What is a good pet for youngsters to have?

Question

For their first pet? To teach about responsibility etc. Age ranges from 3-8

Answer 1

Hamster or turtle!

Answer 2

I think it is best to start off thinking what kind of pet are you willing to allow you children to have in the long run. Then choose from that list which will work best for you and what you are most willing to help with (and hold most of the responsbility for awhile) while "teaching" your child responsibility.

Most children will say they want a puppy or a kitten. And that is great! But until they have "learned" responsibility they will require a lot of help from you. Don't worry all is not lost. there is a way they can have their puppy or kitty.

Make sure the children are involved in every step from here on out. It will give them a sense of ownership as well as building a bond between you and your child. you will learn just how serious your child is about this new lesson and if your going to end up with all the responsibility and it will also tell your child that you value their opinion and are encouraging them to think for themselves.

It starts with you buying a stuffed animal toy of their choice. Then you may choose to buy the appropriate "extras" leash, collar, bowls, litter box, pet toys, ect..... Your budget and inginuity will dictate what you want or should buy. But from the moment they pick out the stuffed animalyou and your child need to believe it is alive and a real pet. DO NOT throw it in the cart until check out. You wouldn't go to a pet store and throw a pupy in a cart and continue shopping, would you? So now you have a "live pet" have you child carry it or get a leash and collar and "walk" yoour new pet around as you shop.

Then after you get home make sure they feed and water their new pet. Since children have much better imaginations then we do this part will be easy for them to understand. But take a ziplock bag and fill it will paper squares or dried pasta something to resemble pet food. And show them how much food their pet should eat. I reccommend the twice a day feeding system. That way in the long run you will save money on food and the pet will be on a good diet schedule. Now all pets nee water and should be given all the water they can drink. Actually put water in the dish and have them take their new pet to "eat and drink" twice a day. Through out the day empty the bowls, especially the watter numersous times, and have you child attend to them. Also make sure your child is letting their pet out to do "their duty" and have them "clean up" after them. The key is to make everything as real as possible and you should have a much better expirience teaching your child. And you will quickly find out if your child is ready for a pet or not without jeapordizing a true live animal. fell free to contact me with any questions at [e-mail]

Answer 3

A pet the entire family agrees upon, and one the parents are willing and able to take care of for it's entire life. Children cannot always be relied on, may lose interest, or at very least grow up and move out. You, the parent, needs to be responsible for the animal for it's entire life.

I personally do not reccomend goldfish (which need 50-100 gallons of water per fish), rabbits (generally do not like being held), or hamsters as first time pets, but this depends on your family and your desire to learn about and provide the right environment for the animal you bring into your life.

Answer 4

I think any sort of fish would make a great first pet. They are easy to take care of. If something should go wrong and the fish dies they are easily replacable because so many of them look alike.And that way your child will probably never find out. It may seem like the wrong thing to do but it will save them the heartache of loosing a pet

Answer 5

Actually i would get your child a rat. I know that rats have bad reputations for being disgusting dirty rodents, but they are reasonably clean and loving. I think its the tail that creeps people out the most. Up sides of rats are they smell much better that hamsters, gerbils, genie pigs, and rabbits combined. They can and will become your bestfriend, and where other animales well leave there poo out in the open. Rats like cats prefer to bury theres. They keep the cages and themseleves clean as well. I think they are the only animale smart enough to not live in there own filth. Since your child is young you might want to think about strating him/her with a mouse. They are just as clean as rats just smaller. One thing to think about if you decide on getting a mouse instead of a rat. I would strongly recommend buying and glass or plastic 10gollon tank instead of a wire cage. I have had mice get out before and it is a task trying to find them.

Answer 6

Not a rabbit. Please. Over 80% of rabbits adopted are purchased as gifts for children and abandoned shortly thereafter. Fishes are a great suggestion because they are so low maintenance. A rabbit, gerbil, cat--these are expensive pets that require a lot of love, patience, and upkeep. Unless you as a parent are willing to provide that, please stay away from such pets. We all know how short a child's attention span is.

Answer 7

fish or a hamster. If you can help them out, then a dog. Cats are a little too unpredictable for young children, and their nails can injure a child very easily. whatever your choice, you'll need to supervise their care of the pets.

Answer 8

actually while most people will say dogs i will say a cat, and here is why: while cats will not only teach responsibility, theyre not SO hard to take care of that if something happens they will die. cats take care of themselves so much that the kids will only have to do certain things. cats know how much to eat so you just have to make sure their food bowl is full, you dont have to feed them a certain time of the day and they clean themselves so they dont need baths (unless they get feas then they need a flea bath, i give my cats one about twice a year). so basically youre children will need to keep the food bowl full, make sure there is water, clean the litter box (or if you let them be indoor/outdoor they will use the restroom outside) and thats about it. plus, cats are fun to play with and they like to sleep with their owners so they can have them sleep in their bed with them.

Answer 9

Gerbils or hamsters make good pets for little ones. They are easy to take care of. I'd also recommend fish.

Answer 10

Fishes are a good first pet. All they would have to do is feed them and sometimes clean the aquarium.

Answer 11

I agree that a fish is a good first pet.
However, they die so easily, and then your kid's heart is broken.
Also, they don't love you back,and you can't pet them.
Another relatively easy option would be a hamster or guinea pig.