Pet

Pet is an animal kept by people to provide companionship and, in some cases, to perform important tasks. People around the world have kept pets for thousands of years. The most common pets include dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, parakeets, canaries, and fish. Some people also attempt to keep wild animals as pets.

Pets can make interesting, playful companions. People enjoy teaching them to do tricks and to obey commands. Pet owners often consider their pet to be a member of the family. Many children spend more time with their pets than they do with adults. By caring for pets, children learn responsibility and the joy of raising another living thing. Caretakers must see that their pets have food, exercise, and a proper place to live. Children can become especially dedicated to animals, and most children talk to, and even tell secrets to, their pets. In some ways, pets serve as children’s children.

Pets also can contribute to a person’s health. Research shows that being with animals can improve a person’s morale, and that the presence of pets can lower one’s blood pressure. Many people look and feel more relaxed while with their pet. People living alone in nursing homes or in hospitals often enjoy community programs that bring pets to visit. Today, many such institutions keep cats, birds, and fish for their residents.

In addition to providing companionship, pets can serve other useful purposes. Dogs hunt, guard property, herd cattle and sheep, and even assist people with special needs, such as people who are blind and people in wheelchairs. Cats often keep homes and barns free from mice and rats. Such pets as frogs, including toads, help keep gardens free from certain kinds of insects. Canaries fill the air with happy, pleasing songs.

Kinds of pets

Pets for the home.

The kind of home you live in and where you live have much to do with the kind of pet you choose. Dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, birds, and fish are easy to care for in almost any kind of home. Dogs, however, require more of a time commitment than do most other pets.

Before choosing a dog as a pet, you should consider the size of both your home and the dog. For example, many larger dogs need a spacious home with a big yard for exercise. If you live in an apartment, make sure pets are allowed. Then choose a small dog, such as a chihuahua, Scottish terrier, or Shih Tzu. A small dog can get most of its exercise by playing around the house and needs only short walks outside for fresh air.

Cats do not depend on their owners as much as dogs do. Many people prefer them for this reason. However, cats do enjoy exercise. On pleasant days, a cat can run around in a yard. Always bring your cat inside at night. Many cats find enough exercise in the home and enjoy spending all their time indoors.

Various kinds of birds make fine pets for small homes or apartments. They live in cages that take little space, and their singing, beauty, and playfulness make them popular with many owners. Canaries sing songs and have cheerful personalities. Parakeets rank among the most popular birds. They can learn to talk and perform such tricks as walking a tightrope and pulling toys.

Fish owners need to provide just the right living environment for their pets. Different fish require different-sized tanks and different kinds of food. Once they become established, however, the fish will need less daily attention than will other pets. Tanks with automatic feeding and self-cleaning systems enable owners to leave fish alone for many days at a time. You can make what is often called a balanced aquarium by growing plants in the fish tank (see Aquarium, Home). Plants supply some oxygen for the fish.

People also can keep gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, and other small animals in the home. Such animals generally need cages and a steady supply of food.

Farm pets.

Farm families often have many kinds of pets. One or two dogs live on most farms, and farmers may also have cats to help control unwanted mice. In addition, farm children play with and care for the baby animals that live on the farm. They may make pets of lambs, rabbits, and even pigs. Baby chickens and ducklings often follow children around the yard, hoping for food. The children may have a gentle horse to ride. Many farm boys and girls raise calves to show at county fairs. They brush their calves to keep them clean.

Pets in school.

Many schools keep animals in the classroom as pets. Boys and girls learn how these animals eat, sleep, play, and take care of their young. The children build houses or cages for their pets, and they feed and care for them. Teachers often reward children by allowing them to care for one of the pets. Rabbits, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, birds, fish, and frogs all serve as popular schoolroom pets. Sometimes classes build ant houses or butterfly gardens that help young people better understand and appreciate insects.

Choosing a pet

Before buying a pet, learn as much as possible about all kinds of pets. Choose an animal that can live comfortably in the space you have for it and can fit into your lifestyle. Find out whether the pet needs outdoor exercise and, if so, how often. Will the pet need care during the day, and will someone be at home to take care of it? How does the animal behave? Does it act differently with strangers? Is it playful with young children, or does it become irritable? What foods does it eat, and how much do these foods cost? Dogs, cats, and other pets will need to see a veterinarian (animal doctor) for regular checkups. How much will this cost?

