Are You Ready to Get a Pet?

Dogs typically need 1-2 hours of daily attention (walks, training, play, feeding, basic care) plus the flexibility to come home for meals and bathroom breaks. Cats are more flexible but still need 30-60 minutes daily of interaction plus consistent feeding and a clean litter box. Both species suffer when left alone for 9+ hours a day regularly. This is general guidance; specific needs vary by breed, age, and individual pet.

AVMA estimates the typical annual cost of dog ownership at $1,500-3,500 (food, routine vet, supplies, training, occasional boarding) and cat ownership at $1,000-2,000, with first-year costs of new puppies and kittens often $1,500-3,000 higher due to vaccinations, spay/neuter, supplies, and training. Emergencies can add $3,000-10,000 in unexpected costs; a savings buffer or insurance covers this.

Cats fit better with longer work hours, smaller spaces, and lower-activity households; they generally need less direct daily attention but still need quality time. Dogs fit better with active, home-based households where someone can be available throughout the day or pet-services budget covers daytime needs. Both species form deep bonds; the right match depends on your lifestyle, not which species is somehow better.

Adoption from a reputable shelter or rescue is the recommended path for most families. About 6 million pets enter US shelters annually per ASPCA data, and shelter staff can match temperament to your lifestyle in ways breed-only matching cannot. Reputable breeders make sense when a specific working role, temperament, or breed health profile is essential; avoid pet stores and online sellers that obscure their breeding practices.

No. The getting a new pet result is a structured starting point that surfaces the patterns worth investigating, not a final verdict. People with the same getting a new pet result often arrive at different next steps once they factor in context the assessment cannot capture (timing, relationships, personal preferences). Treat it as a useful map, not the territory.

A basic starter list: species- and life-stage-appropriate food (ideally matching what the breeder or shelter has been feeding), bowls, bedding, a carrier or crate, leash and collar or harness with ID tag, age-appropriate toys, a vet visit scheduled within 1-2 weeks, a pet-proofed home, and your emergency vet contact saved.

Most experienced trainers steer first-time owners toward small to medium-sized breeds with moderate energy and known trainability: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Bichons, Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers (with an understanding of their exercise needs), Labradoodles, and many mixed-breed dogs from shelters.

Insurance tends to pay off most clearly when pets develop unexpected serious conditions (cancer, orthopedic injuries, chronic illness requiring ongoing care) that produce bills well above lifetime premiums.

The clearest emergency signs include difficulty breathing or gasping, collapse or seizure, severe bleeding or trauma, bloated abdomen with unproductive retching (especially in large-breed dogs), inability to urinate (especially in male cats), and suspected poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, medications, certain plants).

Sudden behavior change in pets is often medical rather than behavioral.