How Can You Choose The Right Pet For Your Home

It is the most comforting idea and best choice to get a pet for your home. Animals are not pets, they act as family members and provide companionship, love and happiness. Yet, there is another element which needs to be considered before deciding what kind of pet to take home and this is consideration. It is recommended that you ensure you acquire an animal that suits your life, your living environment as well as your tastes. It can be a puppy to play with, it can be a quiet cat, it can be an exotic pet, but in any case, this guide will help you get on your way to having your dream pet at home.

In this article we will discuss it all, how to choose the right pet to add to your family, the difference between small and big pets. We will also discuss the debate whether to adopt or buy a dog or a cat via a breeder, the best dog/cat breed that best fits your lifestyle, among many others.  Pet Fresh Supplies help readers come to know more about their pets, their care and health tips guidance in a very simple and plain style of articles.

What Kind of Pet Can Your Family Have?

The type of pet that will fit your family is determined by the size of your house, the activity levels of the family members, the time that you will spend with your pet, and all about the allergy and sensitivity of all family members. Let’s break down the options:

Dogs As a Pet:

Dogs are renowned to be the best pets in the family. They are also faithful, amiable and may be decent members of working families. But dogs are very time consuming, demanding and needy. High energy breeds such as the Labrador Retriever or a Border Collie require plenty of activity and engagement, whereas other dogs such as a Bulldog or a Basset Hound would be more at home in a less stressful setting.

Cats As a Pet:

Cats are independent compared to dogs and they do offer significant companionship. Cats do not require much care, and can survive in a smaller environment, making them an excellent option when a family lives in an apartment or has a small home. They do not need as much attention as dogs do, still they like to communicate with their owners.

Small Animals as Pet:

Small mammals including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and ferrets are excellent pets that families with young children can keep. These are pets that do not necessarily require as much as a dog or a cat does but provide enough bonding and playtime.They also come in small sizes and are convenient to carry around with busy families.

Animals brought in as pets such as reptiles (snakes, lizards), birds (parrots, cockatiels), and fish can liven up a house. But they are likely to require their care and not every family is willing to invest in such pets.

Whether your family has sufficient time, space and energy to maintain a pet or not is ultimately going to be the determining factor of which pet to maintain.

Know more on How to Choose the Best Pet For Your Family.

Are Small Pets or Large Pets Good for You

Once you have figured out the type of pet to buy, one of the initial things that you will need to do is to figure out whether to buy a small pet or a large pet. And here we shall find the differences:

Small Pets: Small pets like cats, small dogs (like Chihuahuas or Dachshunds), rabbits and guinea pigs do not take up too much space and are generally less difficult to maintain.They can fit perfectly in the apartments or smaller houses of individuals. They are usually cheaper and their maintenance, feeding, and grooming is also cheaper compared to larger animals.

Pros: Comparatively less tough to manage, they require less space and are less expensive.

Cons: May need to be socialized more, they are less active and are not able to provide similar outdoor activities as larger pets.

Large Pets: Larger pets (such as large dogs (e.g. Great Danes, Golden Retrievers)) are larger and require more attention. They suit large family homes or homes that have access to an outdoor area. Pets that are larger are more active, and thus require a lot of exercise and playtime.

Advantages: Excellent with active people or families with lots of room, can sometimes be more suitable with outdoor sports such as running or hiking.

Disadvantages: They are costly, hard to feed and maintain, they need more space and more attention.

Whether you keep small or large pets will be based on the space available in the house, the time you will be spending taking care of the pet and the activity of your family.

Before making any decision you may need to read Care Tips and Guides For Small and Large Pets.

Want To Have A Pet While You Living in An Apartment

When you live in an apartment you may be limited in the pets you can keep, particularly when large or high-energy pets are involved. But there are lots of pets which are quite apt to live in apartments:

Small Dogs: There are some dogs that do well in smaller environments like French Bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Dachshunds. These breeds are not very active and can easily adjust to life in an apartment.

Cats: Cats make the best pets to keep in an apartment and are relatively low-maintenance and independent animals. They do not require a lot of space as dogs and many cat breeds like to sit and relax in their own comfortable spaces. Cats do not also need to be walked daily as dogs, and this can be an advantage to busy people who live in an apartment.

Small Mammals: Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters can be confined in small cages in an apartment. They do not usually need much space and do not need much care.

Fish: Fish can be a great pet to keep in your apartment since it does not need a lot of maintenance. A tiny aquarium will be a nice and relaxing touch to your home.

There is one more point that you must consider when deciding on which pet to keep in your apartment, and that would be the kind of noise, activity, and size of the pet. You must ensure that you have a pet policy in your building before you adopt or buy a pet.

You can read more in details on Apartment Living? Here is How To Pick the Perfect Pet.

