Parents are often asked by their children about the possibility of a family pet. In some cases, a family pet is not permitted due to rental conditions and/or health issues. Some parents also choose to not have pets because of the additional financial burden that comes with pet ownership. However, in spite of this, there are many benefits of pet ownership. Here are some tips on choosing a family pet.
Research– The first thing to do before choosing a pet for your family is to do some research into some animal choices. Think about their lifespan, overall health, cost of food, licensing, and veterinarian care, before deciding on a pet.
Temperament– The temperament of an animal is important. Choose one that is a companion and easy to care for. You certainly would not want to have an animal that is likeable, lovable, but has a bad temperament that could flare up at any time.
Maintenance– If you are a stay at home parent who works from home, choose a pet that everyone will love and enjoy. There are some high maintenance breeds of dogs, such as a Jack Russell, who can be trained to your liking and might make a good pet. However, this breed is high maintenance that often gets stressed and needs extensive training to learn how to cope within the family unit. There is no sense getting a high maintenance breed if you do not have the time and inclination to train it properly. Choose a breed of animal that is passive, lovable, and can be trained without causing much disturbance to your household.
Care– Caring for your pet is vital to its health and happiness. If your budget cannot afford huge veterinarian bills, vaccines, medicines, food, toys, and other accessories, that is no reason to say no to having a pet. Small animals such as a hamster or guinea pig make lovely pets, which can be accustomed to you and your kids and are trainable to a degree.
These are just a few things to ponder when deciding on whether or not to introduce a pet to your family. Although the idea of having a pet in your household may seem to be something that you might not like, having a pet in the family will teach your child or children about responsibilities as well as rewards.
Pets are loving creatures and come in all shapes, types, and sizes. Although they cannot speak in our language, they can surely brighten our day with their style of love and affection. Pets are a wonderful addition to any home; they offer companionship, and unconditional love.
Do you have a pet? What type of pet do you have?
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
May 13, 2014 at 6:30 amWe adopted our dog, Milo, in December. He was a rescue dog and the shelter kind of left out a few details about his temperament to us, but we’re learned to live with it and deal with it.
Amanda @ Erickson and Co says
May 13, 2014 at 6:41 amWe got our house dog from the pound. She is the most well behaved dog i’ve ever seen. And she is great with our toddler. I always recommend people check out their local animal shelters before buying an animal from a breeder.
Chavonne H says
May 13, 2014 at 6:47 amThese are great things to think about before adopting a pet. In the past I didn’t consider everything. Each breed has their own personality traits so it’s a good thing to do lots of research. I love this show called Dog 101 on Animal Planet, it helps me figure out the right dog for my personality and lifestyle. No pets yet but soon.
Virginia Stone says
May 13, 2014 at 7:12 amMy husband and I are owned by two beautiful felines. One is named BUFF. He looks like a mountain lion, buff colored, hence is name. Our beauty, GIOVANNA, is a black and white female, who has an incredible vertical leap that defies gravity. Both of them constantly amaze us.
Jennifer Williams says
May 13, 2014 at 7:49 amWe have four pets, one of which is a nightmare when it comes to training but has the best personality which saves him a lot. We have tried trainers and schools and he will still not learn to go potty outside – thank goodness for diapers.
Terry says
May 13, 2014 at 9:22 amGreat tips and I really miss having pets, but the way we travel, it isn’t fair to bring a pet into our home.
Theresa says
May 13, 2014 at 12:10 pmWe have 3 dogs and since we had small kids, we definitely looked for family friendly breeds when making our decision. All of our dogs are well tempered and put up with a lot from our kids lol.
Touristmeetstraveler says
May 13, 2014 at 1:35 pmThe most important thing about getting a pet is making sure you’ll be able to take care of them, it’s never good to neglect them. I’ve got a dog and three cats, things can get a bit crazy; but I love them.
becca says
May 13, 2014 at 3:35 pmWe rescued both our cats. they are so spoiled now.
Lady Lilith says
May 13, 2014 at 3:44 pmWe decided to go smile and stick with fish. The kids love it.
Pam says
May 13, 2014 at 3:50 pmGreat tips! We currently have three cats and two foster cats. I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have pets!
Tough Cookie Mommy says
May 13, 2014 at 5:51 pmI think it is really important for potential pet owners to be fully aware of the responsibility that it takes to care of a pet. Many people underestimate all that is involved.
