Paws to consider, which is the right pet for you and your family

Which family pet should you get? It’s a huge decision. There are, of course, several things to bear in mind before making the leap into pet ownership — including how much time you have, the financial commitment, what sort of home you have, and how long individual pets can live for.

It is also important to consider the ages of people within the family and existence of any allergies.

For families with younger children, the Pet Health Council (PHC) recommend fish as easy starter pet, and say they should always be kept in pairs. But even goldfish need fed and cleaned on a regular basis, and you may need to buy a larger tank if they grow.

Similarly, hamsters and guinea pigs are good first pets for younger kids, though they are reliant upon their owners for feeding and cleaning.

Rabbits are a popular choice with kids, but their hutches need a lot of cleaning, which makes them more time consuming than hamsters and guinea pigs.

“Whilst hamsters are solitary animals and should be kept on their own, guinea pigs and rabbits like to have a companion — these are best chosen from the same litter when possible, or introduced to each other whilst still young,” says the PHC.

The first choice for many families is a dog or cat— but there’s much to consider than what colour of collar to buy.

“They have many qualities that make them ideal pets,” says the PHC. “However, they have high care needs, especially dogs — plenty of exercise and training.

“For many families, this is a bonus, as everyone can get involved with their care.”

Of course, these are just some of the many pets you might be considering. The important thing is choosing the right pet for your circumstances.

Before deciding which type of pet to buy, you need to think about your lifestyle and how a pet would fit into your daily routine.

If you’re out all day, or keep irregular hours, a cat is a better choice than a dog.

Choose a pet that will reflect your family’s personalities — e.g. if you have exuberant children, make sure your pet is not timid.

Before you buy a dog consider how big it will be when it’s fully grown.

Choose a pet that will fit within your budget. Boarding kennels or catteries, veterinary bills, pet insurance, feeding and grooming are some of the costs you should bear in mind.

Consider adopting an older pet, whose character may be known and may already be trained. Newborns are cute, no question, but they are certainly a handful and house-training alone takes up a lot of time.