Choosing a pet is a significant decision that can enrich your life in many ways. However, it's crucial to select a pet that fits well with your lifestyle, resources, and expectations.

We envision a certain life when we get a pet, and for many of us, it doesn’t always turn out the way we envisioned. More often than not, we’re faced with unexpected or unfamiliar challenges. This goes for all pets, not just dogs.

We want to support you in achieving the life you envision when you decide to get a pet, providing the resources and guidance you need to make informed decisions and enjoy a fulfilling pet ownership experience!

Choosing the right pet is a big decision that can greatly impact your lifestyle and happiness. Whether you're seeking companionship, a way to teach responsibility to your kids, or fulfilling a lifelong dream of owning a unique animal, it’s ideal that you choose a pet that aligns with your lifestyle and expectations.

Here are some key factors to consider when choosing the best type of pet to ensure a harmonious and fulfilling relationship:

1. Time

Your availability and energy are critical factors in choosing a pet that will be well suited for you. Think about how much time you can dedicate to your pet on a daily basis. Some animals need a lot of companionship throughout the day, while others are more independent. Dogs and young pets for example will need more of your time and energy, especially in the beginning to help them transition to life in your home.

Here are a few examples of pets that require different levels of time commitment:

Dogs: Need daily exercise, training, and companionship. Ideal for people who work from home, have flexible schedules, have housemates or partners that can help when you’re not available, or have the ability to hire help from a local pet sitter or dog walker when you’re away for long periods of time.
Cats: More independent but still need regular feeding, litter box maintenance, grooming, and playtime.
Small Mammals (Rabbits, Hamsters, Rats, Guinea Pigs): Require daily feeding and occasional pen/cage cleaning but are generally low-maintenance. It’s also important to do the necessary research to provide them with a proper environment, diet, and enrichment.
Birds (Parrots, parakeets, chickens, ducks): Require regular habitat cleaning, keeping food and water bowls clean. Birds are fairly independent pets, however parrots do need daily interaction and mental stimulation to have a good quality of life.
Fish: Minimal interaction but regular tank cleaning and maintenance, research on proper husbandry needs are necessary.
Reptiles: Minimal interaction, tank cleaning and maintenance, research on proper husbandry needs are necessary.

2. Activity Level

Matching a pet's energy level to your own can prevent frustration and ensure a happy coexistence. If you enjoy being a homebody and spending your free time relaxing at home, then a low energy pet will be better suited for you. If you enjoy a mix of relaxing and adventuring, then a moderate energy pet will likely be a good fit for you. If you enjoy spending much of your free time outside adventuring, walking, running, and training, then a high energy dog would likely be an ideal pet for you. This is one of the most important aspects of pet ownership to consider when choosing a pet. Matching your activity level to your pet’s can help prevent a lot of frustration on your end and unwanted behaviors from your pet.

High-Energy Pets: Breeds like pure bred Border Collies, Labrador Retrievers, large breed hounds, Pitties, Doodles need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation.
Moderate-Energy Pets: Cats, smaller dog breeds like Dachshund, Corgi, Havanese, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, King Charles Spaniel, and most birds require moderate activity. Keep in mind that many larger parrots like cockatoos, macaws, and amazons require a lot of mental stimulation and may require a good bit of your energy.
Low-Energy Pets: Senior dogs, English Bulldogs, Pugs, chickens, small mammals, fish, reptiles, and other older animals generally have lower energy needs.

3. Lifespan

Consider how long you can commit to a pet and their specific needs. You’ll want to consider what your life will look like for the span of their life. Will you have the same time and energy, and other considerations listed here for their whole lifespan. You want to be fair to the pet that you bring into your life, and considering this is a major factor in advocating for them. It is understandable that your life may not look the same in 10, 20, 50 years from now. Making contingency plans for when you may not be able to care for your pet is always a good idea, especially for pets that will likely outlive you.

Short Lifespan: Hamsters, rats, and mice typically live 1-4 years.
Short to moderate Lifespan: Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and chickens typically live 5-10 years
Moderate Lifespan: Most dogs, cats, pigs and some reptiles live around 10-15+ years.
Long Lifespan: Some parrots and turtles can live 50+ years.

