Loneliness, the need to take care of someone, an introduction to wildlife, and other motives push people to acquire pets. But no matter what the specific goal is, you need to be as careful as possible about this intention.
Which animals are usually considered domestic?
First of all, you need to figure out which specific animals are called domestic animals, and what is characteristic of them.
Very often among those ordinary cat. It is usually divided into 3 categories on the device of the hairline:
- long-haired;
- Shorthair
- without wool.
But before continuing with the list, you need to point out the difference between domesticated and domesticated animals. The origin in them in any case is from the wild ancestors of one kind or another, but cultivated varieties are largely contained in the pasture. However, Russian legislation proceeds from completely different criteria. It provides that pets may only be those who:
- live in captivity;
- enjoy limited (in relation to a person) freedom;
- or do not belong to these categories, but are traditionally held in captivity.
Returning to the cats themselves, it is worth noting that their hairless subtype is ideal for those suffering from allergic reactions.
But where are the cats, one cannot but mention dogs. Cattle breeds are distinguished by high intelligence and at the same time endurance.The use of these dogs in cattle breeding is becoming less common, but at home they are quite valuable. The so-called native breeds are those that were formed “naturally” and developed under the influence of natural selection alone.
These are strong and strong animals, almost not prone to ailments. However, keeping them in a city apartment is simply illogical, especially since it is a mockery of pets. They urgently need maximum space and free range. The same can be said of hounds; for the conditions of a large city, decorative varieties are much better suited.
And also to the category of pets include:
- decorative rabbits with different lengths of wool;
- rodents (specially selected mice, rats, hamsters, chipmunks);
- guinea pigs;
- protein and weasel;
- reptiles and amphibians (medium-sized non-toxic snakes, lizards, turtles);
- certain species of hymenoptera;
- birds (canaries, pigeons, owls, parrots, ravens);
- exotic animals (foxes, monkeys, anteaters, wild cats and others).
Pros and Cons of Content
Even a superficial acquaintance with the general list shows how great a variety of creatures can be found in the house. Undoubtedly, their effect on humans at a young age is positive. Even in antiquity it was noted that the presence of a pet helps to develop greater humanity and friendliness, increases the discipline and socialization of kids. And not only kids, but also teenagers.
Regardless of age, animals bring people affection, warmth and an incredible amount of positive emotions.
Almost all breeders note that the animal values owners more than itself. It will constantly pay attention to them. For modern children, this is all the more valuable, which will allow you to escape from social networks, video games and the like entertainment. Increased mobility will improve health and help strengthen the immune system. Finally, it will be possible to leave the children alone for a long time, without fear that they will get bored once again.
About such undoubted benefits as the development of responsibility and discipline, there has already been talk. Such personality traits will come in handy during training, in work, and in relationships with other people, and even when caring for your own home. When children interact with animals from an early age, they will be less afraid of other living things, even wild or unpleasant ones.
However, any medal has two sides, and even a usually useful pet establishment can be harmful or, to put it more delicately, cause negative consequences.
A serious danger is allergy. Worst of all, it can occur not only on the beast or bird itself, but also on the feed that is used for them. However, one should not go too far with refusal: according to statistics, moderate and thoughtful contact with animals, on the contrary, reduces the risk of allergies. If it has already manifested itself (no matter for what reason), a consultation with a doctor is required.
Another drawback is that you have to spend a lot:
- forces;
- free time;
- nervous energy;
- Money.
The smallest problems in a pet immediately cause anxiety and alarm - that one can already do harm. The next important aspect is infectious diseases. The probability of infection with various viruses, germs or parasites is quite high. We will have to pay a lot of attention to special prevention, and, if necessary, treatment. Further, almost all pets are a source of odor. They usually get used to it, but for “new” people and just guests this fragrance is unlikely to be pleasant.
As for the positive aspects of communication between children and animals, they are overshadowed by the likelihood of injury or even serious aggression. It will be necessary to educate the animals themselves, to instill in children safe handling skills and carefully monitor their contacts.In addition, any animals die sooner or later, and due to attachment, babies (and even other adults) can survive a severe shock. Part of the solution is the choice of a species that lives for a long time - but even this does not provide a full guarantee, of course. To summarize, we can say that the establishment of a pet is a very responsible step, in which many subtleties and nuances should be taken into account.
