Looking into a Pet...

I recomend a guinue pig. They are hardy. Not too small and a good family pet.I have had one both at homeand in a classroom for years. I teach preschool, yes 2 year olds.
If you live in the St Louis area,see the Humanae Society. I have had good luck with the guinue pigs I have gotten from them.

We've owned almost every type of animal with the exception of a sugar glider. I really want that experience someday.

What I've learned is no child, well intentioned or not, will actually do most of the work. It is a struggle. So I would not do a pet unless you like it well enough to take on at least 1/2 to 3/4th of the chores for the pet.

I agree that birds are messy and noisy. The noise really doesn't bother me often at all. But the mess gets under my skin after awhile.

I finally let go of my seahorses. You can have ZERO life outside of the house with seahorses. The care is by far the most labor intensive of any animal I've ever had.

Cats are wonderful pets. But they are costly and can be a problem if they are ignored or the cat box is allowed to be stinky. Once they get sick or start to pee elsewhere because of a dirty box, it can be hard to restore cleanliness and order.

Dogs are so labor intensive, almost as bad as the seahorses. I really hope that one day my life is dog free. I love the 2 I have. I try really hard to be a good dog owner. But I really regret the life long commitment involved.

All animals are a real commitment.

Suzi

I would highly, highly recommend gerbils. They are the least likely rodent to bite, their cage needs cleaned infrequently, and they are very low matience with cost, vet bills, etc. They do prefer compansionship so make sure to get two (one of for each kid) when you go to the pet store. Make sure that you get the same sex. PetSmart is a male-only gerbil store so you don't have to worry about breeding!

In our house we have a cat, dog, two fish, and for the summer my classroom gerbils. The gerbils are by far the easiest!

I have some experience with birds as pets. My mother used to have a parakeet which she loved dearly. He wasn't hard to care for, but died within a couple of years of getting him. The Vet said that this wasn't uncommon. A friend of my mothers had several larger birds (2 love birds, 2 cockatiels, a cockatoo, and 2 Amazonian Parrots). They were lovely to look at, but the excreted (crapped) on everything! They were also very noisey when their cages were uncovered. They were always throwing food and stuff out of their cages. They liked to perch either on my friend or near her so they either excreted down her back or on the couch or chair where she sat. One of the parotts had an extreme potty mouth (had once belonged to a trucker that apparently talked like a sailor). This bird spoke very clearly so my firend really didn't want to invite the preacher or his wife over. When her school-aged son would bring friends home, they often went back to their homes with a whole new vocabulary. I encourage you to start out with smaller birds rather than larger ones and to consider the excreting factor.

Good luck.

I recommend a cat. They require the least amount of care. Just keep on top of the litter box, feed, and play with it. Your kids will love it!

Birds can be very dirty and have to have special considerations. If you have a bird in the house, you should not use any pans, waffle irons, or anything else that has a teflon coating. You cannot use a self-cleaning oven with the bird in the house. The teflon coatings and self-cleaning ovens put toxins in the air that are fatal for birds.

If you want a rabbit, they can easily be litter box trained. Just be aware that they are nibblers and will bite through power cords and cables. Don't be surprised if your computer won't turn on one day...

I'd recommend a cat or a dog. So much easier to care for, and it's also easier to find someone willing to watch them if you go on vacation!

We've had fish but nobody really wanted to look at them that much and they were a mess to clean. One time we had guppies and were able to witness the birth which the boys thought fun but then when the father ate them it was traumatic. We didn't know they did that. Our gerbils were nice but so noisy at night they drove us crazy. I don't vote for them at all. The rabbits were so sweet, we had two loop eared, and yet very bad for little kids with the scratching if scared, etc. They were kept in a cage so they didn't nibble things but were able to hop around in the house when watched. Not good for a 2 yr. old in my opinion. The guinea pigs were sweet and our kids put leashes on them and walked them outside, we had a beautiful liter of babies which a pet store paid me for, and yet they are very easily frightened and one dropped over dead after our collie just got close to it. They bite sometimes but not often. More of nibble. Cats are nice but don't like to be carried by 2 yr. olds usually and are not really interested in playing most of the time. Dogs are the best in my opinion. They will run and play and sit by the kids and be part of the family if allowed to join in and be part of things. We had a miniature Poodle for 15 years, she was 17 when she died of old age, and she was family and all of our kids took part in her funeral, in our back yard with just our family. She is still missed. I think a dog that is medium size and likes to play would be great for your kids. People look at Poodles as sissy dogs sometimes but they are so playful and loyal and very smart. Our dog knew as many words and small children do and we had to whisper or spell things sometimes. I hope you find the right pet but remember they are there to board when you go anywhere and need shots, grooming, etc. We got our dog when she was 20 months old so she was housebroken and very well behaved. The people just moved and had an allergy problem with their son. You might find something like that so you didn't have to do the training yourself.

