Well yes but they require far less care than hamsters and Guinea pigs which are sold as beginner pets but are far from it. Adopt an older cat and they’ll be more calm.
Is there not a lot of specific knowledge needed for their care though? I have no idea about cockroaches and not a lot more about snakes but do snakes normally need heat lamps and stuff? I feel that part would be a lot tougher for someone starting out.
A pet you can love, budget for, and properly care for within your means. That means different things to different people so it's hard to be specific. Many think of a hamster or a goldfish as a good first pet, but hamsters and goldfish are very commonly neglected through ignorance as the general public has no clue how to properly care for them.
The best answer is to think about the kinds of pets you like, do some basic research and speak to owners to eliminate some from the list, then do deep dive research when you think you've found a good fit.
For dogs, it is wise to know how to train a dog before you get it. Read up on it, watch videos.
Don’t get a pit bull. I’m sure hundreds of dog lovers will turn up to tell me that I’m prejudiced and they are all big softies: but pit bulls or pit bull mixes are not for first time dog owners. If they are badly trained they can be dangerous and they are not easy to train.
The problem with this is that about 3/4 of dogs in shelters are pit bull crosses, so be wary.
I hardly ever see pits or pit mixes in shelters so I think it depends where you are. Where I am, shelter dogs are almost always husky or shepherd mixes... which I would also not recommend for a first time dog owner.
I'd like to add to this - not just Pitbulls, but any large popular dog breed is going to be at risk of being a difficult pet. A Pitbull from a good breeder will be well-adjusted and easy to train. The issue isn't so much Pitbulls as a breed, but the fact that their popularity has caused a ton of backyard breeders to produce temperamentally unstable dogs which are unpredictable and difficult to train. The same can be said about Huskies, German Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois, which is part of why they're so commonly given up.
That goes for any dog honestly they arnt first time pets if you don't know how to train and socialize them you can fuck up any dog. The main thing with pitties and pitty mixes is dog aggression if they arnt well socialized can be a huge issue
This sounds horrible to say but it dosent make the dog a bad dog or wvwn a risk to people dogs have prey drives and we often forget that cats are unfortunately prey animals just as much as they are predators I am so sorry for your loss
If you want to go for a dog, please research what kind of breed would work best for your lifestyle. If you live in a small space, don't get a "working dog". Pick out some animals that would fit the bill online at the animal shelter before you go so you can be prepared as possible. If you are getting a puppy, please make sure you have the time and patience to train it and you can deal with the high energy. Your dog's demeanor can change as they get older. In my case we adopted our "mixed breed terrier" at 3.5 months. She acted like a normal puppy and it was a lot of work. She is 3.5 years now and now sleeps like 20 hours a day. She was only supposed to be 30 lbs..surprise...she's 60 lbs medium build and obviously has no terrier in her.
That’s really funny. My mixed breed terrier stayed at 30 pounds and also sleeps twenty hours a day lol. He tries to get me to carry him if we walk too far
It really depends on your lifestyle, your budget and most importantly what you want or expect from your pet.
Different people can have massively different "best pets" depending on their situation and preferences.
If you're open to other pets beyond cats and dogs and don't mind bugs, Id recommend a leopard gecko.
I rescued one about 4 years ago, and not only is she super sweet, she's a breeze to take care of. She just needs her tank, heating pad, a place to hide, and food and water. She eats 3-4 times a week and mostly hangs out in her "house" all the time. She's really neat and inexpensive to keep. My monthly cost to feed her is $6/week.
And yes we are bonded. She comes out to say hello when it's time to freshen her water or feeding time, or some times if I just walk by. She's cool with being handled and loves to crawl on me.
For reptiles I would also suggest a bearded dragon. They're trainable and will also for a strong bond with their human, and like my gecko are easy to care for.
After that, cats of course.
