The best pet is small. Pets: types, origin, interesting facts. The dog with Angelina Jolie's tattoo loves necklaces and perfume

In our article we want to talk about how to choose a pet and whether it is worth getting one at all. Of course, every child dreams of him. But for parents this is certainly a problem, because they understand that all responsibility will fall on them. It’s hardly worth believing children’s promises that the baby himself will look after and care for the cat or dog, at least at first.

Pet: to take or not to take?

Before you take an animal home, you need to understand that it will require your attention and warmth. You need to decide who you or your child would like.

Some people love dogs, others love cats, and still others love rodents or birds. In addition to likes, when choosing a living creature, it is important to study the nuances of caring for it and its habits.

Think about whether your pet will be a burden to you, and whether you can provide it with decent care. It is very bad if you adopt an animal and then, disappointed, want to get rid of it.

You can't do that. Any creature gets used to its owners. Believe me, for your attention and love it will also respond to you with affection and affection.

The best pet is a dog

First, decide why you need a four-legged friend. What kind of dog are you looking for? After all, different breeds have different personalities. If you want to show her your love and care, then you need a pet with a fun, mischievous personality. If you need a security guard, then that's a completely different matter. Then you'd better get a large dog of some working breed. You will not be able to collect all the traits in one animal, so choose a breed carefully. First of all, you need to be guided by whether you can provide decent care and education to your ward. For example, a service dog needs to be trained. And for this you will need to spend a lot of time or hire a dog handler. Are you ready for this? If yes, then feel free

Points to remember

Remember that a large dog will occupy some part of your apartment. And if you already have little space, this can be a problem. And in feeding there is a big difference between keeping a small lapdog or a large shepherd dog. You understand that a dog of considerable size needs to be prepared separately. He won't be able to eat leftovers from your table.

It's a little easier with small dogs. They eat less, and they don’t need much space. And it’s easier with upbringing. For example, the Pekingese's antics can be treated with indulgence. But you definitely can’t allow a shepherd dog too much. However, small dogs require a lot of attention to their person, moreover, they are very jealous.

When choosing a dog as a pet, remember that you will have to radically reconsider your life, maybe even change something in your apartment. Remember that you will have to take your child for a walk outside at least twice a day in any weather. But you will get a real, faithful friend who will always be waiting for you at home and rejoice at your arrival.

There is one more important point. The life of pets will bring you a lot of joy, but it will also bring some inconvenience. This is especially true for your possible departures. For example, you want to go on vacation, or your work involves frequent business trips, and you have a four-legged friend. Here you need to foresee in advance who can look after him during your absence. It is unlikely that you will be able to take your pet with you. Not to mention missing you, because there is no more loyal friend than her.

Cat

If your dream pet is a cat, then you most likely expect to receive warmth and affection from her after a hard day at work. Don't be so naive. Many breeds have, frankly speaking, a completely unangelic and unkind character, but rather, on the contrary, an aggressive one. Therefore, do not chase purebred specimens. Do not think that external beauty is an indicator of the inner world of an animal. Not at all.

Before making your choice, carefully study the behavioral characteristics of different breeds. And then decide for yourself what you want.

Pros and cons of keeping domestic cats

Remember that, whatever the breed, you will have to face the problem of an abundance of wool in the apartment. This means that you will either have to clean more often, or simply not pay attention to it.

There is another unpleasant moment in the behavior of cats. They can intensively mark the territory of your house or apartment, thus expressing their dissatisfaction. Sometimes this becomes a serious problem. But this also depends on the character of the particular animal. Everything is like people. One person is good, and the other is harmful or evil.

Cats have one wonderful feature. They are able to relieve stress well and quickly calm the owners, normalizing blood pressure.

A cat is a good pet for walks. Unlike dogs, she doesn't really need them. Very often, owners do not let their pets go outside at all, turning them purely into domestic creatures.

When choosing an animal, keep in mind that purebred cats are quite capricious in food and are more susceptible to various diseases, which means you will have to spend money on veterinarian services.

Poultry

A pet is not necessarily a cat or a dog. The choice is wider. You can, for example, get a bird: a parrot or a canary.

If you are ready to spend a lot of time on your pet and listen to their wonderful singing, then you need a bird. The good thing about winged animals is that they don’t need to be walked, and their food is inexpensive.

However, be prepared for the inconvenience of feathers flying around the room. Cleaning will need to be done much more often, especially during the molting period of the bird. But you will always enjoy wonderful singing.