Good Morning B., Birds are messy, bunnies nibble on anything in their path. Gr daughter has a rabbit and my son built an outside two story cage for her. They can let her out during the day in the yard and comes in once in a while in bad weather. I wouldn't get a bunny.
They almost have a zoo at their house, 1, dog, 2 cats, several fish, 2 gerbils, 3 turtles.

If you want something the children can play with and learn responsibility of caring for, cats are independent creatures, dogs are fun and playful. House breaking is the pits some times. A rescue cat or dog would be prefect as most are already trained and well behaved, ready to be loved.

God Bless you on your quest
K. Nana of 5

thru the years, we've had many different types of pets. So here's my take:

rabbits: a pain to clean up after. They nibble everything in sight. Die easily if dropped...which happens frequently with children.

fish: a pain to clean the tank & STINK if you don't keep up with the cleaning. A joy, pleasure to watch ...if a bit boring after 2 minutes of watching.

hermit crabs: boring. somewhat stinky.

iguana: not much entertainment value. also somewhat stinky. & salmonella is a normal part of their digestive system....so you have to be vigilant with hand-scrubbing.

parakeet: fun to watch. Short life span. An absolute mess to clean-up after....as in you have to clean the area daily - that's how much they throw out of the cage! But I will say that owning a parakeet is great for senior citizens - my Grandmother is 88 & has experienced a positive change of life since getting a bird last year.

dogs: I'm prejudiced! I love my dogs. We have a rescue Olde English Sheepdog mix who's insane & the perfect companion to our 13y.o. .....and we have an insanely intelligent labradoodle which is the perfect example of "what" a labradoodle should be like! He is the perfect companion to whomever is in the room...he gears his mood & activity level to each family member, he can open doors, he performs on request, he doesn't shed! .....he's absolutely amazing! Oh, & the sheepdog mix sheds minimally as long as we keep him brushed & trimmed. Grooming costs do add up....so I've been doing it myself this year.

What I like about dogs is that it makes me get out & walk regularly. And with owning 2 big dogs (70-76lbs), it's a challenge to keep them worn-out. It keeps us moving ....even if it feels as if they're eating us out of house & home!

Good Luck with adding a pet to your family....& that's what it is: you are choosing a new family member!

We always had birds and fish growing up and they are great pets for small kids. Birds can be pricey but they don't have to be. My mom has raised birds as long as I can remember and there are all kinds of people out there that you can buy them from. Honestly, most pet shops are expensive and they don't treat their birds or fish very well. Look in your local paper for people who have birds for sell. That is where my mom always advertises. A lot of people who raise them will also hook you up with a cage and starter supplies for pretty cheap.

This might surprise you but rats make EXCELLENT pets for children. THEY are actually the rodent that is least likely to bite and VERY intelligent. They can be litter box trained, will walk on a leash, and can be taught tricks. They are inexpensive to care for, cheap to purchase and dont require much. There are many recipes online to make their food (no cooking, more like trail mix). They are also very clean pets, and if their cage is kept clean have almost no smell. You can google "rats as pets" and get a lot of info!

GOOD LUCK

For small children just getting started with pet care I would highly recommend a rat. They are wonderful pets. I have worked with rats in a pet store, a vet clinic and even in a lab setting. They are friendly, curious, and gentle. They can be very entertaining and can be taught simple tricks. Gerbils can have the end of their tail pulled off if not gentle. Rabbits chew on everything. Birds can be messy. Guinea pigs can be okay but need their cage changed at least 3 times a week. Hamsters need to be handled on a regular basis. One of the rats that came to out vet clinic liked to roll over and have his belly rubbed. They are easy for even small children to care for. I have worked with almost every kind of small pet and have never, never been bitten by a rat. Their cage just needs to be cleaned about once a week and if they get a little smelly you can even give them a bath. I would recommed a pair of young males. They get along great in pairs and tend to be more gentle than if kept alone. Its also funny to watch them play with each other and they can keep each other company when you are not home. You can buy a large bird cage, a ferret cage or a cage made for rats. I would be sure to use the shredded aspen bedding for the bottom. If you are kind of handy you can make a cage out of a large clear storage tote. Just buy 2 lids, cut out the inner portion of the lids and leave the edges intact, use epoxy to glue the two lids on top of each other with metal screen in the opening. Just make sure that whatever pet you get you are willing to put in the time to make sure they are cared for properly. Good luck.

