Can A Family Pet Create A Happy Environment

Choosing a Pet for Your Child

The family pet dilemma. Every Christmas, every birthday, even every St. Patrick's Day, your child has asked for a pet, and every year you say no, but recently you are beginning to relent. You think little Timmy might actually be ready for the responsibility of pet ownership, but what is the best family pet for him and how do you actually help your child make this important choice?

First of all, do not let your child hold all of the cards in the decision process. Ask Timmy what kind of pet he would like to have and the answer might range from a ducky to a dinosaur, so start off by setting some limits. If you are an apartment dweller, you are already limited with your pet choices. No Great Danes in the penthouse!

Next, consider the level of commitment that your child has shown to projects in the past. Has he started off gung-ho, only to start slacking off with sports, hobbies and other interests? Think about your child's closet floor, does it look like the island of lost dreams? Are there the skates he wore once, fell in, and then cast off? Or does he have the staying power to see things through to the end? The more dedication that your child has, the more pet choices you can look at. The interest of the child should be at least long enough to get the new pet into middle age.

Of course, you should also consider the "ick" factor. Is your child squeamish and germophobic? Would this child snap if there were little gerbil goodies left on the palm of his hand? Or worse, would the child be nearly hysterical at the thought of feeding the pet he mistakenly chose? The fussier the child, the cleaner the pet has to be, and the less hands on. For the really finicky child, you might want to consider some nice tropical fish.And finally, consider the temperament and the activity level of the child. Childhood obesity is at an all-time high, and some people are finding that a dog is a good way of getting their little couch tater-tots up and about- but don't count on a pooch working miracles on a truly unmotivated kid. Laid back kids do well with laid back animals, while the more energetic kids can run the energy out of the more active labs and Jack Russell terriers. And, the opposites attract concept might be beneficial here as well. A gentle pug might help calm a child that just cannot sit still, while a bouncy Boxer might actually break a shy child out of his shell. Give your child his options and then let him have a say in the decision. It is the family pet, but hopefully, this will be his friend.

Low Maintenance Pets

Although the thought will give many people the creeps, the rodent family offers quite a few nice, starter pet options. These are relatively easy to keep, do not take up a lot of space and if handled carefully can be actually very affectionate. Guinea pigs are probably the most popular in the group, and with their slightly larger sizes, may be easier for a child to handle. They do need daily vitamin C, but can get that from fresh fruits and vegetables. Other options are the rats, the mice, the hamsters and the gerbils. Each has their own advantages as well as their drawbacks, so do your research before bringing one home. No one said Family Pet decisions were easy now.

If the rodents still sounds like too much work for you, consider the lizards or small snake group for your family pet. (Of course, with snakes, you will still be dealing with rodents, but as a food source.) Not very affectionate, or interactive, these pets are interesting to watch and only need minimum hands on care to remain healthy. They do need a specialized diet and some pretty intensive habitats, so expense might be an issue in their case. And remember, the bigger the snake, the bigger the home it will need to live in.

Small birds are a good choice, but are still fairly involved on the maintenance scale- they need their cages cleaned daily, fresh food and water and can sometimes be impossible to tame down. But for a child who is more intent on a watching their pet rather than petting them, a bird is a perfectly fine choice.

Possibly the best, low maintenance famil pet is the fish. True, a fish will not walk with you or eat your broccoli under the table, but they are beautiful to watch as they swim about in their tank and there is a never-ending array of accessories that can be added to their tank. Each new addition will be greeted with curiosity, and the child can see which item brings out the most activity in their fish. A daily feeding, or a weekly feeding tablet is about the only real maintenance a good set up will require. Minimize initial expense with your tank choice by buying many of the items used, and as always make sure that you know exactly what you are bringing home. Remember, some pets eat everything in sight, including their own roommates!

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Advantages of Training Your Cat

Adopting a cat can be a very rewarding feeling, as well as a major challenge at times. We want our family life to be calm and warm, not frantic and frustrating, so we need all of the members, including the furry ones, to be at their best behavior. Training your cat can ensure that you have a gentle, loving pet that does not eat your furniture and pee in your houseplants. Training your cat does not only protect it from potential dangers, but keeps your belongings safe from destruction as well.

Cats claw, scratch, bite and chew for many reasons. If they are doing these things to food items or their cat toys, that is great, but many times they will find something else. Cats that chew on the new divan or the electrical cords are not only destroying property, they are also potentially put their own lives in danger. Young cats will mouth or chew on things for the same reasons that puppies and human babies do- they are exploring their world, as well as teething. Give them substitutes and reward them for chewing on the right items. If an older cat has suddenly developed a urge to gnaw on things other than food or usual toys, then consider whether he is bored, or if it is possible that he has a nutritional deficiency.

Poorly trained kitties will often start using the entire house as their personal litter box thus challenging your patience as the ideal family pet. If you have ever walked in the house when the litter box needs to be changed, you know how disgusting that can truly be. If your cat is using items like your bed or favorite chair to potty on, he might be sending you a message. Does he loathe the new litter you bought? Did you move his litter box? Or, have you started spending too much time with that guy in 2A that stomps his feet at kitty when you are not in the room? Although most cats will train well to the box and never have issues, some are more stubborn and this behavior can often be the deal breaker for many families.

A well-trained cat will charm and amuse your guests when they come to your home. They will want their own family pet by the time they leave your happy home. Your cat will make your days seem warmer and brighter. Because he knows what is expected of him, he will not have as much anxiety, leading to a calmer more easily controlled cat. Calmer cats are more affectionate because they are not nervous or high-strung. Training your cat allows him to focus on good behaviors and the things that make a cat's life a good one; napping, eating and stalking dust motes in the sunny patch by the window.

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