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* Question: How do I choose the pet that is right for my family?

In the first place, never buy a pet on a whim. Bringing a cute kitten or puppy home just because it was too cute to pass up can be a mistake.

Discuss the matter of pets together as a family before making the purchase. Remember to consider the following important issues: personal attention, grooming, playtime, daily feeding, vet care and house and potty training (if pet will be indoors). Consider asking each person in the household why they want a pet. Be sure your children understand that a pet is an important member of the family, not a toy, and that the pet’s needs must be considered just as much as the humans’ needs.

Take note of your lifestyle. Assuming, for example, you live in an apartment in the city or you need to work long hours. In this particular situation an easy-to-care-for-pet like a fish, bird or cat may be a good choice. If you do a lot of jogging or running, then a dog would be a good companion for you.

If you’d like to understand the needs of a potential pet, make a point of seeking out and talking to breeders and other pet owners. Find local pet shows and talk to the judges. Use Google to search for specific breeds to learn more about the pet you are thinking of purchasing. It goes without saying that you should consider the ages of your children when planning to add a new pet to your household. An often overlooked issue is to consider the life expectancy of the pet and how this will affect your children.

* Question: Which is best - to get a pet from the local animal shelter or from a pet store like PetsMart?

Some people swear by animal shelters, while others prefer pet stores. Weighing the two, I feel it is recommended to look for a pet (especially dogs and cats) at a shelter. You’ll find that animals at a shelter are well-cared for by the staff and having had much interaction with the staff, the animals are well-adapted to people. The shelter’s staff can tell you quite a bit about the animals to help you find the pet that will be well-suited to you and your family. The staff can tell you which cat likes to curl up on your lap, which dog enjoys long walks and which animal will be good with children. In addition, animals from a shelter have already been checked and have received all of their needed immunizations and have already been neutered or spayed.

If you decide instead to get a pet from a pet store, be sure you spend time with the store owner about that particular animal’s temperament, particulary for dogs, cats and other animals that will have plenty of interacation with a variety of people.

* Question: What is the best way to decide which dog is best for me?

You should follow basic steps in choosing the right type of dog for you:

- Read pet guides to learn about a certain dog breed’s background, personality, tendencies and temperament. Browse the internet for more details of those family-friendly breeds of dogs.

- Find a vet to discuss details about the characteristics of the breed you are looking for. Ask questions to understand more about the dog’s breed.

- After weighing all your options you plan to find a puppy at your local pet store, remember to ask for the dog’s background — things like from where the dog originated, anomalies of that particular dog’s breed as well as behavioral and physical problems. If you prefer not to use the local pet store, you can also look for a puppy or dog at a local animal shelter or from a private party.

- Of course, one of the very best methods (though not very scientific) is to find out from your friends’ and associates about their own experiences with various types of dogs they have owned in the past.

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