Planning on buying a pet in the near future? I am, so I started looking for tips on buying or adopting pets and found some really great things to think about before actually doing it. You need to take everything int consideration before buying a pet ranging from what breed you want, to the lifestyle that you lead.

Here are the key elements of choosing a pet.

1. Future Pets

Will you be adopting another pet in the near future? You might want to make sure the pet you’re getting now will be compatible with the future pet. Some animals will not take to a new comer in the future. It all depends on the temperament of the animal.

2. Children

If you have children make sure the pet you get is ‘kid friendly’. Some animals will not react well to the constant pulling and shoving that kids will do. Planning on having children in the near future? Take the same considerations when buying. Some animals will react unkindly to having a new ‘baby’ in the house and may never warm up.

3. Living space and lifestyle

Take into consideration your living space. If you’re living in a city apartment with no backyard, a big dog might not be ideal or it may not be fair to the animal. If you travel a lot, a dog might not be that good of an idea either. Dogs need companionship, so a cat might be a better choice. Is your apartment full of expensive carpets and leather chairs? A cat might not be the right choice for you since most love to claw.

4. Animal’s origin

Does the puppy come from a puppy mill? Does the animal come from a tattered background of abuse? It might seem like a good idea at the time, it might even seem like the right thing to give the poor animal a good place to live. However, pups from puppy mills are easily replaced, and buying one there will only fuel the owner’s bank account.

Finally, if you really want to adopt the abused pet know what you are getting into. Some animals lash out, some animals will turn inwards. Simple things such as raising a hand to get a glass can trigger the animal to either attack or pee on the floor.

5. Research

Look up information on the breed that you want. This will help you decide whether you will be compatible with the animal. There are some breeds of dogs that I would love to have but shouldn’t adopt because they need a certain type of owner. For example, some breeds need a strong willed master so that they won’t take over the household. It may sound funny, but you will not be able to train a dog that won’t listen to you.

This is anything but an exhaustive list of what to consider before purchasing or adopting an animal. They are more a list of the most important tips that I came across while researching online. Pets do need to be compatible with everyone who lives in the household as well as the household itself.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, knowing where the animal comes from will green light any problems you might encounter in the future. Choose wisely, a pet is a companion for life!

photo by redmond.ridgeback