When choosing a pet, how do I find out whether it is going to suit my lifestyle?
It is advisable to contact your local vet, breeders and current pet owners. They will be able to provide you with more specific advice regarding particular pets. However, it is useful to bear the following in mind:
- Try and find out if your prospective pet has any potential medical problems.
- Try to find out the behaviour / temperament of your chosen pet.
- Find out more about the pet’s parents. E.g. do they have medical problems? What sort of characters do they have?
- Consider your daily routine. It will make a big difference as to what kind of pet you will be able to look after depending on whether or not you are at home a lot. Cats, for example are very independent pets, so are often more suitable for those people who can not be there to look after them all the time. As a responsible pet owner, cat owners should never leave their pet alone for long periods of time – they may be independent, but they still need your attention and looking after.
- Larger pets will of course need more room, so considering the size of your home is very important as well – remember that small puppies can grow up to be very large dogs!
- It is often a good idea to try and find out as much information as possible regarding the characteristics of individual pets, especially as to how they might behave with young children around.