Pets are considered a family and knowing how to choose the right pet is essential. Adopting or buying an animal furry is the most fulfilling experience. But it also comes with a big responsibility to care for your animal. So specific attention should be paid while adopting a pet. As we think of P-E-T-S it can stand for Place, Exercise, Time, and Spend. These are the major things you should keep in mind while having a new pet for you. Let’s discuss all of them with some additional points in detail.
1-Assessing Your Lifestyle
Select your pet according to your lifestyle. Some animals require regular vet visits for routine check-ups, vaccinations, grooming, treatment, etc. Dogs and cats should be given time daily. Some pets are with high energy while some are less active. So decide according to your personal preferences and time commitments.
2-Understanding Different Types of Pets
Understanding different breeds can be handy when choosing a pet for you. Dogs are very social animals. You need to spend several hours of the day with your dog because they do not like being chained all day. Cats are also very friendly animals and are considered as high energy animals. Birds can also be good options because they require less space and can be easy to manage.
3-Researching Breeds
While choosing a breed based on its breeds consider their size and space requirements, exercise needs, exercise and behavior, grooming needs, allergies, trainability, and lifespan. Smaller breeds live longer than larger breeds. Hip dysplasia is more common in larger breeds and brachycephalic syndrome in flat-faced breeds
4-Evaluating Your Personal Preferences
Look for the pet you like. Dogs need regular exercise and veterinary check-ups. Cats like to play when she is in the mood so decide whether you can give them a definite time from your daily routine. Dogs are more social animals while cats are more independent. Dogs are more vocal than cats. So also keep in mind your noise tolerance level.
5-Consider Your Time Commitment
If you are adopting a new pet consider your time commitment before this. Pets whether dogs or cats, need social interaction to be happy, so give proper time to your pet. Also, contemplate how long you can do this because they have years of lifespan.
6-Space and Housing
Choose pets based on space and housing at your disposal. Larger pets like dogs require more space compared with cats for exercise and fun. Make arrangements for designated areas for pets to rest, exercise, feed, and litter or bathroom. Also pet-proof your home from toxic plants, wires, or other dangerous items for pets. Install gates or barriers to restrict the activity of your pets based on space and housing at your disposal. By following these recommendations you can ensure your pet’s comfort and mobility.
7-Financial Considerations
Before having a pet consider their monetarily spending, which includes food, litter, Veterinary care, spaying/Neuter, toys, etc. Different pets have different financial requirements so decide accordingly. According to rover.com annual cost of having a cat can range from 710$ to 1265$ while for dogs it can range from 1000$ to 5225$. Consider setting aside a specific budget for your pet and setting up an emergency fund. Insurance for your pet can help offset the costs of emergency care, surgeries, and long-term treatment.
8-Allergies
It is important to consider pet allergies before adopting a pet both for the pet’s welfare and other family members. Some people are allergic to dander, urine, or saliva According to AVMA over 50 million people in the USA have allergies. So consider having hypoallergenic breeds like poodles, Bichon Frise, Schnauzers, Maltese dogs Siberian cats, Balinese, and Devon Rex breeds of cats. However, there is no completely allergic-free breed of dog or cat. If someone is allergic but still wants to keep pet allergic reactions can be minimized by regular pet grooming, using HEPA filters, air purifiers, and medications.
9-Age
With Puppies or Kittens (8 weeks to 6 months) you can develop a strong bond with them while raising them to young. You can also give them training s according to your requirements. Young pets are full of energy and are very playful. They are ideal for active families.
But they require special attention and training commitment and they can teeth or scratch so care must be taken.
There is no need to put hard work into training adult pets because they are already trained. Since these pets have established traits and behavior you can select the pet that suits your personality.
They generally have low energy so ideal for less active persons. Adult pets could have potentially bad habits with them that need to be corrected and they are more prone to health-related issues so regular veterinary check-ups are required.
10-Adopting vs Buying
Adopting a pet from rescue or shelter facilities can be tantamount to giving a new life to an innocent soul. It is also a cost-effective way compared to buying a pet. You can find a wide variety of breed options, sizes, and ages of pets. Most pets at rescue facilities are already trained so you don’t have to train them.
Cons associated with adopting a pet include limited knowledge of animal background and few options for purebred pets
If you are thinking of buying from a breeder or pet store you will have a complete background of animals, and predictable traits and the pet will socialize early.
But buying a pet can be expensive, with long waiting times because you may have to go through a lengthy process and the animal may face potential health issues. Whether you want to adopt a pet or buy it according to your demands and requirements.
Conclusion
These are some tips you should follow while having your new pets. To summarize you should asses your lifestyle, time commitment, your financial condition, research different pets and their different breeds, the age, and lifespan of pets, allergies associated with pets, what your likes and dislikes are, and whether you should buy it from breeder shop or adopt it from rescue centers. Now I hope you understand how to choose a pet for you. And you are good to go.
Visit our Contact Page to know who I am.