Most Popular Companion Pets
Among the most popular pets, dogs and cats are undoubtedly the leaders — moreover, it is difficult to determine which of them holds the “palm”.
Important: cats and dogs are often taken from the street or shelter. Sometimes because it is cheaper than buying an animal in a market or in a pet store, and sometimes people just felt sorry for the animal and decided to save it, and this motive is undoubtedly preferable. Four-legged tailed animals are extremely valuable as companions, and thoroughbred animals are often used at exhibitions.
The most unpretentious and hypoallergenic mammals are hairless cats and cats. In any case, even their woolly subspecies:
- do not require particularly sophisticated care;
- do not take up much space;
- practically do not interfere with the owners (if only they are healthy and full).
Dogs, even the smallest, cause much more trouble. It is not enough to feed and drink them - you will still need to walk at least 1.5-2 hours a day. The dog will definitely have to be trained, teaching the skills of good behavior. Most often in Russia they hold:
- rottweilers;
- poodles;
- German and East European Shepherd Dogs;
- Pekingese;
- bulldogs;
- Retriever
- dachshunds;
- terriers;
- Spitz
- boxers;
- chihuahua.
Important: you should not try to get rare breeds of tetrapods. They usually cause far more problems than ordinary animals, and they do not always differ in predictability.
Quite often, people turn on as well aquarium fish. These are cute and a priori calm creatures, besides not scattering wool everywhere.
Yes, and to find a description of how to breed and maintain them is not difficult. The greatest demand among domestic aquarists are:
- guppies;
- barbs
- goldfish;
- discus
- astronotuses;
- neons.
In the home aquarium you can also find snails, crab, shrimp, axolotl. Turtles, frogs, newts, iguanas have long been common animals for Russian breeders.
Jungar and Syrian hamsters, chinchilla, guinea pig, squirrel are in great demand.
Of the more exotic rodents, many people like degu, and in the last few years a fashion for a ferret and a rabbit has appeared. As for birds, parrots are most often brought up, a goldfinch, a canary, a pigeon and an amadina are a little less demanded.
The most unpretentious pets
You can focus on the popularity of certain types, fashion, what friends have brought, a pleasant appearance or habit. But the great employment of many modern people, it would seem, leaves them no chance to have at least some kind of pet. However, not everything is so bad - after all, there are not too whimsical individuals who will also bring a lot of joy.
They occupy a deserved place among them. miniature pigs, better known as mini-pigs. It is worth noting that these animals not only look cute, but are not inferior in intellectual level to dogs. The downside is only the high risk of buying an ordinary pig under the guise of a mini-pig.
But when you buy a starling, such an unpleasant surprise will definitely not be. The small bird looks very beautiful.
Note: she is even able to talk.
Of the unpretentious animals worth mentioning eared (or Egyptian) hedgehog. This species is characterized by rare photogenicity. Unlike many other exotics, a hedgehog is allowed to be kept quite legally and without official permission. It must also be borne in mind that taming a hedgehog causes quite a few problems. But you just have to go through this difficult stage, you can see how many advantages this cute animal has and enjoy communicating with him.
An unexpected choice may be a hissing cockroach from Madagascar.
Important: this animal is suitable only for brave people who are not distinguished by squeamishness. Presenting it as a present makes sense only at the direct request of the gifted people themselves. We must be prepared for the fact that hissing cockroaches will make their way anywhere, even on smooth glass. In addition, loud sounds at night can disturb and frighten home.
As an alternative, often mentioned meadow dog. This is not a representative of the canine family, but a rodent. With real dogs, he is related by the ability to quickly become attached to people. The main thing is that the pet was brought in at a young age, then the craving for the owner will be vaccinated almost tightly. Another advantage of the animal is that it is a puppy that does not “grow up”; however, the flip side is its hyperactivity.
Another candidate for busy companions is rabbit. The dimensions of such pets can vary greatly, as well as their weight. The cost of food is small, and it is not particularly necessary to cook it. To place an eared animal, it is enough to put a cage. But still, every night you will have to clean this cage and clean it, or put up with dirt, wires and legs of tables and chairs that are cluttered.
Canaries can be no worse than eared animals.
Important: they differ not only in color and plumage, but also in the timbre of the voice. Therefore, you need to carefully find out exactly how the singing of a particular bird sounds. And if it is difficult for beginner breeders to choose the right breed, you need to give preference to Harz scooter.