As a rule, the cages for them are not very large, and therefore the feathered friend will need to be given the opportunity to fly around the apartment so that he can stretch his wings. Here you need to be prepared for the fact that the bird may slightly damage the wallpaper or furniture. Despite their small size, such pets have a strong beak that can tear even carpeting.

Domestic rodents

Nowadays, pet stores offer a huge selection of domestic rodents - rats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas. As a rule, they are easy to care for and reproduce frequently. Children like them because of their small size.

In general, rodents have a lot of advantages. But the disadvantages include a specific smell that appears when care is not very careful. However, if you use special fillers for cells, of which there is now a huge selection in stores, you will be able to cope with this problem.

And the biggest disadvantage is the short lifespan of such a pet. Hamsters, as a rule, rarely live past two years. And the loss of a little friend is fraught with a negative impact on your child’s psyche. This point must be taken into account.

Rodents cannot be treated. They are small and diseases affect them very quickly.

Habits of rodents

There is a lot of information about pets. It is better for future owners to study their habits so that there are no unexpected surprises later. For example, most rodents are nocturnal. This is the norm for them. So don't be surprised if you hear the wheel rattling in his cage in the middle of the night. This indicates that your hamster is out for a walk. During the day they are usually inactive and dormant, but at night they become active.

Rodents will not resist at all if a child starts playing with them, and sometimes even squeezing them. As a rule, they are peaceful. And you can easily travel with the cage or give it to relatives while you’re away.

It is easier to adopt such a pet for a while than a dog or cat, since they are easier to care for. In general, hamsters are very funny, it will be interesting for a child to watch and play with them. Such an animal will never harm a baby.

Exotic pets

Pets that are familiar to us from childhood. However, recently it has become fashionable to have exotic animals: spiders, snakes, crocodiles, insects, snails, etc. Let's start with the fact that this is extremely dangerous. It is not clear what motivates people when making a choice in favor of exotics.

Certainly not with the desire to receive love and attention, but rather to somehow show off in front of friends.

Remember the possible risks to which you expose not only yourself, but also your family members, by purchasing exotic. Learn as much as you can about this topic. Such representatives of the animal world can become carriers of all kinds of infections.

Instead of an afterword

A good pet is, above all, safe. This needs to be remembered if you decide to have one for your child. After all, communication with him should bring only joy and positive emotions to the younger family member, and at the same time gradually teach him that an animal needs to be looked after.

This will develop in the baby a sense of responsibility for the creature under his care. Such skills will be very useful to him in later life.

Who helps kids develop, and old people not to get bored alone, children to play, and adults to emotionally relax after a hard day of work? There is only one answer: the list of which is quite large today.

Cats, dogs

The list opens with the most popular pets: dogs and cats. They have long lived next to a person, helping him in everything. If cats are less useful in everyday life (they are good for relaxation, and, of course, for treatment), then dogs have always helped people in practice: they guarded them and were accomplices in hunting. Caring for these animals is quite simple. Cats can be completely indoor cats; not all of them require outdoor exercise. But dogs need to be walked outside as often as possible. There can be no problems with nutrition here, because in addition to regular food that suits them, there are specialized foods - they not only nourish the body, but also saturate it with vitamins and microelements, which are so necessary for the growth and development of these animals.

Fish

What other popular pets are there? These are fish that primarily bring aesthetic satisfaction to the owner. It is believed that fish are great for calming the nerves, and watching their lives is calming. Caring for them is not very difficult; you can also purchase special food. It is only necessary to clean the aquarium from time to time.

Birds

Birds such as parrots and canaries are very popular in the role. They are small in size and fit easily into cages. But it is worth considering that these birds are very noisy. Caring for them is easy - food and all supplies can be bought at the nearest pet store.

Small rodents

The following pets are added to the list: hamsters, ornamental pigs, chinchillas, miniature rabbits, etc. These are small fluffy balls that children like so much. But it is worth considering that they often give off a not very pleasant smell. This is why caring for the cells of these animals is so important. They need to be cleaned as often as possible. Feeding such pets will also not be a problem, you just need to know what should be included in their diet.

Reptiles

Reptiles today are also pets. The list of them is quite wide; you can keep anyone in your home: a snake, a lizard, a turtle, an iguana and even a crocodile! But first you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for caring for such animals: you need to strictly monitor the temperature in their home, humidity, and water level (for turtles). Feeding should also not be a problem, because pet stores offer a range of food for such pets.

