What sort of pet should you choose?

There's a wealth of information on the web and off it to help you decide, but here are some pointers.

Dogs

Cats

Horses

Farm animals

Small mammals

Birds

Reptiles

Insects

General Pet Sites:

RSPCA

Pets Place UK

Blue Cross

Dogs

Probably more children pester their parents for dogs than any other pet.

Pros

• Great companions - if chosen wisely, dogs will really respond to you and your child.
• Lots of activities you can take part in if you want, like obedience and agility training - which may help your child's self-confidence and self-discipline.
• Probably the easiest pet to take with you on holiday.
• Lots of different breeds, with a wide variety of needs, so it should be possible to find one that will fit in with most households.

Cons

• Need a lot of looking after, including daily walks.
• Need training and socialising if they - and you - are to be really happy; your child may not be up to this, but the dog may bond best to the person who trains it.
• Some dogs just don't adjust to being left and can become destructive.

Which Kind of Dog?

Once you've decided to get a dog, your decision making has only just begun. Choosing the right kind of dog is vital. Here are some questions to answer:

• What size dog do you want? (Many people think that small dogs are best around children; in fact, this isn't always the case, since some breeds of small dog are fast moving and nippy, while some large dogs are real gentle giants). And don't forget that big dogs require a lot more food than small ones!

• How keen are you on grooming? Long-haired dogs generally require more grooming than short-haired ones, but there are exceptions - labradors can shed a lot, for example.

• How active should the dog be? Well, how much do you like walking? Also, some breeds are very active outside, but are lazy indoors - greyhounds and lurchers are a prime example. Others, like some of the terrier breeds, don't need very long walks, but demand constant attention and playtime indoors.

• How much training do you want to do? As a rough guide, the more intelligent your dog, the more training you'll need to do - and if you don't, the dog will very likely reward you by becoming destructive. Collies are notorious in this regard - and it's no good assuming your child will see to it, because if they don't, you and the rest of your household will pay the price (and so will the dog, if you decide you can't keep it).

If you'd like more help choosing, try the on-line questionnaire at www.purina.com

Where Should You Get Your Dog?

The very worst place to get a dog - or just about any animal - is from a pet shop or dealer. The animals they sell will almost certainly have come from a puppy farm - where they will have been bred with no regard to genetics, and raised in inhumane conditions with very little socialisation with people.

The best places to get a pedigree dog are responsible breeders, and breed rescue associations. Even then, it would pay you to read up on your chosen breed - each one has advantages and drawbacks, and some have significant medical problems (like deafness and hip displacia), so it's worth knowing what questions to ask.

If you're happy with a cross-breed, please do consider visiting your local animal rescue shelter - and remember, some older dogs make fine pets. They're over that destructive puppy stage, they're probably well socialised, and they may have the rudiments of obedience training.

There is a list of useful websites below; there are also several specialist dog magazines which list breeders, shelters and breed rescues, and many pet shops are now part of a scheme to refer would-be owners to responsible breeders.

Dog Sites:

"The Dogs" Home Battersea

National Canine Defence League

Links to some Breed Rescue Centres

Once You've Got Your Dog

There are three things you must do:

• Get it innoculated
• Get it neutered or spayed
• Get it microchipped or tattooed, so if it gets lost it can be returned to you.

Back to Top

Cats

Pros

• Affectionate but independent (which means they may like cuddles - but only when they want them, not necessarily when you do).
• Intelligent and playful.
• Clean.
• Lower maintenance than dogs, because they don't need daily walks.
• Less likely to pine than dogs if left behind when you go on holiday.
• Relatively long lived.

Cons

• Can't be trained much.
• May be too independent for some children's taste - some cats think any amount of handling is the same as harrassment.
• Vet expenses about the same as a dog - quite high compared to some small animals.
• Cats shed a lot - longhaired cats need daily grooming, and even shorthaired ones (and their houses) benefit from brushing two or three times a week.

Which Kind of Cat?

The majority of cats in Britain are 'domestic short-hairs' - moggies, in other words. They come in a wide variety of colours, including black, white, tabby, ginger and tortoiseshell, and combinations of these. Colour generally makes very little difference, but there are some things to note:

• All-white cats may be prone to deafness, so be sure to check for this when you select your pet.
• Some people think that tortoiseshell cats are more timid or stand-offish than other colours.
• Almost all ginger cats are male; almost all tortoiseshell cats are female; this is genetically linked, so be wary of ginger females and tortoiseshell tomcats, as there may be a genetic problem - and never breed from them, as it may be passed on.
• Pedigree cats are also popular, and the different breeds each have their own characteristics. Oriental breeds, such as the Siamese, tend to be thin with pointy faces, while western breeds, like the enormous Main Coon, are heavier and rounder.
• Remember that longhaired cats like Persians really do require a lot of grooming - otherwise their fur gets badly knotted and skin problems can result.

