Choosing the Right Pet for Your Child

Choosing the right pet for your child is important. Caring for pets teach selflessness and responsibility in addition the bringing joy and sometimes health benefits (fewer allergies) to children.

There are several lifestyle considerations you must ponder in order to choose the right pet for your child and family. How much time do you have available each day? How much money can you afford to spend on your pet? How long do you want to commit to the relationship? While children promise and adults expect the child to be responsible for the pet's care, it is rare that the child fulfills this promise without any intervention from the parent. At the very least, the parent oversees their child's care of the pet.

First consider the age of the child, which affects their ability to care for and handle a pet responsibly. A pet's durability is important if the child is very young and will interact with the pet. Dogs, cats, and turtles are very durable, rabbits, rats and guinea pigs moderately durable. Mice, hamsters, gerbils, fish, lizards, and tarantulas are less durable as rough handling can kill them. Birds are sensitive to both physically and emotionally to rough handling.

The second important factor is how long you want this pet to be in your family. Consider how committed you are if the pet you choose doesn't fit very well with your lifestyle. If you are unsure if the pet will be a good fit, it is better to go with a short-lived pet. Here's a list of common pets' normal life span, from shortest to longest:

Rats, mice, and hamsters 1 and 4 years.

Fish 3-5 years, some varieties live 10 years or more.

Finches live about 5 years.

Rabbits, guinea pigs, and very large dogs generally live 7-8 years.

Medium sized dogs and cats will survive about 10-15 years.

Small dogs can survive 18 years or more.

Turtles and some tarantulas can live 20 years or more and

Larger birds are a lifetime commitment; some live more than 50 years.

How much time do you or your child have available to spend with your pet each day? If you are a busy family with many activities outside the home, it's best to avoid animals who require substantial time from you. Dogs generally require at least an hour of exercise every day. Less than this can result in behavior problems and emotional distress. While many people perceive cats to be less social creatures, this isn't true. A cat who is left alone too much will suffer and can have behavior problems. If you decide a cat is right for your family but you are away from home much of the time, it is best to provide a companion. Birds are sensitive to neglect. Rabbits, rats, and guinea pigs will be unhappy and have behavior problems if not handled often. Good options for busy families include fish, turtles, reptiles, tarantulas or multiple mice or gerbils.

How much work will you be willing to do for your new pet? Dogs and cats who shed a lot increase overall housework. Cleaning of litter or cages, socializing and grooming and exercising take time and cannot be avoided. Pets who require the least amount of daily time include fish and reptiles, with small caged animals requiring slightly more. As the type of animal gets larger, more active, and more intelligent, their need for care increases.

While dogs and cats can be had for 'free,' their veterinary care can be rather costly at the outset - responsible owners will neuter and vaccinate their pets. A large dog can eat a surprising amount of food and if the family goes away for more than 12 hours, the dog will require some sort of care which can be costly. Smaller mammals require cages and litter, but after that the costs are usually low. Equipment for fish can be as simple as a small glass bowl (for a solitary Beta fish) or as elaborate as a huge aquarium with filtration, heating, and decorations. Cold blooded reptiles don't eat much, and some (like anoles) require very little special equipment.

If you think you'd like a certain type of pet but the lifetime commitment intimidates you, why not try pet-sitting? People with all types of pets go on trips and require care for their animals. If your child just won't rest until he has an African Grey, pet sitting will tell both you and him if this is the right kind of pet for him. Place an ad in the local veterinary clinic, on craigslist.org, in a local newspaper or sign up with one of the pet sitting listing services online.

If you think your child's ideal pet would be a dog but you don't want a 10 year commitment, consider letting your child become a puppy raiser for the Seeing Eye (http://www.seeingeye.org/PuppyRaisers.asp). The dog will be with you for 18 months and at the end you will have to give it back, but it's a great contribution to society and will tell you if a dog fits in with your family's lifestyle.

Selecting the right pet can make the difference between a disaster and a dream. Knowing your family and the potential pet will prevent you from making a huge mistake. Happy pet hunting!