Pet or No Pet? linking post at: http://www.familyresource.com/blog/category/lifestyles/pets/

   

This article recommends that you choose a low maintenance pet like a cat, a rodent, a reptile, or a fish. It suggests that as a dog relies on you giving it attention and playing with it non stop, these types of pets are more for looking at rather than playing with. However, you always want to be careful when picking out a family pet in making sure that its behavior is complimentary to a child. Does the child sense attachment, or do the seem uninterested? The more a child takes to the pet, the more likely they are to take better care of it. You also want to make sure that the child is at a decent age to handle some of the responsibility of taking care of their pet. This is a helpful tool in teaching them good character and helps build confidence and raises their self-esteem in taking on a duty of their own.