Since our children were young, we have had many different pets in our home. If you’re trying to decide which family pet to choose, you’ll enjoy reading the following tips from our pet ownership experiences that can help you determine which might be best for you.
When I married my husband, he had an African gray parrot. It was so much fun listening to her talk and imitate all the different sounds in our house. This beautiful bird is certainly endearing to its owners. She had her own personality and was fun to interact with. Unfortunately we had to sell it because we moved into a small apartment and had a new baby. The noise was too much for our neighbors and the baby. Now that the baby is a teenager, we are used to noise and have our own house. Therefore, buying another African gray parrot is high on our list. We recommend buying a hand-raised and hand-fed parrot from a reputable breeder because it will be calmer and easier for his family to work with. Be prepared to clean often as they can get dirty. They need a big cage, lots of toys, and your devotion to keep their big beaks entertained.
When I taught first grade, I bought two rats for our classroom. I advise having two, because they are social bugs and it is easier. Thanks to their tails, they were able to keep their balance and stayed safely on the shoulders of all my six-year-olds. I was always worried that hamsters or guinea pigs would fall off. Rats bond with their owners and can be taught simple tricks. They are nocturnal animals, but they did very well during our busy days at school. It was fun for the kids to learn how to take care of them and tell people that they had a pet rat.
We currently have a dog. She is a Miniature Schnauzer. She love how she talks to us and she is so smart. As with all dogs, she must invest her time and attention to get them well-behaved and trained. We recommend waiting until her children are at least six, seven or eight years old before getting a dog. We adopted a few different dogs when the kids were little and they never worked out. We found good homes for them, but we wish we had waited. There is so much work involved in caring for toddlers and babies, it was difficult to find the time to train the dog. There were also problems with biting because the little ones couldn’t always control the urge to grab them, even though they were taught to be gentle. Now that the kids are older, having a dog as a best friend and experiencing that unconditional love is just perfect.
When I was a little girl growing up in a small farming town, we had a pet skunk, horses, rabbits, cats, and dogs. She loved them all and enjoyed taking care of them. She taught me responsibility and love for animals. I enjoyed participating in 4-H with my animals and have always wanted the same for my children. Although the children asked for some kind of pet since they were little, we had to be careful in our choices due to their age. It seemed like mom was the one who always ended up feeding and training. Keep an eye on costs, because pets can be expensive. Make sure you have time to care for the pet of your choice. Make sure they’re just right for you and your family, and then you can enjoy years of wonderful, cuddly company.