Choosing a Family Pet

Ah, the family pet. To get one, or to deny your kids the one thing they want most in the world (or so they say)? That is the $64,000 question. And owning a family pet could end up costing you almost that much. Well, maybe not quite, but the responsibility of pet ownership should not be downplayed.

Suppose the kids are wearing you down, and you’ve decided now is as good a time as any to add another (furry) member to the family. What kind of pet will best fit into your lifestyle? Are you a cat person or a dog person? Would a rabbit or a hamster be a better choice to start out? These aren’t easy questions to answer, and can’t be solved in a single day. Luckily, you can start researching the family pet any time of day by booting up your laptop. You’ll find all sorts of Web sites geared to offer to information and help on choosing the perfect pet for your home. Start by checking out the quiz on Parents.com . Your daily schedule and the size of your home are among the factors you should take into consideration before making your decision.

Don’t stop there. If you’ve decided on a dog, the next step is choosing what kind of dog. Take the quiz at Dog Breed Info Center. Narrowing down the breed by personality, needs, size and more will help prevent problems when you welcome Rover into your home (and onto your couch).

Now, where to find this lovable, perfect, furry (or scaly, finny or feathery) creature? Before you head to the animal shelter, pet store or breeder, take some time to read up on the pros and cons of each. The Humane Society’s Web site is a good place to start. You’ll find plenty of articles and advice on finding and caring for your pet, including what to look for in a breeder, the risks of buying from a pet store and where you can adopt a pet.

In each case, make sure you know what questions are important to ask. When buying from breeders, for example, you need to ask about the health of the parents, the animal’s socialization, and inoculations; you’ll also want a list of references you can call. At pet adoption agencies, mandatory sterilization of all animals is the first indicator of a good shelter. A comprehensive health program and available educational materials are also crucial. For more on what to look for, go to PetEducation.com and PetPeoplesPlace for a wealth of information. Once you have your pet, you’ll want to return to these sites for articles on transitioning your pet into your home and much more.

If you’ve decided on adoption, check out Petfinder.com. You’ll find over 250,000 pets looking for homes (including reptiles, rabbits and more). You can search by factors including location, breed, size and gender. If you’ve decided a breeder is the way you want to go, go to Breeders.net to find a breeder in your area and read more about the different breeds of dogs.

When is it time to start training your pet? Although most group classes won’t accept puppies until they are between three and six months of age, basic steps such as housetraining can began as early as eight weeks of age. Check your local pet store for class availability and times. You can also find a training school in your area by visiting Animal Behavior College, K9 Trainers or Perfect Paws.

What about Fluffy the cat? Is there anything you can do to control your independent feline? According to Perfectpaws.com, training your cat to stop biting, scratching and, of course, using the litter box all starts as a kitten. You can find more tips about raising and caring for pets on How To Do Things.

Remember, the family pet will be an important member of your family and, just like a child, will occasionally have issues and problems that need to be dealt with. Going online is a great way to do research and get advice that can help you handle the responsibility of pet “parenthood.”