Some dog and cat owners prefer purebred animals, whose parents are both of the same breed. Owners know what purebred puppies and kittens will look like when they grow up, and how they will behave as adults. However, mongrels—that is, animals of mixed breed—also make wonderful pets. Buy your pet from someone who has raised that kind of animal for a long time, or from a well-kept and respected pet shop. Then you will know the animal has had good care, proper food, and all necessary vaccinations against disease. Many people adopt dogs and cats from an animal shelter, humane society, or rescue organization. All newly purchased dogs and cats should be taken to see a veterinarian as soon as possible to make sure they are healthy.

Training your pet

Owners can train many kinds of pets, but dogs and cats need the most training. Before you start to train, you must have the pet’s respect and affection. Always treat your pet fairly and consistently. For example, the first time your dog jumps up at you, turn around. This action will make it get down. If you let your dog jump on you when its paws are dry and clean, it probably will do so when they are wet and dirty. The dog does not know when it should not jump on you, and so you should not let it form the habit. Say firmly, “No” or “Get down” as you turn away. Do this every time, until the dog learns not to jump on you.

Always speak gently to your pet, and try not to make quick, unfamiliar movements. This does not mean you cannot scold your pet. If the animal misbehaves, scold it at once. Use simple words, such as no or naughty, and say them so that the pet knows you are unhappy with it. Do not shout or speak angrily and never hit or choke a pet. The pet will not remember for long why it is being scolded, so make the scolding short.

House training.

Make preparations for house training a puppy or kitten even before bringing it home. Some owners construct a den-bed for a puppy by building a stout box with a lid and air holes. Others simply buy a crate from a pet shop. The puppy will be discouraged from using the box or crate as a toilet if it is only large enough for the pet to lie down. A dog instinctively wants to keep its bed clean. A new puppy or kitten cannot get out of the box or crate by itself, and so it will make noise to let you know its need.

Bring the puppy home in the morning, so it can take several naps in the box or crate that day. Meanwhile, select a place outdoors that you want your pet to use as a toilet. After you clean up the puppy’s first body wastes, take them to the outdoor place and bring the animal there. The smell of its wastes will let the puppy know where to relieve itself. When your puppy uses the right place, praise the pet and take it back into the house. The puppy should spend the night in the box or crate and should not be given food or water after 6 p.m.

A puppy needs to go outside several times a day: when it awakens in the morning, after naps, after feeding, and before and after play. Any kind of excitement makes a puppy want to relieve itself.

As a general rule, do not house train a puppy indoors on paper. You might not be able to retrain it to relieve itself at an outdoor spot. Small dogs may be trained to use absorbent pads, which you can carry with you when traveling. You should not let the puppy get you up in the middle of the night. Nor should you allow rain or snow to stop you from taking your pet out. Always take the puppy to its spot during house training. Do not just put it outside to let it find its own way. Usually after about three days, the puppy will probably not make any mistakes.

To train a kitten, buy a cat tray and litter (artificial sand) at a pet store. Place the tray in a quiet place away from the kitten’s food dish and put the animal into the tray a number of times. A cat instinctively buries its body wastes, so it will use the tray immediately. Owners often need to sift the wastes from the litter daily and change the litter weekly. Some owners purchase self-cleaning litter boxes that require less attention.

Tricks.

To teach an animal a trick, you must first make it understand what you want it to do. Use a food treat to teach a dog to sit. Slowly raise the treat over the dog’s head until the animal is in a sitting position. As you do this, say the word sit. Praise your pet when it sits correctly. Soon you will find that whenever you say, “Sit,” the dog will sit. To make it sit up, raise its front feet as you say, “Sit up.” A dog can learn many commands, and such tricks as to fetch, to roll over, to beg, to “say prayers,” and to “play dead.”

Dogs tire quickly as you train them. You should not work with them more than 15 minutes at a time, and perhaps only once or twice a day. Stop at once if the dog is not paying attention, or if something else seems more interesting to it. You must have the dog’s attention, and it must complete each command. Do not allow your pet to perform a trick only halfway, and never become impatient while training.

Reward a dog with a pat on the head and a few words of praise when it performs its lesson correctly. If you want to give the animal a treat, feed it a small portion of meat or a piece of dog biscuit or dog candy. Such biscuits and candy will help the dog exercise its teeth and gums. Never give a dog regular cake, cookies, or candy.

A cat can learn to do simple tricks, such as jumping in the air for a ball, leaping over a stick, or walking on its hind legs. You must be patient and gentle to interest the cat in the trick and gain its confidence. Reward cats with a small piece of meat when they perform well. Parakeets usually learn tricks themselves when you put a ladder or toy car in their cages. Fish can learn to come to the side of the tank to receive their food if you tap gently on the tank each time you feed them.

For work.