Spiders

Well, probably the scariest and the last thing on the list are spiders. It is worth saying that it is very important to find out everything about your new pet in advance, because you can purchase a rather dangerous individual that can pose a threat even to the owner. Such animals cannot be trained, so it is impossible to predict their next step. Food for spiders can also be purchased at a pet store. It is important to carefully monitor the humidity and temperature in their home, because even the life of the animal may depend on it.

Man is a sociable creature. Living in big cities, people increasingly began to have pets. This allows you to relieve stress, have fun and gain joy from communicating with the animal world. No matter who the pets are, humans express love, care, and expect a loyal reaction.

The childhood dream of many is to have a kitten or puppy. However, sometimes the pet turns out to be not so cute animals. Some people lovingly care for the tarantula spider, or cockroach. The variety of animals that have begun to live at home is great.

The difference between wild animals and domesticated ones is that animals do not need care and care. For domestic animals, people provide shelter, food and even take care of their health, periodically using the services of a veterinarian.

Pets are divided into two large groups:

  • those who live in a house with a person;
  • those kept in the yard.

Let's look at the most common pet animals and consider their descriptions.

Animals living in the house

Consider the following animals:

  • cat;
  • dog;
  • parrot;
  • fish;
  • rabbits.

The cat is a common pet that lives close to humans. The family quickly gets used to the new pet, especially if it appeared in the house at a very early age. Most cats do not require much attention and are unpretentious in food and care.

A dog is man's friend. This animal instinctively knows how to show outstanding devotion. She needs care, affection and attention from her owner. Most breeds are trainable. This animal can become not only a true friend, but also a reliable guard.

Parrots are different. The bird can be quite tiny, but some breeds are large in size. Sometimes, a parrot can be taught to speak - it will be able to repeat familiar words and even answer certain questions. Feeding a parrot is not difficult.

Fish are another type of pet that is kept near humans. An aquarium is being prepared for them. The size of the container depends on the number of individuals and the species. For some fish, an aquarium with a volume of 3-5 liters will be enough, but for others you will have to prepare an aquarium of 100 or more liters.

Rabbits are furry animals that quickly become family favorites. These animals are profitable to keep, caring for them is simple and they do not require special attention. By observing the life of rabbits, you can learn a lot of new things and get unforgettable emotions.

Animals living in the yard

A barnyard is more common in private homes. Some animals are kept in the garden. Most often you can see:

  • horse;
  • pig;
  • cow;
  • sheep.

Horses can be kept for riding and participating in competitions. In agricultural areas, this is a powerful labor force that can help with land work and for transporting goods. They are rarely kept for horse meat.

Pigs are kept for meat. It is distinguished by its fat content and nutritional value. After slaughter, it is preserved and from one animal you can get so much product that it will last a small family for the whole winter.

Sheep give milk and their wool is sheared. After slaughter you can get tasty meat. It's not easy to keep them. It is important to know the intricacies of care.

Care and maintenance

Regardless of which animal becomes a pet, the owner has the responsibility to provide it with everything it needs. A person is responsible for the one he has tamed. In order for the presence of an animal near a person to create a pleasant picture, it is worth considering several features when caring for it.

Nutrition

The diet of pets should be balanced. There should be enough food. Before buying a pet, it is worth clarifying how much food it needs daily and what kind of food it should be.

If your pet is small, you need to take into account that it will require vitamins. Being in the wild, animals know how to get everything they need themselves, but in captivity this responsibility falls on humans. More often this can be done by buying special supplements, or introducing fruits and vegetables into the diet.

Purity

It is important that your pet is clean. This will help avoid the appearance of an unpleasant odor. The health of both family members and animals will depend on the degree of cleanliness.

If annoying insects appear in your pet's bedding, it will be extremely difficult to get rid of them. It's easier to prevent infection. Regardless of the type of pet, cleaning is carried out every day.

Monitor the health

A pet will not tell a person if something hurts. Reasonable love will encourage the owner to observe the condition and behavior of the pet. If he becomes lethargic or begins to refuse usual foods, this is a reason to consult a veterinarian.

To prevent the development of diseases, it is better to prevent them. There are various vaccines for this. Vaccinations are given according to schedule.

How do they benefit people?

It all depends on what kind of animal has settled in the house. Some are kept for food, dairy products and wool, that is, for economic reasons.