I'd recommend a dog, but since you work full-time, it might become quite lonely. Cats are good; they are independent and can be litter trained so you don't have to worry about being gone all day. I would not recommend a bird, a turtle, fish, hamsters, etc. since they cannot be played with as much by the kids.
Also, be prepared that whatever type of pet you get, it will be your main responsibility since your kids are so young.
We have had turtles (fun, but not too interactive; also the fear of salmonella) and now have a dog (WONDERFUL!!! She is kennel trained; a real cuddly blessing to our family) and within a month will have an aquarium of fish (not my first choice, but I have to live up to my end of a promise!)
Best of luck choosing what is best for your family.

Birds stink and are noisey! Rabbits are notorious for getting sick fast and dying. Not good. Go for an inside kitten instead. They are sweet. Just change their litter box often!! And make sure you get plenty of kitty toys and a scratching post.

We just got into salt water aquarium and it is too cool - for me at least. Our 2 1/2 year old likes to "help" by changing water and washing the outside of the tank. It can be a pricey hobby but is easy once you take the time to get it set up right. A freshwater tank would probably be fun too - and the fish are cheaper. There are some really funny looking goldfish out there.

My mother in law has birds, and she loves them. We have fish (VERY EASY), a hamster (EASY), a turtle (EASY but have to watch for salmonella) and frogs (kind of a pain to catch bugs, but you can also buy them).

Fish are the easiest for little kids. Depending upon how much you want to spend, if you just want a minimal investment, a beta is good. THey don't require much room and other than feeding daily and periodic tank changes, they're not hard. You can go all out with an aquarium and salt water fish, but that gets very pricey.

Our hamster is also very easy. Just give food and water and change his bedding once every couple of weeks. He's pretty easy, and he's very cute running around in his exercise ball.

My kids love our little red eared slider turtle. He's pretty easy and doesn't require much attention. They carry salmonella, so you'll have to be careful and make sure your kids wash up after handling them.

My husband is allergic to cats and I don't want to potty train a dog, so we haven't gone there yet.
Good luck.

I just wanted to tell you of my experiences with birds. My grandmother worked in a chicken processing place when she was young and contracted Histoplasmosis, this is a disease you can contract from bird droppings, her's was in her lungs similar to TB, but hers was encapsulated and wouldn't spread. We had a friend years later who had pet birds and contracted the same disease, he started loosing his eyesight. Both were from their exposure to birds, the disease doesn't spread from someone who has the disease, but there is something in the droppings that you can inhale that causes this. After hearing this I was afraid to have birds even though they seemed like they would be interesting to be around.
I love my dogs when my son was young we had a big mutt that was his best friend. He would lay down so my son could use him as a pillow as he petted the dogs ear like a blanket and drank his bottle. I would suggest a dog only if you have a fenced yard and intend to make the dog a part of the family.

birds are good is you can handle the noise and mess. birds can be pretty messy. i wouldnt recommend a rabbit for a 2 year old, just because they can be really skittish and when they thumb with their back legs it can hurt and scratch. i know it sounds boring, but fish are always good. they are really fun for kids to feed and pick out. they are pretty low maintenance too. Guinea pigs are good too! they take more effort, their cages need to be cleaned about twice a week or so depending on how messy the specific guinea pig is, but they are very sweet tempered.

I had a rabbit, and while they are super cute, fun, and entertaining, they are generally pretty timid, and you'd have to be pretty careful with your kids around them. Iolaus wasnt very expensive, I think I paid 30 for him at Petco, but his cage was about 100. After that, his bills were mostly food and litter for his litter box. (Rabbits can be litter box trained, but they need them in multiple rooms if you let them out of their cage to roam). We loved ours, he was great, but I've been around other people's who bite and are mean. So, really, probably about how any animals are. Good luck in your decision!

i have 3 dogs and 2 kittens and 10 chickens and fish and my daughter is only 18 months old. first of all remember you will be taking care of the animal not the kids. although your girl may be able to help she probably won't remember to clean a cage or litter box. I've had bad luck with guinea pigs but those were from a pet shop and hadn't been handled enough. any animal is going to smell if you don't clean them or their area often enough. rabbits can be good pets and my family never had problems with them getting sick and dying early. but it all depends on where you get them and how well you take care of them.

a two year old can be good with any pet so long as the parents are responsible and teach them how to properly handle them and what to feed them and what not to feed them. it take alot of work for a pet and a child and a lot of teaching from the parent.