Where To Get Your Cat

The very worst place is a pet shop. Many petshops buy their animals from 'kitten-farms' - centres set up specially to breed as many kittens as possible in the shortest time, without regard to the health or temperament of the animals.

Good places to find non-pedigree kittens are by word of mouth and from animal rescue centres. You could try asking at your local vet. Many private owners also advertise kittens - generally the product of accidental breeding. Always try to see your kitten with its mother, if you can. Remember to ask if the mother has been ill or had any health problems.

If you want a pedigree cat, you'll need to find a reputable breeder. Local vets or pet shops may know of one; check in specialist magazines; or try the National Cats Protection League (includes care and cat adoption)

Once You've Got Your Cat

There are three things you must do:

• Get it innoculated
• Get it neutered or spayed
• Get it microchipped or tattooed, so if it gets lost it can be returned to you.

Back to Top

Horses and Ponies

Pros

• Intelligent and affectionate.
• Trainable - very much a pet to do things with, rather than just play with.
• Riding is an excellent outdoor sport that will help build and maintain fitness, confidence and self-discipline.
• Going out on rides together is a great family activity.

Cons

• Will need appropriate environment - both stabling and a field.
• Extremely expensive, both to buy and to maintain (not just food and vets bills, but also possibly the cost of having it stabled, and also regular farriers' visits; there may also be the cost of riding tuition to consider).
• High maintenance - will need feeding, grooming and exercising every day, and the stable will need cleaning out.
• Arrangements for when you go away may be hard to make.
• Horse and child may both need training.

Choosing Your Horse or Pony

It's essential that you choose a horse or pony that is right physically and temperamentally for your child - so unless you're an expert yourself, seek as much advice from qualified sources as you can. Your local vet or farrier may be good places to start, or check the specialist magazines. You could also try your local animal sanctuary or educational farm; or contact the British Horse Society.

Other good links include:

Equine World UK

Horse World

Back to Top

Farm animals

Some farm animals such as goats, pigs and sheep make surprisingly good pets. Obviously, they need a large amount of outdoor space, and aren't the best choice for city living. It's easy to get carried away by the cuteness of piglets, kids and lambs, so it's absolutely essential to get to know adult examples! City and exhibition farms are good places to visit, and can also help with advice and support. Or, as ever, try your local animal shelter.

If your child is absolutely sold on the idea of a pig or goat as a pet, and you aren't, you may be able to volunteer as a helper at a local leisure farm or animal sanctuary.

Back to Top

Small mammals

Small mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and rats make excellent pets - though they don't tend to be terribly long-lived. This can be upsetting for some children, though it can also help them get used to the idea of death and the process of grieving - which may help them later in life.

Don't get your new hamster, rat or what have you from a pet shop - their stock often comes from farms set up to supply laboratories, and may be unhealthy or unused to humans.

There are national organisations for the breeding and showing of all these animals, and they can point you in the direction of reputable breeders. Alternatively, try your local animal shelter - more small mammals need rehoming than most people would ever imagine.

All these small mammals benefit from daily handling and grooming, to get them used to people. It's possible to introduce them to cats and dogs, but be careful.

Finally, some small mammals do best in groups - but be sure they are either all the same sex or that they have been neutered, or you will have a population explosion to deal with.

Rabbits

Rabbits are one of the most popular pets in Britain - and one of the most neglected. The trouble is, people buy them, but after a while they just leave them in a little hutch at the end of the garden. Pity. Rabbits enjoy roaming around, especially if the area is made more interesting with toys such as lengths of drainpipe for them to run through. Take care, though, that your garden is proof against foxes and against bunny turning escape artist!

Perhaps more surprisingly, rabbits also make good indoor pets - they can be housetrained, and enjoy being cuddled and groomed. Do make sure the house is rabbit-proofed, though - rodent teeth can make short work of electrical wiring (and then the wiring will make short work of the rodent...)

Rabbits are quite sociable, and it's fairly common to find people keeping one with a guinea pig as a companion. However, quite often the rabbit will bully the guinea pig, so this is not necessarily to be recommended.

For More Details:

House Rabbit Association

www.ukpet.rabbits.org.uk

www.thewarren.demon.co.uk

Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are social animals, and shouldn't be kept alone - though do make sure you don't mix the sexes, or you'll have a lot of baby guinea pigs to rehome. You'll find they talk a lot, and make a range of different noises, making them great fun to watch. They enjoy being handled and groomed, but need a safe place to hide away, too.

