**This is a collaborative post**
When you’re looking to add a new, fun dynamic to your family, what better idea then to introduce a pet? Animals are great for so many reasons and for families with children they have the added value of helping to teach care and responsibility in young children. Watch as your child’s relationship with your pet blossoms and develops into a friendship for life.
But choosing the right pet for your individual circumstances is vital, so we take a look at a few traditional favourites and help you to figure out which would be the perfect fit for your family.
Dogs
Dogs are quite simply members of the family from the word go. They settle into your family set up and become fierce and loyal companions. Dogs quickly learn who’s in charge and who’s who in the pecking order. They’ll protect your smallest family members and become devoted friends with the adults.
This doesn’t necessarily happen right away and most dogs will need a little help and guidance to get settled. Your rowdy puppy can quickly be trained into an obedient family member and those early days of chewed up shoes and constant barking can be corrected with a firm training regime.
The key is consistency, always rewarding good and desirable behaviour and ignoring the bad. This level of consistency will soon pay off and your clever pup will quickly learn what’s expected of them.
Having a dog is an incredibly rewarding experience. You might not feel quite that lucky when you’re waiting in a wet park for your pet to finish his daily walk, but in general the whole family can bond over the experience of ownership.
Cats
Cats are also fabulous additions to the family and make ideal first pets. Generally lower maintenance than dogs, they don’t need human companionship nearly as much but are nevertheless loyal friends.
You’ll find them waiting patiently for you after a day at work or school and they’ll purr contentedly away on your lap as you settle down for the evening. All that’s really required from you is food, water and to make sure they’re up to date with their flea and worm treatments. You should also have your pet neutered.
Bringing home a kitten can be a fun challenge and unlike a puppy, there really isn’t much you can do in the way of training. Introduce them to the litter tray until they’re ready to go outside and be prepared for lots of searching around the house for scared youngsters who can hide in the smallest of spaces. Have a bed put somewhere warm and cosy so your pet will feel safe and out of the reach of small hands.
Rodents
From rats to guinea pigs, rodents also make great first pets. You’ll need to decide if you’re looking for outside pets like guinea pigs or small indoor versions like a hamster or gerbil. A firm favourite with children, these creatures are great fun to watch and can be handled from very young to get them used to it. Rats in particular quickly learn to appreciate human contact and can be taken out of their cage for short periods of time.
While the routine of looking after a rodent is easy, it gets boring for young children pretty quickly so be prepared to be the one cleaning out cages each week.
Low maintenance, entertaining and a great first pet, rodents are great fun and make a good low cost alternative to cats and dogs.
Bringing a pet into your family can feel like a big decision, so if you are unsure whether you have the time and resources, think twice or start with a low cost pet. As well as making time for exercise you will also need to factor in the cost of vet bills and food, such as Orijen available here. It’s often a good idea to take pet insurance for cats and dogs which will pay off particularly as they grow older and need more regular check-ups.
But despite any initial reservations you might have, owning a pet is a great experience for you and for every member of your family. The loyalty and fun that can be had with a dog and the cozy cuddles that cats offer are just a small but rewarding part of life with an animal.
Choose breeds that suit the size of your living and outside space and that offer you the amount of exercise that you can realistically fit into your day. Then all that’s left is to give them a great name and welcome them home.