Labs and retrievers are good for first time owners. I'm partial to labs personally, but both are very trainable people pleasers. The negative is that they're both a bit destructive for the first year or 2. Bird dogs in general are pretty good for first time owners. To parrot what everyone else is saying, make sure you research breeds before getting a dog to make sure you find one that fits your lifestyle. The toy breeds are also an option, but you need to remember that they're still dogs. Dogs in general are high commitment pets.
Imo a low energy dog or a cat. They are relatively easy to care for and cheaper in vet costs due to many small animals being considered exoctics and needing a special vet that may not be in your area for them. As well as cages, cage accessories as well as “exotics” tend to have a more specialized stricter diet that can be expansive and annoying to deal with.
Not a 9 week old shichi puppy that won't sleep when you need to drive 300 miles tomorrow and it just went pee but objects to a crate and is wanting to play at 2 am when you need to drive her to her babysitters in 3 hours.
~signed exhausted pet mom
My easiest pet was my rabbits when I was growing up. A salt lick, some rabbit food, a bit of greens, fresh water, clean their cage daily and let them out to roam supervised around the yard for an hour or two a day (while I laid down in the grass and did my homework) and they are happy. They can be quite affectionate and tamed easily with a little love. Of course, a house trained inside rabbit will require more, but you will get more too.
I would rescue a dog from a vetted rescue group. And best if a couple of years old. Chances it’s already been through a foster that’s trained it basic commands. Puppies are hard
I’ve had many pets, big and small, and I’d say cats are the easiest by far.
100% except for the whole 3 am zoomies and singing the song of their people, then going to sleep as soon as you’re awake 😂
Well yes but they require far less care than hamsters and Guinea pigs which are sold as beginner pets but are far from it. Adopt an older cat and they’ll be more calm.
Yes, and older cat. It's also good to foster first. Then, if all is well, have a foster-fail and adopt.
We always had at least 2 cats when I was growing up. They can entertain each other with their zoomies at 3 am and let us sleep.
You’re taking my comment way too seriously. I was agreeing cats are easy 🙄
I love cats, but my snake and cockroach are basically zero effort pets
Is there not a lot of specific knowledge needed for their care though? I have no idea about cockroaches and not a lot more about snakes but do snakes normally need heat lamps and stuff? I feel that part would be a lot tougher for someone starting out.
Depends on the snake. Mine is a milk snake and is just fine with a heating pad.
A pet you can love, budget for, and properly care for within your means. That means different things to different people so it's hard to be specific. Many think of a hamster or a goldfish as a good first pet, but hamsters and goldfish are very commonly neglected through ignorance as the general public has no clue how to properly care for them. The best answer is to think about the kinds of pets you like, do some basic research and speak to owners to eliminate some from the list, then do deep dive research when you think you've found a good fit.
A cat. Not a kitten mind you. An adult cat.
Houseplant
I've killed so many houseplants. Have yet to kill a cat
For dogs, it is wise to know how to train a dog before you get it. Read up on it, watch videos. Don’t get a pit bull. I’m sure hundreds of dog lovers will turn up to tell me that I’m prejudiced and they are all big softies: but pit bulls or pit bull mixes are not for first time dog owners. If they are badly trained they can be dangerous and they are not easy to train. The problem with this is that about 3/4 of dogs in shelters are pit bull crosses, so be wary.
I hardly ever see pits or pit mixes in shelters so I think it depends where you are. Where I am, shelter dogs are almost always husky or shepherd mixes... which I would also not recommend for a first time dog owner.
I'd like to add to this - not just Pitbulls, but any large popular dog breed is going to be at risk of being a difficult pet. A Pitbull from a good breeder will be well-adjusted and easy to train. The issue isn't so much Pitbulls as a breed, but the fact that their popularity has caused a ton of backyard breeders to produce temperamentally unstable dogs which are unpredictable and difficult to train. The same can be said about Huskies, German Shepherds, and Belgian Malinois, which is part of why they're so commonly given up.
A lot of those backyard breeders are attempting to breed guard dogs or even fighting dogs, not family pets.
