Two summers ago, Keith and Shirley Bihary’s sons Tommy, Alex and Jack wanted a dog. While Bihary really didn’t want to get another dog (the family has an older Yorkshire Terrier), she let her sons do some “dog searching” around the local shelters.
She never expected to fall in love with the Saint Bernard in one of the holding pens.
The shelter called the puppy “Chubby,” but he was extremely underweight for the large breed.
“They were not sure if he was even going to make it,” she says about the dog, who was found wandering the streets and taken to the shelter in Ashtabula. “He was just in bad shape.”
The family took him to their Madison home and named him “Bear” and now, at age 2, he is big, happy and thriving.
The reasons behind the decision to have a family pet vary — and can start when the kids are young or as they grow older. Whatever the time or whichever type of pet you choose, remember that the animal needs to fit your family’s needs.
Fish and Rodents and Lizards, Oh My!
While some pets aren’t as family-friendly as others, it’s generally not due to any feature of the animal, but instead is a result of how well the family can care and manage that particular species.
“It needs to not just be the child’s interest, but parents have to be active participants,” says Dr. Elizabeth Feltes at The Behavior Clinic, located in Olmsted Falls. “The parent has to have as much interest as the child does.”
For example, for families who frequently are on the go or have limited time to spend with a pet, fish are the most low maintenance friend.
“It’s by far the number one, most popular for families,” Feltes says. “(Fish) are the first step in learning the responsibility of a pet.”
Fish don’t require much of a time commitment besides changing their water and feeding them. With proper attention, they can live for a long time. While they won’t greet you at the door, Feltes says they aren’t void of learning the ability to interact with people outside of their tanks.
“They are a lot smarter than you think,” she says.
For children ages 5 and older, small pets, such as hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits can be a good fit.
“Hamsters are a very popular pet,” Feltes says. “They are not typically dangerous, (however) they can still bite. The animals can get hurt if they are not handled appropriately.”
As an example, she adds, rabbits can experience a spinal fracture when jumping while held.
Feltes also recommends a hermit crab, which can be a fascinating creature.
“Besides cleaning their tanks, they are easy and do not require much work,” she says. “They need to be handled with supervision because they can grab you with their claws.”
The key to any pet is knowledge. Many pets have special care instructions ranging from diet to tank size. It’s important to ensure the whole family is aware of the animal’s needs.
For example, turtles make great pets, Feltes says, but have special diet requirements; also, their shells could fracture if turtles are dropped.
For lizards or other reptiles, she advises parents “get to know” how these animals will grow in order to ensure proper tank size.
While an iguana has a long life span, Feltes says they can get big and have razor-sharp teeth.
“Ages 7 and older is the age bracket that can take on that responsibility,” she says, adding that children should not be permitted to kiss the reptiles and the whole family should practice good hygiene — mainly washing hands after handling — for disease and germ prevention.
Raining Cats and Dogs
The most common animals that people associate with household pets are definitely cats and dogs.
What people might not know, however, is that cats surpass dogs in family-friendly appeal, according to Feltes. After all, cats don’t have to be walked, they don’t have to go outside, and they are even easier regarding level of commitment, she says.
Cats do take a level of financial commitment with vet bills and vaccinations, and some people aren’t too keen on having a
litter box in the house.
“The most common cat is the domestic short hair,” Feltes says. “They are cost effective and can be quite affectionate.”
On the other hand, most “dog people” would tell you that man’s (or woman’s) best friend is a better selection.
While the best dog breeds for households are considered family-friendly, Feltes says Retrievers still rank very high.
Most dogs can make great pets, however, there are some factors to consider when choosing a breed.
She says when acquiring a dog as a new pet, ages 7 or older is the ideal age for children.
“The children start to have a little more body control,” Feltes says. “It’s best for the dog when the child has body awareness, because it decreases the risks for a bite.”
In fact, she adds boys are more at risk for bites than girls.
The size of the dog can play a factor. Large breeds (more than 70 pounds) might not be a great fit for small children, while smaller breeds (under 20 pounds) can get hurt if proper care is not followed.
Ultimately, it’s up to the family to know the best fit.
In the case of the Biharys, taking in a Saint Bernard wasn’t planned, but ended up being the right decision.
“The dogs that my kids (initially) wanted were types such as a Labrador Retriever or Beagle,” Bihary says. “I felt a connection with the dog (Bear) and still feel like that today. He was meant to be with us and we are very happy to call him our family dog.”