Helene Cohen Bludman says
May 13, 2014 at 6:23 pmPets are wonderful but they are a huge responsibility and sometimes people don’t understand that before they get them. I also advocate looking for a rescue pet first. We have a rescue dog and cat that are the sweetest and best-behaved pets ever.
Greenwood Veterinarian says
May 13, 2014 at 7:10 pmI must admit pet’s temperament should be considered before owning a family pet. Especially pets who comes from rescue, they should be treated a little extra care. A little understanding on how pets behave or act the way they do can go a long way and might help us deal with their everyday lives.
Marielle Altenor says
May 13, 2014 at 8:47 pmThose are some really great tips! Having pets is like having a children that will never leave the house. Pets are family members that depends solely on its owner for survival. They need lots of loving and care.
Amanda Her says
May 13, 2014 at 9:28 pmI can’t stress enough the importance of doing your research! If a pet wouldn’t be a good match for your family, it’s best to move on to another – no matter how cute they are!
Amanda says
May 14, 2014 at 4:33 amResearch is so important! And be prepared for the long haul! Our dog is almost 17 now and still going strong!
Veronica says
May 14, 2014 at 6:20 amMy dog Rufus has quite the temperament. He is a sweet dog but just doesn’t quite understand how to be a dog. We wouldn’t trade him for the world though. Thanks for the great information
Liz Mays says
May 14, 2014 at 7:29 amI’m not a pet person, but I’ve had two dogs. If I were to have another pet, it would be a cat though.
Nicole Brady says
May 14, 2014 at 8:43 amBefore the kids, hubby and I did animal rescue as well as foster/rehabilitation. We had to quit doing that when I could no longer emotionally part with one of the dogs and she took up the last slot allowed by the county. (Los Angeles only allowed 3 dogs). The last of the three passed a few years ago and our 11 year old daughter just got a bird. Having pets is a huge commitment that many parents don’t think of. Thanks for pointing out these important details!
Rosey says
May 14, 2014 at 9:28 amI’d like to adopt a little pet, but hubby’s not up for it so we don’t. Someday maybe!!
Erica says
May 14, 2014 at 11:30 amThis is a great post. It’s so important to fully think this out.
Megan @ C'mon Get Crafty says
May 14, 2014 at 3:35 pmAll great advice points – we have both a dog and a cat, and my husband and I are both kind of at the point of agreeing that we likely won’t get another dog when ours eventually passes on. Not that we don’t love him now!
Toni says
May 14, 2014 at 5:11 pmChoosing a pet is a big responsibility. It’s definitely not something to take lightly.
Mommy2Jam says
May 17, 2014 at 9:21 pmMy boys would love a pet however I just can’t right now. Its like having another child in the house.
Julie Wood says
June 4, 2015 at 7:31 amIt is always a good idea to research and check out a pet that you are getting for the family. Asking yourself, if I want a very active dog or a dog that is more passive. I have a basset hound and he likes to exercise and get outside, but he also likes to just lay around.
Heather Amos says
July 5, 2016 at 10:32 amThese are great tips. It is very important to research and check out any pet you are going to bring home for your family.
Jody Cleveland says
July 5, 2016 at 8:30 pmWe have a German Shepherd puppy and a Ragdoll cat. We are working on getting the two to love each other, but it is a slow process.
Ellen Stafford says
July 6, 2016 at 2:07 pmI totally agree with you. You need to make sure you can afford to keep the pet and know that it is a big commitment. So many people rush into getting pets and then give them up and it’s so sad.
Barrie says
July 6, 2016 at 5:38 pmWhenever we get a dog, we always research it. We really stick with labs or lab mixes and that was decided through a lot of research.
Laura Whitlock says
July 10, 2016 at 7:01 amGreat tips for choosing a family pet
Patrícia Xará says
July 13, 2016 at 1:29 pmI’ve always had cats when I was growing up and we have a cat now. Her name is Ára Bátur. We had a dog, but it wasn’t a great choice, because he was big and could make my grandmother fall just by playing with her. We also had fishes and birds.
lisa says
July 13, 2016 at 3:11 pmGood tips. I personally don’t agree with keeping an animal in the house. They smell, shed and bother guests. And if they are indoors, please keep them off of the furniture,
Adriane says
July 13, 2016 at 11:14 pmAll of our pets have been rescue animals – some from shelters, some found loose on the streets or dumped somewhere.
michele soyer says
July 22, 2016 at 2:38 pmWhen ever I thought about adopting a dog the breed was my first concern.. I never really thought past when we locked eyes if we were for each other..now I know all the other things to think about….