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“Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.”

–Kinky Friedman

Owning a pet is common for kids but caring for a pet is an extraordinary experience for them. When you let your child own a pet, make sure your child also takes  good care of it. After all, this is the essence of having a pet, taking special care of it on a daily basis.

Just like humans, animals are living things that needs food, water and air to survive. Not all animals can be a pet so you should choose a child-friendly pet for your kid.

Here are some 4 pets best for your child:

• DOG

A dog is the most common pet all over the world, not just for kids but for everyone because “Dogs are man’s best friend.” According to PetMD, there are various choices when choosing kid-friendly dogs, like labrador, golden retriever, poodle, beagle, bull dogs, pugs. These dogs are approved by petMD experts as the child-friendliest dogs.

Dogs can be the best pet for your child because they are all-around and useful. Dogs are great security guards for the house, dogs are the best playmates – they encourage kids to do outside activities, dogs are loyal and they show affection to their masters.

• CAT or KITTEN

A cat is also a common domestic pet and they are very easy to take care. Choose a cat with a proper temperament. According to Healthy Pets, Some parents have discovered the family cat can help teach children the values of compassion and gentleness. Most dogs will allow family members to wrestle with them, chase after them, and roughhouse. In fact, many dogs live for that type of interaction.

Cats on the other hand, do not. If a child (or anyone) treats a cat roughly or aggressively, kitty will bolt from the room, putting an end to the interaction between human and pet. So children learn the difference between sturdier, more tolerant pets and those that require careful, gentle handling.Cats that are calm and peaceful. Make sure the cat doesn’t bite or scratch. They will simply accompany your child at home with their fluffy huggable furs.

• FISH

Fish is a perfect starter-pet for your child. This is not just a pet – but a living thing decoration at home, too. Kids love looking at fishes in aquariums, especially if the aquarium is well-decorated – just like a real ocean! You can buy a goldfish or a pretty betta fish. They have low maintenance and simply needs clean aquarium and proper feeding.

According to Healthy Pets, there are 10 reasons on why fish make great pets.

1. Fish are known to have a tranquil, calming effect on anyone who watches them glide serenely through the water.

2. Generally speaking, fish are easier and less expensive to feed and care for than other pets, however, they do require a proper environment and knowledgeable caretakers.

3. Unlike many dogs and other furry and feathered pets, fish don’t develop separation anxiety or destructive behaviors when you leave them alone at home.

4. Fish are quiet — you never have to worry about a barking or squawking fish upsetting the neighbors or waking a sleeping baby.

5. Fish come in an infinite variety of sizes, shapes and stunning, vibrant colors.

6. Fish don’t need to be walked; they don’t require a litter box; and they’ll never leave a surprise for you on your brand new carpet or the afghan your mother-in-law knitted for you last Christmas.

7. Fish are very clean pets that don’t need to be groomed or have their teeth brushed.

8. Your fish won’t track dirt and mud in from outdoors, or shake litter from his paws all over the house, and he doesn’t shed, slobber or drool.

9. A fish aquarium of any size, as long it’s well maintained, can be a beautiful addition to any room in your home.

10. Some types of fish interact with their owners, are playful, and can even be trained to do tricks.

• BIRDS

Just like fish, birds are great starter pets and  easy to take care. Just feed your bird with bird food and water and don’t let your bird escape its cage because it will fly away. But to further consider on getting a bird, here are 10 reasons according to  Healthy Pets on the positive and negative of owning a bird.

• Birds are extremely intelligent.

They have a remarkable capacity to learn new things, and in fact, we’ve only just scratched the surface in understanding all the ways they use their brains. As such, they make delightful, fascinating pets for owners dedicated to constantly enriching their bird’s environment. How much fun would it be to have a pet actually talk to you!

But keep in mind … Exotics that aren’t given the opportunity to interact for several hours each day with their human family, and that don’t receive frequent, consistent mental stimulation and environmental enrichment, are sure to develop emotional problems and self-destructive behaviors.

• Birds are easier to care for than other pets.

Unlike the family dog or cat that has the run of the house, a bird can be popped into its cage while you’re away during the day or busy around the house. Birds also don’t need walks outside, and housebreaking isn’t an issue. Cleaning a cage each day is more appealing to many people than scooping litter or taking Fido outdoors constantly to potty.

But keep in mind … While it’s true a bird is more easily confined in the house than other types of pets, this doesn’t necessarily mean he will be any less demanding. Many birds are extremely vocal and noisy, so even if yours is hanging out in his cage on the other side of the house, chances are he’ll be hard to ignore.

• Birds are easy to train.

Birds love to learn and love attention from their humans, so training them is often a breeze and just plain fun. And let’s face it – a bird is a whole lot easier to manage for training purposes than a large dog.

