Choosing a new family pet can prove to be a daunting process. However, having some few tips on how to get the best will make the process more fun. Settling on a good one could see you bring loads of happiness to your family. Studies have shown that, pets can improve our lives in quite a number of ways. From offering protection to helping us relax, you can be sure that it is a venture worth your time and money. Surprisingly, pets are believed to help reduce blood pressure and help us exercise more when we play with them. Many factors should be taken into consideration when choosing on a pet:
- The kind of activities that the family gets involved in- if your family is the kind that will go hiking any time, you should consider one that can go along with you. For example a dog would be the ideal pet for excessive outdoor activities while a cat would be best for a family that spends the afternoons indoors reading novels.
- How much time you and your family is going to spend with the pet- This calls for you to involve everyone in the decision making, which will go along way in ensuring that everyone including the kids, is happy with the pet.
- Whether anyone in the family has an allergy to the kind of pet that you want to buy-The fact that some pets produce dander, may cause some allergies. You should hence ensure that the pet is hypo allergic with the best interests of these members at heart.
- How much money will it demand for upkeep- This includes finding out on how many visits that the pet should make to the veterinary doctor for every given month, and the amount of food it will consume for the same month. Some long haired pets will demand for regular visits to the groomers hence might have a slightly higher maintenance fee. Knowing the kind of expenses that the pet has, helps the family settle on one that best suits their kind of budget.
- The space that is available for such a pet- If the family has a big yard, then a large breed dog wont hurt, if it is small, then you should go for the smaller breeds. The space available also helps you know if you have enough space for training purposes, and housing requirements, should you be forced to build a cage.
- Where you want that pet to be sitting- if its on your lap, then you can consider a cat but if its in the cage, you could look out for a dog or a pigeon. Also consider if the pet’s behavior is suitable around small children and the potential health problems, this helps you avoid rude awakening and surprises.
- Talk to other pet owners- As they say, experience is the best teacher, talking to other pet owners will help you avoid major blunders and pitfalls that people have made before, and help you get the best pet.
- Time commitments and lifestyles- Some pets require for some kind of daily exercise such as the hook bills hence you will need to have time for them. Others are only suitable for people who work at night. For example, the sugar gliders and ferrets will spend much of the day sleeping and are most active at night hence are good to keep such people company.