Other pets bring moral satisfaction. Communication with an animal helps relieve emotional stress, reduce stress and even prevent depression. An animal in the house is a source of joy for every family member.

Having chosen a beloved pet, a person will experience the joy of his own generosity and care, and expect gratitude and devotion from the pet.

Many of us or our friends and acquaintances have pets. Most often, these are cats, dogs and aquarium fish.

Who else is in the TOP 10 pets?

1 Cats

This animal rightfully takes first place in this ranking. According to various research centers, their number was more than 200 million as pets. Although some scientists cite figures such as 500 million or more. Regardless of their number, most people can say that their favorite animal is the cat. This is a great achievement for such small animals that have not changed for many centuries.

2 Pisces


Oddly enough, these are not dogs or birds, but aquarium and other types of domestic fish. Their number is approximately comparable to the number of cats. Actually, this is only due to the fact that even in a small home aquarium, you can keep dozens of these beautiful waterfowl. There are more than 28 thousand species of fish. Of course, it is difficult to find even a tenth of them in the assortment of a pet store. But nevertheless, today you can often find the species we like among those who like to breed fish.

3 Dogs


Although these truly faithful animals are in third place, the number of people who prefer dogs is the majority. In 2007, in America alone, there were more than 72 million pet dogs. The dogs gained popularity due to their loyalty to their owner and high degree of trainability. It is also worth considering that in many countries of the world these animals help people in various social services, rescue and law enforcement organizations.

4 Birds


They are most popular in Asian countries, where, unlike other regions, poultry farming has been practiced for many thousands of years. Canaries, peacocks, parrots, ostriches, chickens, turkey - this is just a small part of the many different species. Let’s not forget about such a noble activity as falconry. Now this event has become more of a sporting event and is not so common, but several centuries ago it was really popular.

5 Horses


For several generations, these beautiful and noble animals have been the most popular in the world. In the Middle Ages, horses were the only means of transportation around the world and were used as household assistants. In fact, even now, in some villages the horse is still an integral “member of the family.” Although this is most likely rare and outlandish, horse riding as a hobby and sport has been actively developing in recent decades in many countries of the world.

6 Rabbits


Many people perceive rabbits more as food than as a pet. But this is most likely due to ignorance. Today there are about 40 pure breeds and almost as many different hybrids. Decorative rabbits, for example for keeping in an apartment, have many different shades of wool and come in different sizes. They became popular as pets due to their pleasant nature and ease of care.

7 Turtles


Not so popular can most likely be attributed to the exotic nature of turtles. Although, in the USA alone, their number exceeds 2 million. There are over 250 species worldwide, however many are not well suited for keeping indoors due to their habitat. Also, many species are listed in the Red Book and are endangered. Due to these factors, the private sale of turtles is prohibited in some countries.

8 Hamsters


These small, fluffy, cuddly rodents are very popular with children. Due to their low cost and ease of care, they do not burden their owner. They are mainly nocturnal, so some people associate them with motionless and inactive creatures. Although this is far from true. With proper maintenance and affectionate treatment, they become very tame; some species can even be trained.

9 Ferrets


Also classified as rodents, like rabbits and hamsters. However, in some countries their content is illegal. The reason for their illegal status is their ability to harm their owner. Due to their extremely sharp teeth, they are often classified as wild animals. Despite this prejudice, many people enjoy owning these active animals. There is, however, another factor in their not being particularly popular. This is a specific smell of the glands, which not everyone wants to put up with.

10 Guinea pigs


Small furry animals native to Peru. By the way, they are not pets there, but are eaten as food. Their number is approximately equal to that of ferrets. There are different breeds, the main difference between them is most often the size of the animal itself and the length of its fur. An interesting feature of guinea pigs is that they can adapt to the lifestyle of their owner. To be more precise, their active lifestyle occurs precisely when the owner is awake.

Almost every family has a pet, and sometimes more than one. Traditionally these are guinea pigs, parrots and fish. But some daredevils dare and get very unusual animals that do not like to live in captivity. But love works wonders!

The editors of InPlanet have compiled a list of the most exotic pets that people have in their homes. This is surprising, but most of them do not require special care and can coexist quite peacefully in the same house with a person!

20 Hyacinth Macaw

This luxurious beauty is considered the largest parrot in the world and is listed in the Red Book as a vulnerable species. However, it is popular as a pet, despite the fact that its price reaches several thousand dollars. But the hyacinth macaw loves people very much, and is ready to constantly cuddle with its owner and play with toys. In addition, by buying such a pet, the owner practically saves it from extinction, because humanity has almost destroyed the forests where this species of bird lived.