But keep in mind … Depending on the bird, she is apt to learn things you didn’t plan for her to. Certain types of birds, parrots for example, pick up words, phrases and sounds they hear around the house. You might be surprised one day, while entertaining guests, to have your pet start loudly swearing a blue streak from the next room. Or your mother might be over for dinner one evening, and your bird suddenly gives forth with a loud noise that sounds remarkably like a belch.

It’s important to keep in mind that interacting with your inquisitive exotic bird, which is essentially how you train her, is not an activity you need only do once in awhile when the mood strikes. It’s true many birds are easy to train, but in fact, if they are not given regular opportunities to interact with you and learn new things they will develop emotional problems and harmful behaviors. It’s also important to understand that some birds may never learn to speak, no matter how much human time and attention they receive.

• Birds don’t require much grooming.

Birds are naturally clean creatures and when they are healthy and happy, they do a good job of keeping their feather coats shiny through preening. All you’ll need to add on a regular basis is a mist spray, a shower or a bath for your pet in plain, tepid, clean, filtered water. You’ll also need to trim your bird’s beak and nails routinely, or arrange to have it professionally done.

But keep in mind … Many birds not only preen themselves, but also their owners. And not always gently!

• Birds are very social.

Many birds have the capacity to bond just as closely with their humans as dogs and cats. And in fact, birds are much more socially inclined than kitties.

But keep in mind … Again, this can be a bit of a double-edged sword if you’re not prepared to spend significant time interacting with, training and socializing your bird. Many exotics do best treated as members of the family in the fullest sense – allowed outside their cages for several hours each day, and included in most at-home family activities. Many birds also bond with one member of the family, not equally with everyone. Some birds can become aggressive to certain family members.

• Birds are inexpensive to feed.

The smaller the pet, the less the pet eats. Certainly keeping your bird fed is less costly than feeding a dog or most cats. Generally speaking, it’s best to feed a high-quality diet of species-specific commercial pelleted food (not seed mix), fruits, veggies, and sprouted grains.

But keep in mind … Overall, you shouldn’t think cheap-to-keep when it comes to a bird as a pet. Owners of large exotic birds spend around $100 a month for food, toys and other supplies. And feathered pets need annual medical exams from an avian veterinarian to make sure they are healthy. Birds are masters at hiding disease, so it’s critically important that your pet has regular blood workups to check for any problems with her health.

• Birds can be kept in a small space.

Smaller species like budgies, canaries and finches, and their smaller cages, can make perfect sense for people who live in an apartment or condo.

But keep in mind … Regardless of the size of the pet, constant confinement is not healthy. In addition, small birds have lots of energy and need space to burn it off. If you plan to allow your smaller bird outside his cage most of the day, then a smaller size cage for sleeping at night is acceptable. If your finch or canary lives solely in a cage, I recommend the cage be the largest cage you can afford, not what cage fits in the smallest area.

• Most landlords don’t collect pet deposits or extra monthly charges for pet birds.

Birds aren’t thought of by most landlords or rental management companies as pets that cause damage to property like dogs or cats. So a bird could be a good choice for someone who doesn’t want to pay those extra fees.

But keep in mind … If you own a large bird, she can cause plenty of mess and damage in her own right — often even more than a housebroken dog or litter-trained cat. Keeping her confined to a cage is not the answer, as I explained earlier.

Another consideration is the noise level. If you live in a multi-unit building or in close proximity to others and your bird is prone to shrieking – which many big birds are — you’ll be as unpopular with your neighbors as the pet owner with the dog that barks for hours on end. I actually had to pay extra for my cockatoo to live with me in my apartment years ago. The landlord indicated that birds could be more destructive to the property than dogs or cats.

• Birds are attractive and interesting to have around.

Many birds have feather coats that are incredibly beautiful and vibrantly colored – it is a joy every time you look at them. Bird behavior is also fun and interesting to observe, and can even lower your stress level.

But keep in mind … Birds should never be considered as pretty cage ornaments or part of a home’s decor. Pet birds are not the feathered equivalent of brightly colored aquarium fish. They are every bit as high maintenance as other more common types of pets, and indeed require a great deal more time and attention than many other companion animals.

• Many birds live a very long time.

A long-lived pet can be extremely attractive to a person who has suffered the heartbreak of losing a dog, cat or other companion animal — even if the pet died at what is considered a ripe old age for his species.

But keep in mind … Depending on your age and the age and species of the bird you bring home, your pet might easily outlive you. Contemplating who will take care of your beloved bird after you’re gone can be as difficult as knowing a pet is destined to leave you long before you’re ready to say good-bye. A decision about what kind of pet is best for you should always include considering what is also best for the pet.

Taking care of a pet is a great way for kids to learn about responsibility and care for animals. Pets also provide companionship and entertainment. Just teach your child the proper way of taking care a pet and guide him/her in doing so. Through this article, may bring parents can consider having a pet for their children.