B.,

I have found that guinea pigs make good starter pets for younger kids. They don't require the maintenance and care of dogs or cats, they are relatively inexpensive to buy (in the $10-$20 range) and are hardy enough to be handled by the kids. They are larger than hamsters and gerbils so they are easier to keep track of (little chance of going in between the walls!). My recommendation is that you get the nails trimmed and have the kids play with it often to get it used to it. They are easy to keep and clean up and its something the kids can do themselves with supervision. Of course, you need to make sure that your kids are not allergic.

Good luck!
J. B.
Paola, KS

Then you must clean the cage and birdseed is hard to get out of carpet and messy to clean up even on hard floors. Birds also stink and thier poop will have to be scraped off the perch if any get on it and sometimes they poop on the water and food.....I hated birds. Get a cat. we just got one for our kids 12, 6 and 4 and it's goes in the litter box, it's funny to watch and the kids can interact with it more.

We already have two pets: dogs. Frankly, they entertain our child (and her "big kid friends") who come over from time to time. A small dog (boston terrier, french bulldog, etc) might be a good option. Also, adopting a small dog from a shelter will provide you both a "fostering period" and free vaccines for the first year. Usual vet cost/year (this includes check-ups, shots, heartguard, and advantix) runs about $300/year for a small dog. If you're military or have access to post, this cost can be cut in half. I grew up with dogs, and have vivid memories of playing with them in the yard, dressing them up, walking them, cuddling, etc. Not my favorite dogs, but poodles are common in shelters and are hypoallergenic. Might look at fostering a small dog as a trial run, explain to the kids you are helping the dog assimilate to families...that way, you can get a chance to try it out.

Hi B. - To give you some background on my "professional opinion", I have a B.S. in zoology and managed a large pet store for 8 years...so my personal recommendation based on your kids' ages would be a pet rat.

I know a lot of people freak out when they hear the word rat...but believe me, I've converted many a mom to a devoted rat lover. They're extremely intelligent, clean, affectionate and fully capable of learning simple tricks like coming when called. They can be a little skittish as babies, but they calm down and are usually great as adults if they've been handled regularly. Males are usually larger and calmer than females, but some people just can't deal with the big rodent testicles so they end up getting a female. :)

They come in a variety of colors and can even be curly haired or hairless. Best of all (from a kid's perspective), they can eat anything you eat...fruits, veggies, grains, etc. If it's good for you, it's good for a rat and kids love to give treats to pets. From a parent's perspective, the best thing may be that they have a somewhat short lifespan and only live 2 years or so. This is what I would consider a perfect low-commitment, easy-to-care-for pet! Good luck.

B.-

I thought I would answer your question from a non-animal having parent. I don't dislike pets, just don't really love them either. My husband and I have talked about and considered animals for our child(ren) (in the future). Here are the pros/cons from people I know who have these pets (and from my point of view - a person who DOESN"T have them!):

1. Dog Pros: Cuddly, fun for kids, possible guard/protection dog, may not have to walk it a lot (depending on size), theraputic for kids/adults
Dog Cons: If a puppy - potty training, have to walk it daily (depending on size), may be a 'barker' or a 'biter' or not friendly around kids

2. Cat Pros: Fun to play with, self-sufficient, no need to potty train, easy to clean up and care for, no walks needed
Cat Cons: Walking over your countertops/tables (something I don't like since they walk in their poop/pee), may not be very social, may be very active at night, not necessarily great for kids/babies

3. Bird Pros: In a cage (ie: no running away or getting lost!), easy to care for and clean up (for younger kids too)
Bird Cons: Some die easily/young, LOUD!!!

4. Gerbil/Hamster Pros: In a cage (ie: no runing away or getting lost!), easy to care for and clean up (for younger kids too), can be fun to hold because they are small
Gerbil/Hamster Cons: May be biters (ie: no holding), may get lost easily if they get out, most likely will be messy around cage area, stinky!

5. Snakes/Frogs/Newts (anything you can put into an aquarium but not fish) Pros: Easy to care for (no walking, no much to clean up)
Cons: May get loose, snakes can be expensive

6. So we've come to the last (and my favorite one(s)).....FISH!!!!
Pros: Easy to care for, beautiful, nice sound (of the water), great in any room in the house, easily replaced/added to if they die
Cons: Not always easy to clean (depending on size of tank), may die often

Good luck!