You’ve been asking your parents for a dog for as long as you can remember.  Or maybe you had a cat when you were little and want to get another one but your parents aren’t sure.  All you can think about is how much you want a pet—why won’t they just let you get one?

The reason is because pets are a lot more work than you may think.  Pets are a 24-hour a day job.  You have to make sure to feed them regularly, give them lots of fresh water, take them out for exercise, and give them plenty of love and attention.  When you’re away at school all day your parents are the ones who take on this job (if they stay at home), so they need you to do it when you’re around.

What you need to have before you can even think about getting a pet is responsibility.  A pet is a lifetime commitment and is a living creature, just like you.  It needs the same things you do.  So you have to make sure that you are ready for the task.

Once you and your family decide that you’re ready to handle the responsibility of a pet, it’s time to choose which pet is right for you.  There are a lot of options out there, from little pets like fish to big pets like dogs.  How do you decide which one is right for your home?

With this simple guide, you will be able to better figure out not only if you are ready for a pet. But which one would be the best fit for you and your family?  Get ready to find out how to pick the perfect pet!