school, you brush your teeth and feed the dog. After dinner? Walk the dog. Making it part of an existing routine makes it automatic.
Visual reminders. We had a simple checklist on the fridge. If he did his tasks, he got a sticker. No stickers? No screen time. Simple.
Natural consequences. If he forgot to feed the dog, I’d say, Guess what? Now you have to hand-feed him piece by piece. It took longer, but he learned fast.
The good news? He’s awesome with the dog now. It just took time. So, hang in there, your son’s still young. Keep guiding him, and he’ll get there
This is really common with young kids! Responsibility isn’t something that happens overnight, but you can help him build better habits around it. A few things that have helped other parents I know:
Gamify it: Make taking care of the dog fun! Maybe he earns points for each completed task, and at the end of the week, he gets to choose a new toy for the dog.
Create a pet job chart. Use pictures since he’s 6 with simple tasks: food, water, walk, brush. Let him check things off, it gives a sense of accomplishment.
You’re the dog’s hero. Kids respond well to being the protector or hero. Instead of Go walk the dog,” try He’s waiting for you, you’re his favorite person! He needs you!
Positive reinforcement. Instead of just reminding him when he forgets, praise him when he does it right. Hey, I love how you filled up his water without me asking! That really helps him stay happy and healthy.
It’s a shift, but it helps them feel ownership over the responsibility instead of it feeling like homework. Keep at it! 
You’re not alone, this is totally normal for a 6 year old! Keep guiding him, and one day, you’ll be shocked at how responsible he becomes. 