New Year, new pet?

Now that 2016 is here, you might be considering getting a new addition to your household, in the form of an additional pet! If you have your heart set on bringing a new animal addition into the home over the coming year but are not quite sure what type of pet is the right choice for you, in this article we will look at five of the most common options, including some of the very basic pros and cons of each of them! Read on to learn more.

A dog

A great many people have the ambition or desire to own their own dog, but this is not always the right choice for everyone, as dogs can be both expensive and hard work! If you think that 2016 might be the right year for you to bring a dog into the family, you should of course make sure that you have the space and time to dedicate to owning one, and that all of the family are on board with the decision. If you live in rented accommodation or even within a leasehold property, there may be restrictions on the ownership of pets such as dogs, and it is also vital to ensure that you can afford to not only buy, but care for a dog properly too.

Finally, when you have decided that a dog is a good idea, your work hasn’t stopped, but only just begun-you’ll need to narrow down your ideas to just one breed, and then find out all about that it detail too!

A cat

Cats and dogs constantly vie for the position of most popular pet in the UK, and cats usually win the race by a whisker! Cats are loving, friendly and lovely to have around, but they are also more independent and do not need constant supervision in the same way that dogs do. However, a cat should not be viewed as a low maintenance or easy pet, and just because they can entertain themselves throughout the day, does not mean that they do not need a high level of care and attention!

If you are looking for an independent yet loving cuddle buddy who will live life on their own terms and still requires a reasonable amount of work and of course, expense, a cat might be right for you.

A bird

Pet birds are a good pick for a lot of people, ranging in size from very small to very large! Added to this, depending on the species you buy, some birds can live either indoors or outdoors in an aviary, giving you a range of different care options.

Birds are pretty, entertaining and often very loving, but they can also be challenging to keep, being very sensitive to changes of ownership or things that upset their routines. It can take a long time and a lot of work to get a bird to bond with you, and they need a lot of attention and love in order to thrive. Added to this, they can be rather messy, and you will have to make a decision on whether or not you will allow them to fly, or have their wings clipped.

Finally, birds are classed as exotic pets, and as such, it can be more challenging and more expensive to get veterinary care for them than it is for most other pets.

A rodent

Pet rodents are very popular pets with people of all ages, and there are a lot of options available when it comes to picking your perfect pal! From tiny rodents such as mice through the ever-popular fancy rat to larger and more challenging pets such as chinchillas, there is a rodent to suit everyone!

However, rodents can be rather messy animals to own, and also, they require a lot of care and attention when it comes to keeping their homes clean and hygienic, and taking care of their need for entertainment. You will need to work to get your pet used to being handled and comfortable with this, and monitor them vigilantly when out of the cage to ensure that they do not get into hot water by means of getting lost or chewing electrical cables!

A reptile

Finally, if you have decided that you really want to take a walk on the wild side, you might have decided that a reptile is the only pet for you this year! Owning a reptile is not really comparable to owning any other sort of pet, as their temperaments and care needs are so different, and so you should make sure that this is what you want, and that you know what you are getting into!

Reptiles of all sorts have fairly complex care requirements when it comes to their housing, environment and feeding, and they are not designed for cuddling, and will not bond with you in the same way that a furry pet will! However, they are also very interesting to own and can also be very rewarding, so if you have your heart set on a reptile, this might be the right choice!