Picking The Perfect Pet For You

Posted on April 6, 2017

Blog » Picking The Perfect Pet For You

Getting a pet is a big decision. Your lifestyle will be affected so you need to make sure that the pet you choose is a good fit for you, your family, your living conditions, your neighbours and your availability to spend time with them. There is a lot more to choosing a pet than just looking at which is the cutest. This is a personal decision which will affect your life in many ways so it is important to consider several factors before you make your choice.

Why do you want a pet?

This is the first question you should ask yourself before you choose a pet. The question is not why you want a dog, a cat or a gerbil. It is “Why do you want a pet?” when you are able to define exactly why you want one, you will find it much easier to choose the right one. There are a few things to do and not to do when picking a pet, such as:

• Do not make an impulse-buy – You should try not to purchase or adopt a pet on a whim. Deciding to get a pet should be a well-thought out, deliberate action. If you are not sure about what type of pet might suit your lifestyle, you can ask a friend or a relative who has pets. Just make sure that you are not impulsive.
• Choose a pet to suit your lifestyle – Are you a day person or are you a night owl? Some pets, like ferrets and sugar gliders, spend a large part of the day asleep and are extremely active at night. You should also consider how long you work. Some pets tend to get lonely when left alone while solitude does not bother others. Other questions are – Do you have young children? Are they old enough or mature enough not to be a threat to your chosen pet? Do you travel a lot? If you do, who will care for your pet while you are away from home?
• Match your pet to your home environment – How much free space do you have in your home? Do you have a backyard? Does it have a fence? Will your neighbors be bothered by your pet? If you rent, what are the landlord’s rules regarding pets? These are all important questions to think about before selecting your pet. Once you have the answers, you will be able to pick the perfect pet.
• Decide if you will be able to meet your pet’s needs – Different pets need different types of care. You should do a little research as to how much care the pet you choose will require. Do you have enough time to give your pet? Will you have time to ensure that it is properly cleaned and fed? Will you be able to spend quality time with it? Many pets get bored if they are not given enough attention and this can lead to many undesirable behaviors.

 

Your pet will become your best friend once you bring it home. This is why you need to consider many things before you decide to get one and pick the perfect one for you. Once you make a decision, you will have a loving, faithful companion who will brighten up your life.