Adopting a new pet is something to anticipate. It will follow you for many years, and it is better to choose one that matches your lifestyle, for your happiness and theirs! Thus, this article gives you advice on how to best choose your pet according to your accommodation, availability, your budget, or your children.
Which pet is in an apartment?
When you live in an apartment, you, unfortunately, cannot afford to take in just any animal. Some need large spaces or an exterior to move and stretch their legs.
Dogs in apartments
Some dogs adapt perfectly to living in an apartment. It is enough to set up from the beginning some rules to respect.
A dog is not independent. He necessarily needs his master on a daily basis to walk, play or eat. In an apartment, it is very rare to have a garden. There is, therefore, no possibility of opening the door for him to relieve himself. Thus, the dog in an apartment must be walked several times a day. You must then make yourself available for his outings.
If you don’t think you have the time to go out for a walk, it is not recommended to adopt a dog.
Its size must also be taken into consideration. Indeed, in an apartment, it is preferable to adopt a small or medium-sized dog. These will require less space to thrive.
You should also think about the character of your future dog. Indeed, some dog breeds tend to be more restless than others and may require a lot of attention or physical activity.
If you live in an apartment, it is recommended these dog breeds: Maltese Bichon, French Bulldog, Cairn Terrier, Poodle, Cavalier King Charles, Chihuahua, Pug, English Bulldog, Pekingese or Dachshund.
Cats in apartments
Unlike their fellow dogs, cats are considered autonomous. They won’t necessarily ask to go out and quickly adapt to your lifestyle. Cats are happy in an apartment as long as you cuddle them, feed them and provide them with the happiness they need.
Still, choose a cat that easily adapts to small spaces, such as Ragdoll, Persian, British Shorthair, or Maine Coon. However, a cat that has lived a long part of its life outdoors will find it very difficult to adapt to an indoor environment only. Think about it before adopting.
NACs in apartments
NACs (New Pets: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, etc.) are small animals. They also adapt well to apartment living and do not require a lot of space.
Generally, they live in a cage most of the time. However, it is important to let them out several times a day so that they can roam freely in the housing.
How much time are you willing to devote to it?
Welcoming a pet is like welcoming a new member into the family. Time must be freed up to take care of him in order to meet his needs.
For dogs
As said above, dogs are the most time-consuming pets. They need to be walked between 3 to 4 times a day, or even more depending on the breed, to do physical activities, to be fed, and to be groomed regularly.
An isolated dog can quickly feel abandoned and become sad. To avoid this, you will have to plan periods in your day just for him (about two hours a day) and make him exercise.
If you can’t take your dog to your place of work and you don’t have a care solution during this period, plan at least to come home at lunchtime in order to spend a little time with him and to be able to take him out for a walk that he fulfills his needs. If this is impossible, we strongly advise against adopting a dog at the risk of it becoming depressed.
For cats and NACs
Independent and sometimes unsociable by nature, cats don’t necessarily need a lot of human contacts to be happy. As long as their bowl is full and they have a cozy place to fall asleep, they won’t complain. Thus, you can leave him alone for a few hours during the day to go about your business without him being sad.
That doesn’t stop him from being happy and cheering you on when you get home. However, be careful not to be away too long. Despite their need for independence, cats are affectionate and playful animals: without occupation, they are very likely to get bored and therefore become aggressive with you.
Like cats, NACs do not require excessive attention to thrive. If you feed them and they have a comfortable space all to themselves, they can be left alone for several hours.
Which pet for your budget?
A pet represents a real budget to plan for its monthly expenses that should not be neglected. In addition to the acquisition costs, it is necessary to take into account the costs related to its food, its health, its comfort, its accessories/toys, as well as additional costs for its maintenance or the maintenance of its space.
The cost of adoption mainly depends on where you adopt the animal and the breed chosen. You can more easily find a dog at a low price in shelters/associations. You can also explore dallas pets craigslist classified ads to get the list of pets available for rehoming or adoption and give them a new home.
Which pet, according to your activities?
Which animal to choose when you move a lot?
If you tend to move a lot and your daily life is punctuated by activity, you risk not being very present at your home. It is, therefore, better to choose an animal that can accompany you wherever you go without causing a problem.
Thus, a dog is the best choice. This one, in love with outings, will be the ideal companion for you! He loves wide-open spaces and the great outdoors. He will be delighted to accompany you during your hikes or your sporting activities.
The most important thing is to choose the breed of your dog carefully. If you want it sporty, go for the Husky, the Australian Shepherd, the Labrador, the Golden Retriever, or the Border Collie.
Which animal to choose for a homebody?
In the event that you are a homebody and prefer to stay at home, you have the option of choosing a cat or a NAC who will be happy to be by your side.
Some dog breeds also have a homebody temperament, such as French Bulldogs, Bichon Frize, Yorkshire Terriers, Cavaliers King Charles, Greyhounds, Grand Dganois, Pugs, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus or Basenjis.
Which animal to choose when you have a child?
Your child has been asking you for a pet for a while, and you have decided to approve his request, but you don’t know which one to choose.
Above all, know that it is not recommended to entrust a pet to a young child. He will not be able to fully take care of the animal. This one will be seen more as fun.
However, under your responsibility, they can learn to perform certain tasks in order to become familiar with the animal.
The choice of the animal, therefore, depends mainly on the age of the child. Indeed, children under 5 years old will be better able to live with animals that do not require much contact and that cannot hurt them, such as fish, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc.
For children who are between 5 and 10 years old, you can adopt the animals mentioned above and also calm cats or dogs, which will not be abrupt with the child.
For children over 10, you can adopt any animal as long as you keep an eye on them, of course.
Responsible adoption of pets via online platforms/assicuatuibs
An adoption is an act of reflection. We adopt because we want to save an animal from distress. Associations are best placed to say which animal suits you best (character in front of children, other animals, etc.). The host families know their residents perfectly and can give you the best advice to find THE cat or THE dog of your life. To adopt is to give a chance to an animal that has been rejected at some point in its life. It is an act of solidarity towards the animals and the associations that collect them. When you adopt, you give a better life, and you also give a place in a shelter to a newcomer.
Be careful; however, if you are adopting from an individual, it is a way of accepting the non-sterilization of females. They make their young, and their owner gives them away when it is enough to sterilize the animal to eliminate the problem. It is always better to rely on a pet adoption platform for the Abandonment of Pets. It connects owners who can no longer take care of their animal and future owners wishing to adopt an animal, and soon it will be open to shelters and associations. So, don’t think so much; explore dallas pets craigslist now to see the classifieds of pets available for rehoming.