Beyond the Dog
Before caving and giving in to your child's constant begging for a puppy, take baby steps with a starter pet. Puppies are a lot of work and at times can be on par with having another child. There are many great options for great starter pets that will take less time, money and commitment than a dog. Plus these are a great way to stall and have your child show you they are ready for the ultimate pet—a dog.
Parakeets
Pros: Inexpensive, highly social and entertaining to watch
Cons: That “entertaining to watch” pro that’s listed above translates to "loud." They are quite chatty and can learn up to 100 words.
Image via Twenty20/artist-6756
Hamsters and Gerbils
Pros: Good tempered (for the most part) and don’t require much attention. They can get by with about five minutes of handling per day.
Cons: They are excellent escape artists and can squeeze through small holes. This might actually be a “pro” if you are having second thoughts about a pet.
Image via Twenty20/ezii
Betta Fish
Pros: Happy in a small bowl and pretty to look at
Cons: They are anti-social. Buy only one, because if you put two in a tank together they will fight to the death. Although if you’re really bored, you could easily turn that into a teaching moment.
Cats
Pros: Lower maintenance than a dog, cats bathe and groom themselves, they don’t bark, don’t require walks and they use a litter box.
Cons: While trainable, most won’t come when called and they can be finicky about when they want to spend time with you or be left alone. You’ll also have friends and family that will be allergic, but that will happen with a dog as well.
Image via Twenty20/okuta
Turtles
Pros: Even those who don’t like reptiles tend to have a soft spot for turtles. They are quiet, fairly easy to care for and don’t require a lot of attention.
Cons: They don’t cuddle and they can live well past when your children leave for college.
Image via Twenty20/BigForever
Rock
Pros: The pet rock was born in 1975 and marketed as the perfect pet because it would not need to be fed, walked or bathed. It also won't get sick or die.
Cons: We're having a hard time coming up with any cons on this one.
Image via Be a Fun Mum