4. Financial Considerations

Budgeting for the ongoing costs of pet ownership is key in reducing stress levels of pet ownership and maintaining a good quality of life for you and your pet.

We highly recommend obtaining pet insurance upon acquiring a new pet to help reduce the financial load of unexpected vet bills, which are likely to happen at some point with most pets. We recommend ASPCA, TruPanion, Nationwide or the insurance provider through your work. When considering an insurance provider it’s important to confirm they cover the type of pet you have, and to read the fine print about what is and is not covered to avoid surprises.

Initial Costs: Adoption fees, initial veterinary visits, and necessary supplies.
Recurring Costs: Food, grooming, toys & treats, pet sitting and dog walking, training, medical care, pet insurance, and other ongoing expenses.
Emergency Costs: Unexpected veterinary bills and potential medical emergencies.

5. Penned or Caged Animals

Caged animals can be an excellent choice for those with limited space or specific living situations. Many caged animals, like birds and rabbits do need mental stimulation and exercise too so it’s important you have a space outside of their enclosure that is safe for them to explore. It’s important for the quality of their life to ensure they have plenty of exercise and interaction outside of their pen or cage. All penned and caged animals require regular cage cleaning. It’s important to consider the size of the enclosure for all traditionally “caged” species. Generally, the bigger the better. If you have an animal that lives in an enclosure, it’s important for their enclosure to be in a space that you spend a lot of time in so that aren’t forgotten about.

Small Mammals: Hamsters require cages. Guinea pigs and rabbits should ideally have open air pens, but need regular cleaning and interaction.
Birds: Parrots, canaries, and budgies need spacious cages and social interaction.
Reptiles: Bearded dragons, snakes, and turtles need specific habitats and temperature control.

6. Clean-Up and Maintenance

Different pets require different levels of cleanliness and maintenance. It’s important to be realistic about what you can manage.

Dogs: Occasional bathing, regular cleaning of bedding, depending on the breed there may be some regular grooming needed to be done at home like brushing, wiping face and paws, nail trims, regularly picking up poop, refilling food/water/meds/water/supplements, they may make your house a little dirtier depending on how much they shed and adventure outside, minimum of one annual vet visit, daily companionship, exercise, mental stimulation, and potty breaks.
Cats: regular brushing, regular litter box cleaning, sweeping and vacuuming up their first and tracked litter in the house, daily cleaning of food and water bowls, regular companionship and mental stimulation/play time, minimum of one annual vet visit
Caged animals: Daily cleaning of food and water bowls, regular mental stimulation and companionship (each species has different levels of needs so it’s important to research this to provide good quality of life), and a minimum of one annual vet visit. Large cages can take a lot of effort to clean, including rolling outside and hosing it down. Chicken coops require outdoor space, and the ability to go outside and do some lifting and maneuvering around their space.

7. Age

The age of the pet can significantly impact your lifestyle.

Young Animals: Puppies and kittens need training, socialization, and lots of attention.
Adult Animals: Typically calmer and might already be trained.
Senior Animals: Require less exercise but may need more medical care.

8. Noise Level

Noise levels can be a crucial factor, especially for those living in apartments or shared spaces.

Quiet Pets: Fish, reptiles, and some small mammals like hamsters are virtually silent.
Moderately Noisy Pets: Cats are generally quieter, although they do tend to be more active at night and can disrupt sleep depending on the cat. Some dog breeds aren’t as vocal as others. It’s important to consider the breed or mix of breeds if noise will be an issue.
Noisy Pets: Birds, especially parrots and roosters, and certain dog breeds can be very vocal.

Choosing the right pet involves careful consideration of various factors, including your lifestyle, time availability, energy levels, financial resources, and personal preferences. By taking the time to evaluate these aspects, you can make your best effort to select a pet that will bring joy, companionship, and fulfillment to your life, while providing a fulfilled life to them as well. Remember, the goal is to create a harmonious relationship where both you and your pet thrive together.

-MaryBeth & The Auntie M Pet Care Team

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Choosing the Right Pet: Expert Tips from Your Local Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Company