Pets are excellent friends. This page is here to help you decide on the pet you choose to keep, which pet is best for you, how to keep your pet in top condition, and we will also tell you some good pet names.
Dogs- There is a dog breed to suit every person, every place. You should think long and hard about getting a dog because they need time and affection every day. They need to be walked and and petted as often as possible. If you don't treat them well, they won't respond to you in a good way. Small dogs like Chihuahuas and Jack Russell terriers are good for apartments, but you still need to take them for long walks in the park. Bigger dogs like Labradors and Blue Heelers need a back yard and eat quite a lot of food every day. Huge dogs like Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds eat heaps of food, and need to have a huge back yard and a huge walk two times a day. Long haired dogs like the Siberian Husky and the Pekinese get very hot in Australian summers and should have their hair cut often, and should be hosed down in really hot weather. Dogs need to have their claws trimmed regularly too, they need to be washed, and have the right shots at the right age.
Cats-Cats are good pets for most people. However, a lot of people are allergic to cats, so you should try cuddling one before you go out and buy one. There are many breeds of cats which all have very different personalities. Some breeds are lively and like to roam the neighbourhood all day, fighting other cats and playing around. Other cats like to sit inside all day and cuddle in a warm spot of sunlight or sleep under a bed. Some cats love to be picked up and cuddled while others run and hide at the merest sound of a footstep. All cats purr, and it's always a sign that your cat loves what you're doing to it Kittens are playful adventurous animals who poke their noses in every corner, they grow into large quiet animals who lounge about the house waiting to be patted. Some cats scratch or bite, and usually warn you with a loud hiss. Cats don't tend to be angry animals unless you tease them, and you should never tease any animal.Cats don't need as much attention as dogs, but long-haired cats need to be brushed day to day, and you should pay your cat attention everyday. Cats are for cuddly people.
Fish - Fish are very low maintenance as pets go. They can be beautiful to look at but they don't respond very well, and they don't cuddle up to you on the couch. They are, however, very cheap to buy and maintain, and they don't take much of your time on a day to-day basis. They have a rather short life span,and tend to swim around and around in a circle all day (goldfish only remember what happened up to 30 seconds ago). They are relaxing to look at and cheap to feed, kind of cute but easy to forget.
Birds - Many people keep birds.They are beautiful to look at and can learn how to do many tricks. They have a short life span, and some tend to go a bit crazy flying around in a little cage all day. The best way to keep pet birds is to have a section of your yard made into an aviary (a big bird cage where your birds can fly around and play with each other). They need to be cleaned regularly, as birds have many small pests which live in their feathers, and they don't need much attention on a daily basis. Some birds are illegally caught in other countries and imported to be sold for a lot of money. Please make sure that your bird is not one of these birds as they are rare and probably endangered.
Snakes - A peculiar pet, but one which can keep you entertained for many years.They are not very responsive, but can play around for hours squiggling around your wrists and slithering under furniture. They are actually quite lazy animals,but they can be very keen to play games and slide around. They cost a lot at first, but they only need to be fed about twice a week.   Friends will always want to play with your pet snake. Slash from Guns'n'Roses has a large collection of American Rattlesnakes which he keeps as pets.
Turtles are pets which potter around in their own curious way, sitting on rocks, diving in the water,swimming around, eating a little, then going back and sitting on the rock. They come in many different sizes; some need to crawl around your backyard, while others get lost on your hand. They aren't very expensive to buy and maintain,and are fascinating to watch. They can't however, perform tricks, respond to their names, or do anything that you tell them to do.