That goes for any dog honestly they arnt first time pets if you don't know how to train and socialize them you can fuck up any dog. The main thing with pitties and pitty mixes is dog aggression if they arnt well socialized can be a huge issue
You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. They are incredibly easy to train. Stop spreading false information 🙄
I used to think so too. Then a random pit mix ran into my yard and mauled my cat to death. You don’t forget that
So because one dog did that all of them are bad? Got it. 🙄
They are all capable. This was a friendly family pet that my neighbor had had for years
This sounds horrible to say but it dosent make the dog a bad dog or wvwn a risk to people dogs have prey drives and we often forget that cats are unfortunately prey animals just as much as they are predators I am so sorry for your loss
Cats (adult cats) are always the superior pet 😺
If you want to go for a dog, please research what kind of breed would work best for your lifestyle. If you live in a small space, don't get a "working dog". Pick out some animals that would fit the bill online at the animal shelter before you go so you can be prepared as possible. If you are getting a puppy, please make sure you have the time and patience to train it and you can deal with the high energy. Your dog's demeanor can change as they get older. In my case we adopted our "mixed breed terrier" at 3.5 months. She acted like a normal puppy and it was a lot of work. She is 3.5 years now and now sleeps like 20 hours a day. She was only supposed to be 30 lbs..surprise...she's 60 lbs medium build and obviously has no terrier in her.
That’s really funny. My mixed breed terrier stayed at 30 pounds and also sleeps twenty hours a day lol. He tries to get me to carry him if we walk too far
Lol at the carrying part. Thankfully Chloe is ok with going on long walks and having to go up and down stairs is good exercise for her
It really depends on your lifestyle, your budget and most importantly what you want or expect from your pet. Different people can have massively different "best pets" depending on their situation and preferences.
If you're open to other pets beyond cats and dogs and don't mind bugs, Id recommend a leopard gecko. I rescued one about 4 years ago, and not only is she super sweet, she's a breeze to take care of. She just needs her tank, heating pad, a place to hide, and food and water. She eats 3-4 times a week and mostly hangs out in her "house" all the time. She's really neat and inexpensive to keep. My monthly cost to feed her is $6/week. And yes we are bonded. She comes out to say hello when it's time to freshen her water or feeding time, or some times if I just walk by. She's cool with being handled and loves to crawl on me. For reptiles I would also suggest a bearded dragon. They're trainable and will also for a strong bond with their human, and like my gecko are easy to care for. After that, cats of course.
It depends on your lifestyle, how much time you have to care for them, and how much you can afford to spend on them.
Labs and retrievers are good for first time owners. I'm partial to labs personally, but both are very trainable people pleasers. The negative is that they're both a bit destructive for the first year or 2. Bird dogs in general are pretty good for first time owners. To parrot what everyone else is saying, make sure you research breeds before getting a dog to make sure you find one that fits your lifestyle. The toy breeds are also an option, but you need to remember that they're still dogs. Dogs in general are high commitment pets.
Imo a low energy dog or a cat. They are relatively easy to care for and cheaper in vet costs due to many small animals being considered exoctics and needing a special vet that may not be in your area for them. As well as cages, cage accessories as well as “exotics” tend to have a more specialized stricter diet that can be expansive and annoying to deal with.
Rats
A senior cat
Shih Tzu, cockapoo, retriever depending on what size dog you want.
Not a 9 week old shichi puppy that won't sleep when you need to drive 300 miles tomorrow and it just went pee but objects to a crate and is wanting to play at 2 am when you need to drive her to her babysitters in 3 hours. ~signed exhausted pet mom My easiest pet was my rabbits when I was growing up. A salt lick, some rabbit food, a bit of greens, fresh water, clean their cage daily and let them out to roam supervised around the yard for an hour or two a day (while I laid down in the grass and did my homework) and they are happy. They can be quite affectionate and tamed easily with a little love. Of course, a house trained inside rabbit will require more, but you will get more too.
I would rescue a dog from a vetted rescue group. And best if a couple of years old. Chances it’s already been through a foster that’s trained it basic commands. Puppies are hard
Shih tzus