What Makes a Good Family Pet?
Pets are a member of the family. They provide companionship, entertainment, and protection. Pets also give unconditional love while receiving care and attention in return.
5 Reasons You Should Get a Family Pet
- Pets can help reduce stress.
- Pets provide unconditional love.
- Pets can be great for children and seniors.
- Pets can be a good source of companionship.
- Having a pet can protect your home.
Things to Consider When Picking Your New Family Member
If you’re looking for a new pet, it is important to first consider what kind of animal may best suit your lifestyle and needs. A good pet should have the qualities that suit you, your home and the resources that you have to give back to your pet such as your time, love, budget, accommodation and medical requirements. You need to know the needs of yourself and your family really well before you consider a pet.
Some Questions You Might Ask Yourself
- Does the pet need to be non-shedding or hypoallergenic?
- How much noise does it make?
- How much space does it need?
- How much maintenance does it require (e.g. baths)?
- Does it need regular visits to the vets?
- Does it need regular vaccinations?
- How much food does it eat?
- Will your pet ever be home alone?
- What will you do with your pet when you go on holiday?
- Can you meet all of your pets needs?
- Can you commit to your new pet for the whole of its expected lifetime?
A thorough audit of your life before getting a pet can ensure you can give it what it needs for a happy life and it will bring value to your life too.
Getting a new pet is one of the most exciting things you can do. It also means that you are going to spend several years with your new family member. So you must take your time and pick the right one for your lifestyle. Once you have considered the questions above and narrowed it down to the type of pet, well done that is a big first step.
Now here are the next options to think about:
- The breed
- The gender
- The age and temperament of the animal
- Where will you get the animal from?
All of the above takes time and research to do properly, but your investment will be worth it for the years of happy memories that a pet can bring.
Tips for Selecting a Dog or Cat as Your New family Pet
The following is a list of helpful tips for selecting a dog or cat as your new family pet:
- Estimate the size of your living space. This is important because you want to get an animal that will be comfortable in the amount of space that you have available.
- Consider the personality and energy level of your family. If you have children, you may want to opt for a less active animal.
- Check with your local shelter or rescue shelter to see if they have any animals available that could become your new family pet. These animals could include dogs and cats, but also rabbits, ferrets, birds, hamsters, fish and more.
- Expect to spend time and take care of an animal to keep them happy and healthy.
Tips for Choosing the Right Bird, Reptile, or Exotic Animal as Your New Family Member
As a responsible pet owner, there are many factors to consider when picking your new family member. If you’re looking for a lovable best friend or an educational experience for your kids, the type of animal you get will depend on what you want in a pet.
We recommend that before you adopt an exotic animal, do thorough research about the animal’s needs and habits to make sure they’re right for your household. Find out any tips for how to care for them.
Make sure that you have enough room in your home for your new family member by making measurements first, or if you’re renting find out if landlords allow pets at all. Find out what kind of food it eats and where to buy it from.
Find the Right Pet for You and Your Loved Ones
When you are thinking about getting a pet, it’s important to consider which type is the best fit for your lifestyle. A dog might be a better fit if you have kids or a cat might be better for someone who works from home. Only you can make an informed and educated choice once you have done the research that you need to do. Finally and most importantly, ensure you and your family can fully commit to looking after your pet for its lifetime.