Have your kids been asking for a pet?
It's pretty rare nowadays to find a parent whose children haven't
tried to get them to take in a member of the animal kingdom as part
of the family. But which pet is best for your kids? I know there are
a lot of adorable animals in the pet store or the animal shelter, but
which type will fit in best with your family? Before you decide to
take one home, here are some things to consider.
The first I'll mention is man's best
friend-dogs. Dogs are great fun for a household that is active, so
they tend to be a big hit with children. While it can be great fun
for the whole family to take part in the care of the dog, dogs are
pretty high-maintenance. House-breaking in and of itself can be a big
challenge, and some breeds are easier to train than others. They have
to be kept on a regular feeding schedule, need lots of attention and
can't be left home alone for long periods of time. Also, some breeds
are more 'family-oriented' than others. While the exact span of time
varies from breed to breed, dogs can have a life span up to 12-15
years. Overall dogs can make great pets, but you should make sure
your kids understand the high level of commitment involved in their
care.
Cats aren't as high-maintenance as
dogs, but they do require a lot of care. They can be very
affectionate, and petting a cat tends to be rather soothing! They do,
however, tend to scratch when provoked. This can happen if your child
plays too roughly with it or doesn't know when to leave it alone. It
isn't hard to house-break a cat because they do a lot of the 'litter
training' themselves; their instinct is to go on sand, so let it know
where the box is and they usually take it from there. I wouldn't
recommend having a cat in a house with a young child unless the cat
either goes to the bathroom outside or the litter box is kept where
the kids can't get to it. I probably don't have to explain why! Also,
many people are allergic to them and might not know it.
Rodents such as hamsters and gerbils
can be very good 'first pets' because they are relatively
low-maintenance. Their cages need to be cleaned at least once a week,
and the wood chips or newspaper used to line the cage is pretty
cheap. Since they don't need bathing, they're easy to keep clean.
They should be fed once a day, and always have a steady supply of
water. They usually only live for about 2-3 years, which is much
shorter than dogs or cats. Since they are small enough to be held and
there are so many toys available, they can be a lot of fun for
children to play with. The only problem I can see is that their
small size makes it easy for them to be stepped on or squeezed too
tightly.
Birds don't require a lot of
maintenance, but they do take a lot of time and patience to train.
Depending on the species, they can be very entertaining and social.
However, they can also be pretty noisy and don't always like to be
touched. This can be a problem if you have kids who are very
'hands-on' or if you're a light sleeper.
Fish usually don't need much care, so
they can also make good 'starter pets'. It's relatively easy to care
for several at a time, although species like 'bettas' don't play well
with others. Since you can't touch or pet them, though, some children
find them boring. Plus fish bowls and tanks need to be cleaned
regularly, which isn't exactly fun!
While there are many kinds of pets out
there, it takes some time and effort to find the right one for your
household. Next time you go to a pet store or animal shelter, talk
with the staff and they can help you decide. Good luck!
No comments:
Post a Comment