How to Choose the Perfect Pet for Your Family
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Welcoming a pet into your home can be the perfect way to expand your family. However, it’s essential to do your research and find the right animal. If you’re eager to extend your household, take a look at these top tips for choosing the perfect pet for your family:
What Space Do You Have Available?
The amount of indoor and outdoor space you have available will have a major impact on which pets you’re able to take on with ease and which you probably shouldn’t. Smaller homes may be more suited to cats or miniature dogs, for example, while properties with a large amount of land may be appropriate for horses or alpacas. If you don’t have enough space for the pet you choose, it’s likely to lead to discontent – on both sides – so be sure to factor this into your decision-making.
What’s Your Lifestyle Like?
If you like to travel on short notice or you regularly travel the world, owning a pet might be tricky. While it’s easy to take domestic holidays with a dog, other pets don’t travel so easily. Of course, you can always get a pet sitter while you’re away but, bear in mind, the more unusual your pet is, the more difficult to might be to find a suitable sitter.
Are You at Home a Lot?
If your job means you’re out of the house from 7 am-7 pm every day, a pet that requires a lot of social interaction probably isn’t the right choice. Adult dogs can often be left alone for 3-4 hours, for example, but are likely to become distressed if left for any longer.
Does Your Pet Need Company?
Some animals are more sociable than others, which means taking on two or more pets might be the right choice. If you’re going to keep alpacas, for example, you can find out more here, but most owners recommend getting at least three animals. Any herd animal shouldn’t be kept alone, so think about whether you’re ready to take on more than one pet before you decide which type of animal is right for you. While cats and dogs can thrive as the only pet in a household, horses, alpacas and even rabbits, tend to do better in pairs or groups.
What’s the Cost?
Owning a pet can be a costly endeavour, particularly when you think about the upkeep and maintenance they may need. From food and toys to blankets, land and grooming, there are plenty of hidden costs involved in pet ownership. While pet insurance can cover the costs of some vet’s fees, you’ll want to examine your budget carefully before deciding which pet is right for your family.
Finding Your Perfect Pet
Although there are lots of factors to take into account, getting a pet can be a great way to enhance your family life. Whether you opt for a cat, dog, gerbil, hamster, horse, lizard, alpaca or pony, you can be confident that they’ll become a much-loved part of your brood.
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