19 Kangaroo


This unique pet is not often found in residential buildings, because the kangaroo is very strong and powerful. But people who are lucky enough to become their owners note that kangaroos are very loyal to those who raise them from birth. These marsupials are very intelligent and even show compassion towards other types of pets.

18 Turtle


This type of pet is no longer something unusual, but still, turtles are exotic animals. They are not particularly emotional, do not express their love for their owner, but are very loved by children. In addition, almost all turtles are long-lived!

17 Silver fox


This fox is a domesticated version of the common fox and is very popular among exotic animal lovers. They should not be confused with silver foxes, which are bred exclusively for fur in animal husbandry. The silver fox is originally from Siberia, but can now be bought from any corner of the globe.

16 Lama


Adorable llamas are now very popular as pets, especially on farms. They are fluffy, soft and good-natured, which makes them indispensable helpers around the house. Llamas are very clean, do not require much care and are extremely friendly.

15 Capybara


These sociable rodents are not ideal pets, because they love to taste everything. But capybaras are very sociable and love to live in groups. So, if you want to get yourself this animal, get ready for a whole family!

14 Spotted genet


These unusual animals resemble ferrets and are predators by nature. They were very popular pets in the Middle Ages, but they were replaced by cats. Genetta are easily tamed and are excellent at catching mice and rats. But these animals are not very affectionate and will not tolerate hugs from their owner!

13 Skunk


It is not clear why these animals are in demand, because they are absolutely unpredictable. In a moment of danger, a skunk can spray a stinking liquid from under its tail that will make the house uninhabitable for a week. But, nevertheless, they are quite popular!

12 Bengal cat


These gorgeous cats are Bengal hybrids and are adapted for living with humans. They perfectly combine all the positive qualities of both types. Bengals are amazing hunters, but at the same time very friendly to children and other pets.

11 Monkey


These animals often become pets because they are very smart and easy to train. It is important to raise a monkey from a young age, otherwise the adult pet may begin to show character. They are very close to people with their emotional behavior and have a high level of intelligence.

10 Axolotl


This species of salamander is nicknamed the sea dog. Axolotls are popular among lovers of unusual animals because of their appearance. The difficulty of keeping these amphibians lies in maintaining a constant temperature in the aquarium and a special diet consisting of earthworms or fresh-frozen sea cocktails.

9 Mini donkey


If a child dreams of a real horse, you can replace it with this pet. Mini donkeys are not particularly smart and have poor memory. But they have other qualities - donkeys are affectionate, funny and very obedient.

8 Fennec


These foxes are a cross between a cat and a dog. They are very active, play a lot and literally “annoy” their owner with their increased activity. Fenechs are affectionate like cats, loyal and playful like dogs. Unlike other foxes, they are most adapted to humans.

7 Kinkajou


These representatives of the raccoon family are very socially active and adapted to humans. However, they have their own idea of ​​living together - they love to scream loudly and crawl around on top. Kinkajous are very friendly and easy to train.

6 Bearded dragon


This animal is perfect for fans of the series "Game of Thrones", because it surprisingly resembles a dragon. Despite their aggressive appearance, agamas are very affectionate and gentle. For the most part, these lizards live in an aquarium, but sometimes you can pick them up and play with them.

5 Chinchilla


These charming animals are perhaps the most ideal pets for those who do not like much hassle. Chinchillas are hypoallergenic, gentle, fragile and completely silent. Unfortunately, chinchillas are often bred for their valuable fur, but there are also special species of animals for life in captivity.

This distant relative of Godzilla makes the perfect pet. The slow speed of the iguana's movement can sometimes be confusing - as if it were a plastic model and not a living creature. Iguanas are herbivores, so no special care is required for them.

2 Red-footed tarantula


These Mexican spiders look very creepy and you'll want to run away just by looking at this black and red monster! However, exotic lovers keep these tarantulas at home, because they are actually very docile and good-natured. But it’s better not to provoke them into aggression!

1 Crocodile


Yes, these bloodthirsty predators can make cute pets too! They grow in enclosures and even swim in pools, but require careful care. In addition, it is difficult to hug such a pet, and it is undesirable to turn your back to it!

As you can see from this list, people keep even the strangest and sometimes creepiest animals as pets. Even the most formidable predator can be tamed and made gentle and obedient!