Buying From Breeder v/s Adopting Pet

When deciding on where to adopt a pet, you can either adopt one at a shelter or purchase one at a breeder. The benefits and drawbacks of the two alternatives are the following:

Adoption of an animal: Adoption of an animal in the shelter or an animal rescue group offers an animal the second chance of finding a good home. Pets at most shelters are already spayed/neutered, vaccinated and sometimes even trained. Adopting is typically cheaper than what it would be to purchase one off a breeder.

Pros: Saves a life, it can be cheaper, helps a good cause.

Cons: You will not be aware of the complete history of the pet and some of the pets will require further behavioral training.

Buying via a Breeder: Sometimes you want to buy one with certain features, and in that case, purchasing it with a breeder may be the most appropriate step. Breeders who maintain proper health and well-being of their animals are responsible and in most situations will provide pets with a clean well-maintained environment. However, it can be more expensive to buy one from a breeder.

Advantages: The genetics and traits of the pet can be controlled and many breeds are usually easier to find.

Disadvantages: Not every breeder is ethical and it can be costly at times.

You would be well advised to do some research on good shelters and breeders before deciding what to do. Petfinder and The Humane Society are also other excellent locations to purchase pets which are waiting to be adopted.

You may get some help while deciding on Adopting A Pet v/s Buying From a Breeder? What is Right For You.

Select a Dog Breed According to Your Lifestyle

You ought to ensure that you select the dog breed which fits into your lifestyle. Dogs also vary in exercise, temperament and grooming needs. When adopting a type of dog some of the things to consider are:

Energy Level: A dog will demand energy to keep up with you; hence, Border Collie or Golden Retriever are the right dogs. You can compromise with less active breeds such as Bulldogs or even Basset Hounds, which are said to be more laid back and thus, easy to co-exist with.

Grooming Needs: These include other dogs that need lots of grooming and cleaning, and there are also other dogs that are easier to maintain like Poodles or Beagles.

Temperament: Breeds are more independent, not to mention that there are also social breeds that cannot live without human contact. Choose a breed, which suits your family.

Read more on How to Select a Dog Breed For Your Lifestyle.

How to Choose The Right Cat Breed for You

Cats too have different personalities and they need attention as much as dogs. When choosing a cat breed is worth keeping in mind the following:

Playfulness: Abyssinian or Bengal are some of the breeds you may want to consider when you want a playful and active cat. Persian or Ragdoll breeds are the types of cat that you can look at to relax.

Social Behavior: Cats are not social per se, however there are a few breeds, which enjoy spending time around individuals and integrating with them like the Siamese or Maine Coons.

Grooming: Long haired dogs like Persians will require regular grooming but short haired animals like American Shorthairs are far easier to handle.

Do read to know more about your decision Choosing The Right Cat Breed for You, What You Need to Know.

Are Exotic Pets Right?

Exotic reptiles, birds and small mammals are all interesting and rewarding, but require special care. Snakes, lizards and turtles require a certain amount of heat and moisture. Birds, cockatiel, parrots are all social and may require close attention and mental stimulation.

Before you make any decisions to keep the exotic pet in the house, you have to know the needs of this animal, which include its diet, where it will live and other medical care they may require. If you are interested in exotic pets, you should surely read  Exotic Pets, Are They Right For You.

How First-Time Owners Can Select Right Pet

When you are new to owning a pet, you want to adopt an animal that is not one that is too hard to take care of and requires special expertise. Small mammals such as guinea pigs or hamsters, cats and small dogs are suitable first-time pets. These pets are not very demanding when it comes to care and are usually more adaptable.

If you are a first time-owner, let us read about How to Select The Right Pet for You for the First-time Owners.

How to Determine Whether You Can Handle a Pet

Ask yourself following questions and you would be completely aware about your status of being able to have pet or not:

• Is there time and energy to care about a pet?
• Will I be able to afford the prices of feeding, grooming, and medical services?
• Do I live in a way that is appropriate to keep a pet?
• Do I have a long-term commitment?

When you find you can answer the questions below with yes, you may be prepared to introduce a pet to your house. Also read How to Know If You Are Ready For a Pet.

Do You Know How to Introduce a New Pet

You should take time to introduce a new pet in your home so as to allow the pet to familiarize with the new environment. Before bringing the pet home, make sure that your home is pet-proofed with all the required supplies. Should you have other pets introduce them gradually and have them get familiar with each other.

Learn on How to Introduce a New Pet To Your Family.

Conclusion

By taking time to reflect on your options and choose a suitable pet according to your family, living situation, and life, you are setting yourself up to have a successful and fun experience with your pet. Whichever pet you adopt and whatever you purchase via a breeder, a well-chosen pet will make your home happier and joyful in the years to come.  You may want to read more on What Are the Top 10 Pet Care Essentials.

If you are still left with some questions or inquiries please do visit the following sites and learn more about it from trusted organizations like Petfinder and The Humane World For Animals..