5 rules for choosing the right pet

having a pet is a wonderful experience but if you are new to the topic I would suggest you do your homework and find out what pet fits best your lifestyle and follow this 5 basic rules before you even go into a pet-store or to the pound.

1. Never buy a pet as an impulse, you have a lot more chances to regret it and end up giving it away on the end if you do this.

2. Find the right pet for your lifestyle: maybe you don't have enough time to walk or take care of a dog but want a pet that can offer companionship, then maybe a cat is a better option, still lovable but independent at the same time.

3. Decide how much is your budget to spend in this pet
I'm not talking about buying the pet itself, but about the care and the expenses that come after that. There are pets that require special food and specific care, the yearly vaccines aren't the same price for a rabbit than for a horse, same as the housing and food. Consider these thing before making any decision to avoid regret afterward.

4. Allergies and special considerations
There are some other things that you should think about like if your house or apartment permits this type of pet, or if there is any special adjustment that needs to be done before the pet arrives. Also make sure that no-one in the family is allergic to this pet by going to visit it and spending time with it before taking it home.

5. Visit all your local Animal Rescue Organizations before going to a pet-store
There are many pets that are waiting for a home and an owner to loved them, give them a change to be taken care of before you go to a pet-store and fall in love with another pet. There are even many babies in these organizations.

Take an informed decision; make a list of the pros and cons of the pets you have in mind and then do a research and talk to veterinarians and people that actually have this pets to see what they recommend. Them better than anyone can tell you if this is the best pet for you and your family and lifestyle.

Should I buy a dog?

My personal answer would be yes, but there are many thing that you should conside before taking a decision.

1. Are you ready for the responsibility?
As they say, a dog is man's best friend, they offer you companionship, friendship, loyalty and a continuous happiness. It's incredible to get home and see them waiting for your with their tail wagging 100 miles per hour, ready to give you unconditional love, but you have to consider that the also need your love and your attencion in orther for them to be happy too.

2. Do you have the time?
Depending on the bread they may need more or less attention, but the minimum is walking, feeding and playing time, and you need to consider if you don't have the extra time to give them it may be better to wait or to get another type of pet

3. Can you afford a dog?
Dog food may not be expensive but you have to consider that this is not the only thing you have to spend on. Dogs need to be groomed (the time and money involved in this depends on the breed), fed, have enough toys so he/she doesn't distroy your house, need visits to the vet and annual vaccines and any other expense that can come later. I would highly suggest to adopt your dog, there are many associations that only ask for a small donation; but if you are considering purchasing one instead then you should also add this as an expense.

sugar gliders as pets

I'm sure if you have seen them you can tell that they are very cute and sweet looking and probably fell in love at first site, but as they are cute, they have some other thing to consider before buying one as a pet.

Sugar gliders are a hard to keep pet specially because of their diet. Unlike dogs, they don't eat food that you buy at your grocery store, they cannot survive on a simple pellet food. Rather, they need to follow a somewhat complicated diet that involves eating a variety of different bugs such as grubs, meal worms and crickets.
This creatures also need bigger cages than other animals like hamsters or ferrets because when they are free they glide over long distances during the nighttime in order to feed.

Sugar gliders can be smelly animals. Although the smell is not as strong as other animals like ferrets and skunks, it can be irritating. They have glands that mark their territory and their cages with urine on a frequent basis, which means their cages can get quite messy and smelly in a short period of time.

So if you can afford their food choices, spacious housing and smelly glands, go ahead, they are sweet and they like to play (and jump); but don't buy these in a shopping impulse because you have great chances of regretting your decision if you don't know what you are getting into.

Should I get a pet?

There are dozens of reasons to have a pet in your home, but there are many others to wait until there is the right time and the right pet.

Pros: Animals offer far more than entertainment and companionship. If you have a family, caring for animals can teach your children many things, like how to be gentle, responsible, empathetic, nurturing, and compassionate for all living creatures. Actually there are studies that show that simple acts like watching fish or patting a cat have physiological effects, like decreasing blood pressure and levels of stress hormones. Being around animals can help children develop social competence and self-esteem, as well as help them cope with disabilities and emotional problems.

Cons: There are many other reasons why sometimes is better to wait, like the responsibility to take care of the animal, cleaning, walking, feeding, training and giving them the necessary attention. Besides this there is also an economic aspect that has to be taken into consideration since they will need vet visits, food, boarding or pet-sitting if necessary within others...

Besides the decision of getting a pet or not, its important to consider what pet to get: dog, cat, bird, hamster, fish, ferret, lizard... there are many possibilities. Keep reading and we will try to discus the pros and cons of each of your options.