Sharing your home with an animal can have many benefits, including improved mental health and social skills. It can also combat feelings of loneliness, and even benefit your physical health, by reducing blood pressure and encouraging you to stay active.
If you’re thinking of getting a furry friend, it’s important to consider which animal will work best for your lifestyle so you can add a new member to your family with minimal stress.
Dog
Known as man's best friend, a pooch is the perfect companion for many families, with around 31% of animal owners opting for a dog. However, getting a dog is a major commitment. They have an average lifespan of around 14 years and their needs can be quite intensive, including proper nutrition, regular grooming and daily walks.
Different breeds of dog will have different exercise requirements, with smaller more sedate breeds, such as miniature dachshunds and chihuahuas needing around thirty minutes of exercise per day, versus larger breeds such as labradors and retrievers, who will need at least an hour. Working dogs, such as border collies and spaniels, can require upwards of two hours of exercise each day as well as mental stimulation at home to prevent them from becoming bored and destructive.
If you’re thinking of adopting a dog, take some time to consider your current lifestyle and how your new dog would fit in so you can be sure to find the perfect pooch to suit your family.
Rabbit
If you’re looking for a smaller furry friend that still offers fun and companionship, then a rabbit could be the answer. Easier to care for than a dog, rabbits don’t need to be taken out for walks every day but are still incredibly loving and inquisitive, making them an ideal choice for families with young children.
If you do adopt a rabbit, you’ll need to ensure that you have somewhere for your new furry friend to live, either inside or outside your home that meets the minimum standard requirements. A rabbit’s diet is largely made up of hay along with good quality rabbit food and fresh veggies, so you’ll also need to stock up on feeding hay for rabbits and small animals.
Bearded Dragon
For an animal that’s a little more out of the ordinary, why not consider adopting a bearded dragon? Bearded dragons are surprisingly affectionate reptiles with friendly, easy-going personalities.
They love to scale both people and furniture and it can be great fun to watch them climb and clamber their way around your home. Bearded dragons are also the perfect choice if you’re allergic to animal hair or fur dandruff.
Cat
Cats make wonderful, playful companions for any type of family, whether you adopt a kitten or an older cat, adding a feline to your home can be a great way to teach empathy, compassion and responsibility to young children. However, it’s important to teach children that cats also like their own space, and won’t tolerate being antagonised for very long!
Cats are often widely available to adopt from charitable organisations and cat rescues, due to the significant number of unneutered cats in the UK but bear in mind that they can live anything from twelve to twenty years so are a serious commitment.