People can train most kinds of dogs to be service dogs that perform certain types of work. Dogs can retrieve (bring back) game for hunters and can help find lost people or such materials as illegal drugs. They can also help herd livestock, pull carts or sleds, and perform many other tasks. Training service dogs takes time and experience, but it can prove rewarding. People who train service dogs often need helpers.

Taking care of pets

Feeding.

The first rule for feeding any pet is to keep its dishes clean. Wash them thoroughly every day. Never overfeed your pet. The animal should always have enough exercise and look sleek and slim. Give a dog only as much food as it will eat without leaving any food in the dish. If it leaves the dish before emptying it, take it away. Feed your pet less the next time. Feeding a dog the right food at regular times helps keep the pet healthy. Always have fresh water available as well.

Pets need a balanced diet to stay healthy. You can buy prepared food for most kinds of pets. Scientists plan these foods so that they contain the right amounts of vitamins, minerals, and proteins for each type of animal. Using these foods ensures that your pet receives the right nourishment. Prepared foods usually do not need anything added to them. But you may want to give your pet a treat, such as a little beef or chicken for a dog or cat, or a piece of apple or some greens for a parakeet.

Housing.

All pets must have good places to stay. Birds should live in cages suitable for their size and activity. For smaller birds, the cage bars should be close enough together so that the bird cannot push its head between the bars and get caught. The perches should measure ¹/₂ inch (1.3 centimeters) wide for canaries and parakeets, and 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) wide for mynas and larger parrots. Canaries, parakeets, and other flying birds should have room to fly inside the cage. Put their perches at the ends of the cage. For such hopping birds as finches and mynas, place the perches nearer to the bottom of the cage and closer together.

A dog or cat should have a warm, dry place for its bed. A basket, box, or pet bed will keep the pet off the floor and protect it from drafts. A dog living outdoors needs a house free from drafts. The door of the house should face away from the wind, and it should be covered or sheltered against rain and snow. The house should be just large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around. Dogs get cold in houses that are too large.

Cleanliness.

Most pets keep themselves clean. Cats clean themselves by licking their fur with their tongue. Birds preen themselves, or clean their feathers with their beaks. Canaries and mynas enjoy hopping in water and splashing around. Parakeets like to roll on wet lettuce leaves or to be gently sprayed with a water spray.

Do not bathe dogs and cats too often. Bathing removes natural oils from their hair and skin. This makes them itch and scratch, and the animals may develop open sores. Pets usually need baths only when they get dirty. If your dog or cat becomes muddy, wipe off the loose mud, let its coat dry, and then brush its coat well. Owners can purchase pet shampoos and other bathing supplies at a pet store or a veterinarian’s office.

Treating illness.

Most pets will enjoy good health with proper food, housing, and grooming. If one should get hurt, swallow something harmful, or otherwise become ill, take it to a veterinarian. Do not try to treat your pet’s illness yourself, unless you know exactly what is wrong and what to do to remedy the illness. Home treatment may seriously delay finding out what is wrong with your pet, and may even harm the animal.

Preventing illness.

Most pet illnesses can be prevented. A veterinarian can vaccinate a puppy to protect it from such fatal diseases as distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, and rabies. A kitten may be vaccinated against cat distemper and feline leukemia, both deadly cat diseases. Vaccinations should begin when the pet is taken from its mother’s milk and then continue throughout its life.

A sick animal can infect other animals. By keeping your pet at home, you can lessen its chances of getting sick. A puppy should stay in the home and yard. If you take it elsewhere, keep it on a leash and avoid areas where other animals may live. Such zoonotic diseases as rabies and leptospirosis can be transmitted from your pet to you. Always wash your hands after handling any animal. Animal bites or scratches should be washed immediately and thoroughly.

Tiny parasites, including fleas, mites, and ticks, may transmit disease germs from a sick animal to a healthy one. Veterinarians and pet stores sell flea control treatments that can rid your pet of these pests.

Birth control.

You should not allow your pet to have babies unless you can be sure they will receive a good home. Many unwanted animals end up in animal shelters, where they often have to be killed.

Veterinarians can prevent an animal from having or fathering babies by neutering it—that is, by removing some of its sex organs. This operation is called spaying when performed on a female and castration when done on a male.

Neutering a pet may also eliminate some kinds of undesirable behavior. For example, castrating a cat before it has had sexual experience can prevent it from chasing females and fighting. Neuter your dogs and cats at the time the veterinarian considers best for the health and size of the animal. Contrary to popular belief, a pet need not experience its first period of heat (sexual excitement) before being neutered. See also Cat (Birth control) ; Dog (Social and moral responsibilities) .