Sufficient conditions for breeding canaries are the purchase of a cage with a tray, a watering cell and a perch, as well as not too frequent feeding.
They give food either every day, or fill it up every 2-3 days. Of course, in the second case, the portions are increased. Because of their unpretentiousness, snakes can argue with birds. By and large, they only need a terrarium. Sometimes it is replaced with a simple aquarium, complemented by an incandescent bulb. A heat source allows reptiles to remain active. Reptiles are fed every 5-7 days. But, of course, you need to consider the characteristics of a particular animal.
If the thought of buying and keeping a snake is frankly scary or you just don’t want to shock others, you should think about to the hamster. The size of the decorative rodent is a few centimeters.
The advantages of a hamster are deservedly considered:
- attractive appearance;
- a variety of colors of wool;
- convenience of diet;
- lack of aggressiveness;
- decent intellectual level;
- the possibility of easy training;
- evening lifestyle.
With a lot of work, a good choice can be land turtle.
Important: waterfowl varieties require much greater maintenance. The downside is that pets up to 6 months are in hibernation. But equipping a place of residence is no more complicated than for a snake. For feeding use both "factory" mixtures and fresh vegetables.
Necessary accessories and furniture
Arranging places for keeping pets requires some effort. Cats and dogs need to prepare a claw-claw. Otherwise, the walls and furniture will quickly lose their appearance. You can equip a booth for a dog, and a house for a cat. Almost any warm-blooded animal needs a litter and a mattress, and birds need poles.
Everyone knows how cats like to climb to great heights. To meet this need, without prejudice to curtains and other home decoration, special devices will help. It is worth thinking about large gaming complexes. And when the animals play enough, they will need couches.
If you need to arrange a place for the hamster, a cage is required.
Important: its area should be at least 1.5 square meters. m. The recommended clearance between the rods is 0.5 cm. By all means put a wheel, a house and a drinking bowl in a cage.
The turtle can be kept in a regular aquarium. But the terrarium will have to be well heated, as well as taking care of thorough ventilation and equipping with ultraviolet lamps.
We take into account the temperament of the owner
If we ignore the personal characteristics of a person, conflicts on the basis of the discrepancy of characters and emotional stereotypes are inevitable. There are three main motivations:
- desire for communication;
- the need to protect and harmonize personal space;
- desire to emphasize your own style, aesthetic taste and fashion statement.
Approval, understanding and joy from contact with a pet are justified when buying a dog, a parrot, a cat, a hamster and some other animals.
For those who are going to just learn something new, and there is enough communication with people, it is advisable to choose turtles or decorative frogs. Other exotic species are also suitable.
Dogs are chosen if they need a faithful companion and a reliable guard who will constantly accompany the person. It should be understood that animals do not have a “character” in the human sense of the word, but rather a set of genetically programmed standards of behavior. To some extent, they can be corrected through training or conscious pressure, but this degree is small.
Cats are chosen by people who differ:
- healthy egoism and a fair amount of individualism;
- generosity;
- the desire for patronage over the weaker;
- reliability.
At the same time, dogs are better suited for those who:
- sociable
- inclined to make new friends;
- flexibly adapts to a changing situation;
- not lost in a complex and ambiguous environment;
- maintains normal relations with friends and other people (without humiliating oneself or them equally).
Curious is the psychology-noted relationship between the size of the dog and the character of the owner. Lack of satisfaction with personal and work achievements often subconsciously results in the purchase of a large animal. Fully self-confident, self-sufficient and even tough people feel better together with small four-legged people.
If a person is inclined to melancholy thoughts, to a romantic mood, then a parrot is best for him.
At the same time, such traits of character as some naivety and even increased vulnerability are noted.
A parrot will not get along with irritable and overly immersed people.
Vulnerable, but at the same time trying to hide his vulnerability behind external rudeness, bravado and cynicism, a person will certainly be satisfied with the purchase of a hedgehog. At the same time, such people almost never betray others and tend to adhere to their once-accepted way of thinking.
Important: don’t give a hedgehog to those who put their own comfort and convenience in the first place, and expect only anticipation of their desires from those around them.
