Owning a pet can be a very rewarding experience for a child. A well-chosen pet can bring years of joy, and leave fond memories of childhood growing up with a furry friend who was always by their side. Pet ownership is also a great chance for kids to learn valuable life lessons as they care for an animal. Pets are able to teach children, with the guidance of parents, a lot about responsibility and dependability. Most pets will also give a lot of affection in return for the loving attention of a child. If you’re thinking about getting your child a pet, here are some ideas.
Dogs
Dogs make excellent pets for children and can be a great choice of first pet as well. Whether you choose to get a puppy to train from scratch or give a rescue dog a loving forever home, these four-legged creatures make brilliant companions for both children and adults alike. Dogs are playful animals, making them the perfect choice of pet if you’d like your child to get outside more and play in the sunshine. When choosing a dog, however, bear in mind that some breeds may be unsuitable for children. Labradors, golden retrievers, cocker spaniels and even pugs are all breeds that tend to be fool-proof safe choices for kids.
Cats
Cats are a classic choice for a child’s pet. Notoriously independent, cats require much less attention than other pets such as dogs or ponies, but they’re excellent little furry companions for kids and great fun to play with. If your family has a limited living space or no garden, a cat may be a better choice than a dog as they don’t require as much space or the same amount of exercise. Like dogs, cats need regular veterinary check-ups and some breeds of feline are more suitable for children than others. It’s best to get a cat who has had experience with children before, or get a kitten who you can raise around the kids. If you have more than one pet, you will need to be careful before bringing a fully-grown adult cat into the home as they can often have problems adapting to other animals.
Ponies
A pony is an expensive choice of pet for your child, but if you live in an area with a lot of farmland and ranches it could well be a decision which comes naturally. For many children, owning a pony brings with it a sense of joy and happiness that nothing else can compare to, and pony ownership can quickly make your child learn a lot of valuable life lessons such as responsibility and the value of money. Not to mention that pony showing is great fun! If your child plans on attending shows and competitions, you’ll need a bit more gear such as a formal horse riding jacket which you can get from this horse riding jacket site.
What was your first childhood pet? We’d love to hear all about them – leave your response in the comments below!
My first childhood pet was a cat. I asked for a fish and my grandpa said let’s go buy you a cat! We got two kittens and loved them so much! Unfortunately my husband is allergic so no cats for our kids, but we have two dogs!
I am allergic to cats and dogs. We had a cat that lived in the garage when I was a kid.
I sure would have loved a pony when I was a kid. I didn’t even get a dog until I was about 15! I felt so ripped off lol
I’m sure my boys would be thrilled to be able to own a pony. I don’t think that my husband and I would be just as happy.
We have 3 cats and 3 dogs. 1 bird and a whole wack of fish. I wish we could have more, like a farm…maybe one day in life. Would love to have ponies!
I haven’t thought of giving a pony to my kids. Of course, I hear of kids wanting to have ponies.
My grandma had a lab, it was such a good dog. He was with us 15 years!
Having a pet can be a great learning experience for kids. It gives them some responsibility. There are so many options to choose from for a pet. Fish are a good place to start with young kids.
Would not have thought of ponies has pets but I can see how that would be really fun for kids!
We have a dog that we adopted from a rescue shelter. I’ve always been a cat lover myself but my younger son is allergic to cats and has asthma.
I have always had a dog when I was younger and they are the best. We got our daughter a dog of her own a couple years ago & it was the best – it teaches kids so much responsibility. 😉
Cats are my choice! I also have a black one with me, or maybe he has me with him )))
Are these photos of your pets?
My first ever let that I remember were fish and a rabbit – I never really got into them that much. For me a dog is the best let you can ever have!
I grew up with dogs, chicken, ducks, parakeet, and cockatoo. We don’t even have a farm, but using our backyard for all the crowd lol. So, I believe pet is indeed a rewarding experience for children.
Ahhhhhh I always wanted a pony!!!!! I always joke with my daughter that hubby will buy her one 😉
We have a dog, but he is not very family friendly. It totally depends on the breed.
We just got a dog last week for our kids. They love him but Im more of a cat person.
Dogs make GREAT pets for kids. They are so loyal, and they love unconditionally.
I can see dogs and cats making being wonderful pets for kids. They really can teach responsibility and they’re great friends to grow up with.
Growing up my family always had a dog or a cat for a pet. As an adult I had cats, lizards and even fish. Pets are amazing.
I love cats they are my favourite animal full stop! They are the most adorable creatures.
My favorite pets are dogs – I’m away too many hours a day to be a responsible owner.
I grew up having cats as pets, these days I have a dog and 2 guinea pigs – I can’t imagine a life without pets. Some great ideas for kids here. x
We don’t have pets at home, but I have always loved Cats as they could make a great pet for the kids as well as entire family. When I was a kid, we had cute Rabbits at home for some time & it was a great experience.