Just thinking, What do you all think is the perfect first pet for a very animal friendly 8 year old

[TrinityRhino]

not sure how to describe her but all animals seem to be drawn to her

she loves all living things and would adore to be in soul charge of taking care of something of her own

I dislike hamsters as they are nocturnal and have always been (IME) extremely loud at night

I know I am posting in super furry animals but I wasn't sure were to start. I'm open to anything but spiders

[TrinityRhino]

This is not something that is going to happen now, I want to reseach and think hard about it before I do it.

Its dd2 I'm talking about
since Cliffs death she has withdrawn again
hair pulling has slowly returned
wetting has also returned

animals are definitely her 'thing' as it were

we got duke a few months before her dad died and he was definitely what stopped her pulling her hair the first time but then neil died

Lolly is definitely my dog and very attached to me

for about 2 years now she has been asking for a pet of her own, I feel that she is old enough(with guidance) to be able to care for something properly and I feel it would help her a lot

[fluffydressinggown]

Guinea pig, but you will need to get two. Very frendly and gentle and pretty easy to look after, need cleaning out every few days and feeding every day. Will happily eat out of your hand. They don't really have an escape instinct and will sit in your lap chirping and squeaking at you.

I think cats are pretty easy to look after as well, but are more of a commitment than piggies.

[TrinityRhino]

Cant have a cat cause Lolly would devote her life to trying to eat it
I also don't need something else that is going to try and eat my chickens

ok Guinea pigs, hmm I've heard they need to be in pairs.
Why is that?
Would it be ok if one was dd2s and one was Geckos?

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

Was jut going to suggest guinea pigs too. They are sooo sweet. Rats are also very good pets for children.

[TrinityRhino]

dd1 had a rat but he only lasted a year and she was devastated, I dont want to give dd2 one just now

[TrinityRhino]

omg, you can rehome small animals

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

In that case definitely guinea pigs. :)

[MumnGran]

If you have room, and time ...8 year olds and puppies were designed for each other, and grow together.

[FriskyMare]

There was a beautiful dwarf rabbit on This Morning this morning

[TrinityRhino]

I would LOVE to get her a puppy but we already have an extremely bouncy high octane 1yr old white (for white read extra crazy) boxer

even though I've been trying to convince myself that she needs a friend I have been very sensible up till now

but even if we did it would be my puppy as each girl wants a puppy of their own and thats just not viable

[TrinityRhino]

ok I am in serious trouble now, there is a dog, finches, corn snake, rabbit and guinea pigs I want to rehome

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Hi Trinity-

we're a guinea-pig family and for the size of them they do need quite a bit of space and time devoted to them.
And they aren't the most exciting pets . They will happily jog about, be squeaky and eat'n'pooh. And they are (well 99%) be cuddly. There's always the odd grumpy git guinea.

What would your 'high octane boxer' think of small furries. If he'd raise his eyebrows / eat the cat then he might think the GPs are fair game too.And you can keep them safe but it's traumatic for them to feel they are on the menu.

If you already have chickens then what about some ducks or geese? I'm told (I don't like feathery things myself) that geese are very intelligent and form strong bonds.

Or would 2 puppies be a huge added workload? You know that you'll be responsible for the extra animal/s care. (My DD and I share the guineas but I do 90% of the work. I said at the outset I would clean their houses and get the hay/veg)
At least with puppies or fowl you know they can 'blend in' to your household.

2 little spaniels (are they King Charles the smallest ones?)
I don't even like dogs that much but I can see the appeal of a KCS

[MumnGran]

children can share a puppy! so not only do they get a pet, but a life lesson lol
current dog will use up masses of energy playing with a companion, through the day when DCs are at school.
Its hard to take a corn snake for a walk ......when you get all moody in your teens
Dogs (and this is a serious one) have a longer life span than smaller furries, and I know this is an issue for you.

Case made

[TrinityRhino]

oh god, stop it, I would love to get puppies but I shouldn't right now
the cost for puppies is much more that the cost for a small animal

geese? hmm, they are very cute, dont they need a pond/lake

[TrinityRhino]

life span seems to be an issue for us as a family over the last four years



If I had more expendable income I would be out rehoming puppies right now

[MumnGran]

[Moomoomie]

I would normally say guinea pigs too, we have two guineas left now.
But, in your case Trinity, or your dd's I think maybe a small dog. She can tell it all her troubles, take it for walks and mainly just hug it.
As you say, you have a dog already, so one more wont make much difference!
I grew up with dogs and had my last dog for 16 years, she died two years ago and I still miss her so much.
In time we will get another.

[Moomoomie]

Sorry, cross posts. But still stick by my dog suggestion. Nothing else is the same.

[Weegiemum]

My dd2 (9) is a real animal nut. A friend of the family is a farmer and he says that you can just tell with some children, and dd2 "has it".

She has a hamster, we also have guinea pigs and a rabbit.

We're being all "oh no, not possible" about it but we think we might get a kitten for her birthday in November!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Trinity I saw some of your threads on other sites. I know you are very concious about lifespan WTR your DC and bereavement

But - I don't know about feathery things, though one of my schoolfriends kept chickens,geese.ducks,goats,donkeys and a horse.
And a dog and cat.

GPs are expensive to set up (cages, runs, hay, but cheap to run)

If you are hankering after a puppy then go for it. If you get one from rescue it'll have it's first jabs won't it. You'd need to neuter and follow up jabs. Would your DC share a puppy (I'd imagine they are hard work )

In the winter time, your high octane boxer will need walked , so will a young dog. So you get your excercise (bonus).
Small furries are more difficult in winter TBH. (And in summer you need to stop them overheating)

Reptiley things....not my taste but I see the appeal.

Small wirey haired terrier type would be nice (not sure what flavour). Something like a JR cross?

[TrinityRhino]

oh god, stop it, the lot of you

there is a 5 months old lab cross collie, FREE on preloved that I want to save
if you dont stop it, I'm going to get it

[TrinityRhino]

If you all send me a bag of dog food I'll save the black sweet gorgeous young, needing a loving home, friend for lolly,confidante for dd2 lab

[lottieandmia]

Guinea pigs are lovely, low maintenance pets - my dd (9) has two and she adores them. They are really sweet and gentle.

[TrinityRhino]

I don't really want to own small dogs and Lolly is huge

I don't like the yapping and I would step on it

[TrinityRhino]

I read that as your dd has 9