Link to www.miju.demon.co.uk for more information.

Rats

The poor reputation rats have is quite unfair. Tame rats are social, clean and extremely intelligent. They need company, so don't keep just one (but as ever, separate the sexes to stop them breeding) - and then watch their social behaviour, which is complex and fascinating. Rats respond well to handling, and can be trained.

Find out more at www.quite.co.uk/rats/

Hamsters

Hamsters are nocturnal - they sleep in the day and become active in the evening, when they should be fed. Several different species of hamster are kept as pets in this country. The commonest, the Syrian or golden hamster, is not at all social with its own kind, and must be kept alone. Other species of hamster can be kept in groups, though. All of them become friendly to humans if they are handled regularly.

The Complete Hamster Site has everything you need to know about buying and keeping hamsters.

Back to Top

Birds

Some birds make better pets than you might expect, being surprisingly intelligent, and capable of affection if handled regularly and with care. As ever, go to a reputable breeder or your local animal shelter, rather than a pet shop.

Budgerigars

Budgerigars are small, and can be kept inside in a reasonably sized cage, though they will also thrive outside in suitable aviary. They are reasonably cheap to maintain, and are probably amongst the easiest pets to find holiday care for. They are excellent mimics, though they learn to talk best when kept alone. Otherwise, they'll appreciate the company of other birds, since they live in flocks in the wild.

The Budgerigar Society can tell you all you need to know.

Parrots

Parrots are extremely intelligent, so they need a lot of stimulation. Some species can live to eighty or more, so a parrot is a long term commitment. That said, one might make an interesting pet for an older child interested more in training and learning about their pet than in cuddles!

The Parrot Society can tell you more about parrots, parakeets and related birds.

Other birds

Many species of small birds, such as lovebirds, canaries and mynah birds are available as pets. As with all animals, it's best to seek expert advice before you commit yourself to taking one on. Be especially careful that any bird you buy has been bred in captivity and not caught in the wild - the death-rate for imported birds is enormous.

Still interested? Though not British, Pet Station has a large number of links to British foreign bird clubs.

Back to Top

Reptiles

Reptiles as pets are probably more interesting than cute or cuddly.

Tortoises

These slow moving animals can live up to 150 years, and it's possible that one you buy will be older than your child - if not you.

Tortoises are vegetarian, and will enjoy roaming (slowly!) around your garden, browsing as they go. However, don't let their speed, or lack of it, fool you. Some tortoises are great escape artists, so you'll need secure fencing.

There are strict laws against importing tortoises, so it's imperative that you get yours from a reputable source. It's also extremely important that you understand how to care for it, and especially how to help it to prepare for hibernation.

Check out The Tortoise Trust for more information, or try the British Chelonia Group.

Terrapins

Terrapins are essentially aquatic, carniverous tortoises. They can be very pretty, and start out small - but they can grow huge. Their tanks can get extraordinarily smelly, even if they're cleaned out daily, because they eat meat in the water. Generally speaking, terrapins don't make good pets unless you are very committed to them.

Find out what's involved at The Tortoise Trust

Snakes

Snakes are fascinating, and despite their reputation, not at all slimy! You should seek expert advice before you decide to get one as a pet, and as always, get your snake from a reputable breeder or from an animal sanctuary rather than buying from a pet shop.

The snakes kept as pets are generally constrictors - that is, non-poisonous. They are perfectly safe to handle, though allowing one to coil round your neck is not recommended.

Some species, such as corn snakes are better for beginners' than others, though you should, of course, seek expert advice. They will need a vivarium (tank) with twenty-four hour heating, so they can be a bit expensive to keep. They will also need to be fed with dead chicks or baby mice every few days. You can buy these frozen from petshops, but it may not be a job for the squeamish.

Try Slither if you're still interested.

Lizards

Lizards are difficult to care for well, and are probably not the best choice for children or beginners.

That said, if you'd like to know more, try the Cyberlizard's home page

Back to Top

Insects

Yes, people really do keep insects as pets! The Bug Club can tell you all you need to know.

Spiders

The spiders most commonly kept as pets are tarantulas such as the Chilean Rose. They don't bite, but their hairs can be extremely irritating. Such spiders are not a particularly good choice as children's pets.

Stick Insects

Stick insects are easy to keep - they just need a glass tank filled with the right kind of greenery. They aren't cuddly, and they don't really do that much, but they're still fun to watch (and a great way to play a live game of 'Where's Wally')

Other Animals

It's also possible to keep snails and caterpillars - including silkworms. Or check out Parents Online's guide to making a wormery.

Back to Top