Bonding with your pet

While dogs are high maintenance and require the most training, they are also one of the best pets to own in terms of their relationship with you.

They can alert you to danger, tell you there is someone at the door, and give unconditional love.  They are a great companion, and can usually travel with you many different places if you start out with them getting accustomed to the life you wish to lead with them.  All a dog asks in return is proper care and a great deal of attention.

If you cannot be home all the time, you will want to make sure the dog has a roof over their heads in case of inclement weather. You need to look at where you live-apartment, or house, city, or country.

Take into account the breed’s size, and need for exercise, in relation to your schedule and living situation. For years my mother shied away from dog ownership on the grounds that she lived in an apartment, and wasn’t sure how she would manage the walks.

Then she ended up with a stray Bichon, and loved showing it off all over the neighborhood, especially when she had groomed it. We had a small corgi cross, she met it and helped care for it while she was visiting, and then she became confident that a small dog could fit into her life easily.

So if you have any doubts about how a dog might integrate with your lifestyle, have a look around at your friends and family. Do any of them have dogs? Could you have a turn caring for it, as a sort of trial run?

Walking can be an issue with dogs, especially in bad weather, but there are many many happy city-dwelling dogs.  Not every dog needs a huge yard to play in. Some dogs can jump fences so it may be best to have a dog run in the yard so they can move about, but not escape. Generally speaking, all but the largest animals do well in apartments also.

Cats on the other hand can be high or low maintenance depending on breed as well as personality. Some cats require hours of people attention, while others shirk attention.  Some cats belong to a one-pet household. They do not like to share their owner’s affections, and will become upset if not mean towards the interloper.

Others need a companion cat to live happily. It will be hard to determine just which type of cat you own when you first get them as kittens, since their personalities are just developing.

If this is of concern to you, then why not go for an older pet from a shelter? They have got past the kitten stage, and in many cases, the shelter people will be able to tell you about their personality, likes and dislikes.

Continued in Choosing The Right Pet For You Part 7