When it's time to finally choose a pet, think about your lifestyle. Are you single? Are you busy? Are you a family with children? How old are your children? Do you have time to commit to training your pet? These are just a handful of factors you'll want to contemplate before you bring a pet into your home. All too often, these decisions are made with emotion instead of careful thought, especially when the kids are involved. Parents must keep in mind that if they're getting their child a pet, it will essentially be their pet as well and may need to pick up the slack with regard to maintenance of the animal. So choose wisely.
These are some simple guidelines you may want to follow when it comes to a variety of pet choices:
Dogs
There's a reason they're such popular family pets. They're loyal protectors, enthusiastic playmates, and a little bit of everything in between. But they can also be a lot of work. If you've decided to get a dog, seek one out at a local shelter. There are plenty of them looking for homes. Puppies are fun, but they can be quite a handful, so consider adopting an older dog. They will integrate with your family just as readily as a puppy will. Homes with children may want to consider their temperament when deciding on the type of dog and big dogs may not be a great idea with small children. Busy households without children may also want to consider going with an older animal as opposed to a puppy that is full of vim and vigor and will need more attention or else the house may suffer the consequences.
Cats
Independent, intelligent, and aloof, cats are kind of their own beings. They don't require a lot of attention (some may even prefer you to be gone for most of the day), and are probably better suited for busy families and/or singles. Sure they have their own maintenance concerns; you'll want to make sure the cat box is always fresh and they can shed a lot, sometimes more than dogs. Of course, they have claws; which poses two possible problems. The furniture could bear the brunt of a cat's organic habits, so you'll want to make sure they have a scratching post or something similar. Also, families with small children will need to watch out for tiny fingers pulling tails or ears and getting scratched as a result. Then, there are some people like to let their cat outdoors to follow their natural instincts of hunting while others prefer to keep their cat indoors. The choice is yours, but the outdoors pose many more dangers than the confines of your own home.
Birds
They may not be as well-suited for children as other pets, but they can still co-habitate with them successfully if done under proper supervision. Budgies, parakeets and the like are probably best for younger family members to care for and play with. But parrots and other larger exotic birds are likely going to be happier with adult caretakers. Birds have specific dietary requirements and need proper handling for them to live a long life. They can also be erratic, mercurial and downright mean, much like people of course, but most humans won't snap your finger off in their beak on a whim.
Fish
Another pet that brings two possible scenarios with it. There are some people who spend thousands of dollars on keeping exotic fish. They build complex aquariums that can be temperature controlled via remote and have special filters that keep the water (either fresh or salt) clean at all times. The fish are expensive and have specific feeding instructions. Some of them can also take a finger with them if you're not careful. Then there are goldfish and the like. Many parents start their children on a lifetime of pet ownership with a small fish that they can feed and watch swim around in a bowl, filled with colorful gravel and plastic ornaments. Cleaning those bowls can be a fun activity for the family and feeding time is always special for children to feel like they are taking care of another living thing. These fish don't live long lives, and so it can also be a lesson about death and loss to prepare children for these inevitabilities of life.
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