As a family, you can feel like you are missing something and quite often that something is a pet. They say that pets are a real part of the family and there are so many benefits to them. They can help with loneliness, reduce anxiety and also help your children to learn responsibilities. Depending on the type of pet you have, they can get you out of the house, or learning new skills as you teach them tricks. These are all really important skills and aspects both in the short and long term. If you are looking to get a first family pet for your household, then it is important to consider this and not just rush into it. Here are some of our top tips for getting your first family pet…
Decide on the animal that you want
There are so many different types of animal out there that make fantastic pets, it is down to you to decide on which you want. Think carefully about whether you want a dog, cat, hamster, fish or a reptile – among many other choices. There are so many factors involved in this, such as how high maintenance the pet will be (dogs, for example, need a lot of walking every day, whereas hamsters or rabbits are a lot less work) and how expensive they are to purchase and keep each month.
Decide who will be in charge of cleaning it
It is very important that your pet is well looked after and this is something that you can’t let slide. If your kid wants to be in charge of looking after the pet, then make sure they will actually do this. It could be a good idea to get a rota in your house that will detail who has last cleaned them (for example, cleaning out a rabbit hutch) and what other tasks it needs such as flea control.
Think about how it will fit into your lifestyle
If you have a busy lifestyle and you are out and about a lot, it isn’t fair on the pet that will be left behind. If you have a dog they need company a lot of the day and cats need someone to let them in and out of the house as well as to give them some company. It isn’t fair to give them to friends all the time, so think about if you can realistically look after them. Some animals also live for a lot of years so while you might not go out much now, you don’t know what your situation will be in five, ten or fifteen years. This is something you need to seriously consider. Don’t get a pet on a whim, think carefully about why you want one.
These are just a few top tips that you think about when you go to get your first pet. What are some great pets that you have had in the past? How have they fitted into your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments below.