It is easy to guess that fish are loved by those who prefer contemplation and abstract thoughts (or simply very complex ideas and extraordinary projects). But sometimes they are also valued by those who exhibit opposite tendencies. Even the most active, vigorous and purposeful sometimes need to relieve tension and emotionally, intellectually relax. But people who are too emotionally sensitive or prone to quick, thoughtless actions are unlikely to be delighted with the aquarium. But of course, when selecting, one must take into account not only compatibility by nature.
How to choose a pet?
A very important criterion that is often forgotten is how much space in the house is generally free, and what part of it can be given to the pet. It is necessary to take into account not only the size of the animal itself, but also how active it is.And the same fish or lizards, for example, need equipped volumetric dwellings. This is not a hamster for which there are enough cages with accessories.
But suppose it is decided to choose a dog. And even if a list of breeds suitable for certain living conditions is defined. However, it remains to think about the behavior of the animal. Some dogs are too aggressive, the second - too curious, the third - capricious or in need of some special food.
It is extremely important: it makes no sense to choose the breed that will be very difficult to keep on a leash. The behavior depends not only on the breed, but also on the quality of the training, on the experience of relationships with people that the dog has.
If there are frequent absences from home (for example, on business trips or other trips), a cat is better than a dog. It is simply easier to take with you. Yes, and the cat left in the care of another person is easier to bear. Getting to know a particular breed of cats, one must pay attention not only to the appearance, but also to how calmly the animal behaves. Experienced people try to take into account the feedback of other owners, as well as the comments of zoopsychologists (who understand the real motives of pets deeper and more precisely the average person). It is recommended to remember about the length of cat hair, which is not only a strong allergen, but also a source of permanent litter.
Important: when buying both a cat and a dog, and other animals, you need to check their health and veterinary documents, vaccinations. Nutrition needs to be considered. Each breed and individual they are different.
When choosing birds, you should not focus on rare species. They are not just expensive - the distribution of such animals is illegal.
Hamsters and other rodents will suit those who want to carry a pet with them on long journeys. Of course, you need to pay attention to the tastes and priorities of all family members. Do not neglect the opinions of young children.
List of nicknames
But the animal is selected, and the cage, terrarium or other corner are equipped. However, there is still a very important point - the names of the pets. Since the nickname will have to be pronounced at least 3-5 times a day, you need to abandon all too long, artsy or difficult to remember words. Moreover, if it’s difficult for a person to remember a word, then for an animal this is completely impossible.
Important: it is worth considering the harmony of each name and whether it does not look like obscene words. After all, the nickname will almost certainly have to be pronounced on the street, in the store, on the bus. You can not choose human names and those that look like some kind of team. Even with these limitations, there are plenty of options.
Geographical objects and chemical elements, heroes of myths and legends, fairy tales and artworks, comics and cartoons, foreign names ...
If it’s really hard to make a decision, here’s the list:
- Nora;
- Langer;
- Tube;
- Arnie
- Mars;
- Barsik;
- Ball;
- Smoke;
- Marshmallows;
- Fog;
- Slide;
- Persia;
- Flanders
- Gnomon;
- Pokemon and so on - how much imagination is enough.
Interesting Facts
There are interesting points related to pets. For example, an ordinary mouse can make a sound that resembles a laugh. But the cat has 517 muscles and 290 bones. Rabbits often play catch-up and hide from each other. Returning to the cats, I must say that only 10% of them boldly go to battle against the rat.
There are many more extraordinary facts:
- dogs are completely devoid of an appendix, but they can distinguish between separate tones of yellow, green and blue, and also run at a speed of 30 km / h;
- cats do not have a single sweat gland and are able to race at a speed of 19 km / h;
- a hamster of any breed blinks with only one eye at a time;
- the height of the dog can reach 1.11 m;
- the normal temperature of the cat is 38 degrees;
- parrots "speak" not in the vocal cords (they simply are not), but in their beak and tongue;
- ancient Indians domesticated the guinea pig at least 7,000 years ago;
- the rabbit is able to look behind its back without twisting its head;
- dogs should not be given any food, including chocolate;
- a pig, including a mini-pig, is unable to look up;
- the rat needs a pair just for communication, otherwise it will languish and be sad;
- the shape of a dog’s nose is as unique as a person’s fingerprints;
- cows have a more powerful scent than representatives of the canine family.
The TOP 10 most popular pets in the world can be found further.