Pets do so much for us, we hardly deserve them!

As I wrote last week, they help us manage stress, keep us company, give unconditional love and are even good for our immune health - and Australians are embracing them like crazy.

Pets of all shapes, sizes and species are great for family life, working their way into our hearts and homes like another family member.

Parents particularly like pets for what they teach children. 

According to an article published by Michigan State University, pets help kids learn the skills behind responsibility, trust, patience, compassion and respect - not to mention they help to introduce more serious life lessons, such as bereavement, in more subtle ways, as well as boost self-esteem, empathy, social skills and physical activity.

Many couples often adopt pets before starting a family as a ‘practice round’ before their human counterparts start running around - and thus, they introduce their kids from the very beginning to a lifelong love of pets (and you can read about how to introduce your pet to your baby here). 

But what about the couples who choose to have kids before pets? It’s a complete no-brainer that many parents wish to splurge on a furry friend for themselves or the family as soon as they can. Yet, they are often left wondering about what pet is right for them and when to get one. 

Lucky for those parents, there’s a ton of research on their side to help in this decision-making. Bad news is, it’s still such a minefield of conflicting information and options, it’d send any busy parent running with their tail between their legs.

So, I’ve done all that research for you and compiled it right here in a handy reference guide. There’s no need to spend a million hours googling, when it’s all here in two very handy steps. Read on, pet-parent-to-be!

1 Determining When To Adopt A Pet - And Why!

Deciding when you should get a pet really comes down to the reasons why you want to get one. 

Are you trying to teach your kids responsibility? Are you trying to socialise your children with pets, maybe to help them with a fear or to teach them respect and compassion? Is this pet really for you, with the added benefit that they’ll be a great companion for your kids later on?

Answering these questions will one hundred per cent give you the answer about when to get a family fur baby.

For example, if you are getting a pet for you or for family socialisation and don’t necessarily expect your kids to head up the responsibility of taking care of it, research says that it’s best to start thinking about getting pets when your youngest child is at least three years old. Any younger than this and kids do not have the capacity to control their behavior around pets, but at three you can start to teach your child how to gently interact with your furry family member - although they cannot realistically help with the care of the pet.

If you’re looking to teach your child responsibility through the care of having a pet, studies show that it’s better to wait until the kids are around 10 - especially if you're getting a cat or a dog. While children can start to help around the house from five years and may be able to help with the care of small pets, typically they cannot handle larger ones and you may face the task of taking care of more duties than you expected. 

Of course, these are not hard and fast rules and you can feasibly get a pet whenever you feel you can handle it in the midst of the craziness of parenting life. However, the general guide for adopting family pets is: below three is a no, three to 10 is mainly a pet for you, 10 and above is a perfect time for your kids to take on pet ownership.

2 Which Pet Is The Right Pet

The most obvious pets people normally adopt are a cat or a dog. I mean, they are the ones who give us the most love. They also provide us exercise and in return demand pats we so readily give while curled up on the couch with a book or our favourite movie. Bliss!

But beware - they also give us the most work! If you have your heart set on a dog or cat for yourself, which will also benefit your children’s social skills with pets, then by all means go for it - although be prepared to put in as much work with these little furry guys as you would with rearing your human children. They demand your time, love, affection, food, bathing, exercising, discipline and teaching, and much more. They are a full-time gig and they can stick around for up to 20 years - so they are a major commitment. 

While dogs and cats are great for young kids to get used to in the house, supervision is recommended with kids aged between birth and 10 years just to make sure both child and furry kid are getting along as they should.

If, however, you are wanting to teach your child responsibility (not to mention a whole myriad skills and to boost their morale), dogs and cats are a perfect choice for kids 10 and over. Kids at this age can learn how to feed and exercise pets, as well as give them lots of love without the requirement for so much supervision. Bathing might still be a two-person job, but taking care of a pet is totally a more fun chore than taking out the rubbish!

If you have young children or a busy lifestyle, cats and dogs may not be right for your family. Instead, consider a Guinea pig or some fish. 

Today’s Parent recommends a Guinea pig over a rabbit, as they are much more placid, a little less work, can withstand more lively play and aren’t as temperamental when held, so they are great for little hands, hearts and are a manageable size for small kids when helping you with the care of the animal.

As Philip Fulton of the Calgary Humane Society told the publication: “Rabbits don’t make the best first-time pet. They can be destructive, and they’re poop machines. They require higher maintenance than people realise.”

But of course the ultimate first pet for small children has got to be the fish! This is a firm family favourite through the ages. I mean, what child didn’t grow up caring for a fish? And what parent didn’t go through the ol’ occasional need for Dad to flush one down the toilet, while Mum went out to buy an exact replica before little Johnny came home from school.

Kids from a very young age can help feed the little swimmers and perhaps assist parents in the occasional tank maintenance jobs. Then the rest of the time can be spent gazing at beautifully coloured fish in their serene waterscape... while your four-year-old lists off their names, like Gertrude, Sparkles and Goldie.

The best news is that fish can be lower-cost if you buy a basic set-up and, if you invest in a good filter, they are also relatively low-maintenance. Children love them and you won’t have to worry about how the two will interact as much, as you would with a cat or dog. Plus, depending on the type of fish you get, they are also not a huge future investment of your time and most landlords will allow them in rental homes. But be sure to talk to your local pet shop about the best set-up and fish for your family’s needs.

There are loads more pets to choose from, such as birds and reptiles, but Today’s Parent suggests only getting pets you’re prepared to touch and take care of yourself. If you’re afraid of birds flying around or touching a snake, those are not the pets for you - even if your kids enjoy them! With these more polarising pets, it’s best to do your research and consider the age of your children as to whether they would be able to handle having these kinds of pets in the house.

A Few Final Notes

Finally, it would be remiss to not add these final words to help assimilate these little creatures into family life.

Before you get a pet, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests calling a family meeting and having an open, age-appropriate discussion with your kids about the responsibilities and behaviours involved with getting a pet. Let them know that it’s a big responsibility and that the chores will still have to be done after the ‘newness’ of having a pet has worn off. Let them know that the commitment to their pets will span a long time, depending on the animal. And be prepared, yourself, for the idea you may be stuck with taking care of said pet if your kids can’t.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a cat or dog, adopting rather than shopping is the ultimate way to go. Adoption is something the whole family can get involved in, especially on the day you go to choose your fur baby. Adoption also emphasises pet ownership as a lifelong commitment and the widening of a family, rather than an impulse buy from a store. There are many not-for-profit organisations and vets around Sydney who carry out adoption, such as the RSPCA, The Mini Kitty Commune (for cats only) and vets like Fox Valley Animal Hospital on Sydney’s North Shore. Or you can google one close to you.

Before you pet hunters go out and find your perfect little friend, remember to consider your intentions of getting the pet, the age of your kids, the right fuzzy friend to suit your family’s needs and whether every member in the household is ready to take on this commitment.

Now you’re ready - go out and make a day of it with the kids.

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