Help us choose the perfect pet..............

[Northerner]

Ds is nearly 4 and an only child, I am thinking of getting him a pet as a companion and to teach him responsibility.

I think a cat, but dh thinks a dog. We have had cats before, but have leather sofas and dh is worried about them scratching them. I've never owned a dog before but dh has but am worried about it spending time alone cause we both work (dh full time and me 3 days)

Can anyone reccommend a breed of dog?

What about rabbits? Can't really understand the attracion tbh but could be converted.

Thanks

[7up]

a rat, friendly, obedient, clean, easily trained, great companions for kids and adults alike and great fun

[Northerner]

Sorry, could not do a rat.

[paolosgirl]

A guinea pig, definitely. Cute, not smelly, cuddly and lovely little squeaky, chatty noises from them

[jmg1]

Border Terrier, great dogs, small with big heart and big charactor.
Can put pic up if you like.

[cupcakes]

Don't get a bouncy puppy - way too much training which is really difficult if you're not at home all the time.
Maybe look at rescue centres. We have a 5 month old labrador and I refused to look at rescue centres because I argued you wouldn't know it's temprement but wish we had looked into getting an older dog now. Ideally a retired guide dog.

[madmarchhare]

Dogs can be a bit tying I think. Would love one myself but we do stay away over night lots.

[7up]

dont do a dog!ive got a oneyear old jack russell, hes lovely but hard work and like looking after another baby.

agree bout the guinea pig, i had one that i moved the hutch into the kitchen in winter and every time i openend my fridge he'd squeak for lettuce. very cute.

[7up]

im a thread killer

[starlover]

rabbits are FAB!

they need handling gently and regularly to get them used to it.
the bigger the rabbit the more docile... generally!
mine was fantastic... if i sat outside with him he would run in circles round me and then come and jump into my lap, he would come if i called him and he would race me up and down the garden!
he was sooooooooo cute

PLUS... they're cheap.
they're easy to look after
food and bedding is next to nothing
vets bills are cheap
you don't have to walk them

they can be toilet trained and kept inside too, although you would need to rabbit-proof the house

[wannaBe1974]

I think pets are a good idea if you have children, but imo if you're getting a pet for your 4-year-old to learn responsibility I'd get one that doesn't take much looking after, because the novelty will soon wear off and you'll be the one left to look after it. I think that if you have no animals at all, then a goldfish is a good place to start. You can get a small tank for about £20, and most petshops sell goldfish for about £2.50 each. You don't have to walk them, they don't escape, don't destroy the furniture, they do need partial water change once a week or so but that's not too time consuming, and your DS will enjoy putting the food in the tank and watching the fish swim up to get it. And kids are generally fascinated by fish. Also, if you're going on holiday you can buy holiday fish food you put in the tank so no need to have to find someone to look after it, maybe just to check on it once or twice to make sure it's feeding.

i agree with cupcakes in that if you wanted to get a dog a puppy can be hard work especially if you've never had one before and are working. If you did want a dog you could try and adopt a retired guide dog, although the waiting list for retired/rejected dogs is very long so it could be some time before one became available.

TBH if it was me I'd start with a fish and look into getting somethin furry once your DS is a bit older.

[pucca]

Dogs can stratch furniture just as much as cats, especially puppies.

[Gingerbear]

Fish.
DD has just got a Siamese Fighting Fish (called Ricky Hatton)
She feeds him, tests his water every day, cleans him out once a week.
Not very cuddly though.
But great for allergies!

[Gingerbear]

Northerner, if you want cuddly, a guinea pig would be my top choice - get a baby one and they can be tamed v easily.

[Rodeo]

Agree with Paolosgirl and 7up. Definitely a little guinea! I used to have one called Piglet he was gorge and I was in love with him :)

[Rodeo]

Oops! And Gingerbear :)

[Gingerbear]

I saw a lemon yellow baby guinea in a petshop today. How I managed to come home without him I Do Not Know!

[Gingerbear]

Oh, I remember now - a 12 year old Dalmatian called Max.......

[hellsbellsdownunder]

dogs are hard work. i was eventually persuaded to get one when dd was 10 - very glad we waited till then!!!