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What kind of pet should we get?

someguy said:
How much?
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Technically my step father is selling them so I wouldn't be seeing any of the proceeds. I believe he wants $450 CAD, the litter form last summer (pictured in previous post) went for $250. Demand went up I guess, at 5 weeks old 5 out of the 9 are already called for.

And DO NOT get a little yappy dog. I've got a chihuahua, I love him and everything but never again!
 
someguy said:
How big would the enclosure have to be?
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Aim large. Keep in mind they can get up to six feet long including tail. I don't know of ones in captivity will regularly get that big but do remember they're not tiny lizards.

Their tail is flexible and will probably hang down quite a bit if you have a tall enclosure so they don't generally need one as big as they are long, especially if you let them out regularly. Just give them enough space to move around and grow and they'll be happy.
 
I would get a fish first to see if you're ready for the responsibility of a pet. When I was a young child I had to prove first I could take care of a fish before getting a dog. I agree with your instinct about not getting a cat or dog. Indeed most people are on a spectrum of being allergic to cats to some degree, and you should definitely not have a dog in a condo unless you can commit to a couple of walks a day at a minimum.

I don't know much about iguanas--and as someone who DOESNT know much about them I can say I would be creeped out going into someone's house who had one running wild. I knew a guy who had one in his dorm room at college (they weren't allowed but he was the RA). His room stunk like piss and I got a diseased "sense" the one time I walked in there, and I could never shake my impression of him as the lizard guy. Like I said, that's my own prejudices. I love my dog so much. I highly reccomend if you get a dog to find one from a good SPCA--ask them about tempermants of the dogs they have. In my lifetime I have had three amazing dogs, all mutts from the SPCA. My friends who have pure breads have had problems with their dogs, they are usually somewhat neurotic, and in obedience school.
 
iguanas shouldn t smell if kept up properly,, it's not a lot that you will have to do, but its is something that needs ot be done,,,DAILY it s a big commitment think about it first don t rush into it.tho..
 
juanster said:
yes it should be big enough, if it's only to keep her while it is unsupervised not to always be in there for days at a time...
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I might be able to find a place for something that size.

swingerofbirch said:
~snip~
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I grew up taking care of a dog and a cat, but we always kept them outside as much as possible and I was always washing my hands constantly. I can handle the responsibility, I just can't handle the allergic reactions.

I don't have company too often, so I wouldn't worry about others being creeped out by it, but it would be good to have the enclosure in case it made someone uncomfortable (which is bound to happen eventually with any pet, even if all you have are dogs).
 
Why not just get some fish? They're easy to take care of and you don't have to let them roam about the house. African cichlids are nice looking and have many different colors. They're aggressive fish so you cannot have any other type of fish in the aquarium with them except other cichlids. They can get up to around 6" long depending on how many you have and the size tank you have. If fish are not up your alley, go for a potbelly pig!!:p
 
astarling06 said:
Why not just get some fish? They're easy to take care of and you don't have to let them roam about the house. African cichlids are nice looking and have many different colors. They're aggressive fish so you cannot have any other type of fish in the aquarium with them except other cichlids. They can get up to around 6" long depending on how many you have and the size tank you have. If fish are not up your alley, go for a potbelly pig!!:p
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I like the idea of something roaming around, though.

Potbelly pig, eh? Do those require an enclosure? Maybe I can fill my place with mud and let my pig just run around all over the place. Invite a few outgoing chicks over to wrestle with it (and each other), call the guys over to watch... sounds like a party!
 
There are many non-allergenic dog breeds of varying shapes and sizes. These will not have whatever it is that makes you allergic to them.
 
Whatever pet you get, please consider adopting the pet from a shelter or rescue! There are so many homeless pets who are euthanized just for lack of a home. It's so sad. You can do a search for pets in your area at www.petfinder.com
 
someguy said:
Do they tell jokes or something? ;)


I don't particularly want a cat and definitely don't want a small dog.

As far as loyalty goes, I think cats in general are pretty loyal, but you have to give them a lot of attention and affection. They are like clingy women. :eek:

Dogs aren't loyal at all in my experience. Whoever's got the treats or is dropping food beneath the dinner table to them is who they love the most.

That said, loyalty isn't a big concern of mine, as long as whatever I buy isn't going to snap at me everytime I try to pet/handle it. I know with dogs and cats, that's kind of a toss up. Most domestic animals are going to be nice as long as they are used to being around people, but some of them are just always snappy and mean. Does anyone know if iguana's are general gentle and well-behaved?
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My experiences with cats is that they rub up against you, you pet them, they act all happy, and then they scratch you.

Dogs do need treats to train them, eventually though you can ween them off of treats and onto praise. The type of dog also depends. Some dogs like to be the alpha male and you have to make them learn that you are incharge (staring into there eyes, etc). Other dogs just love to be loyal to their masters- pretty much any kind of hunting dog i.e. labs, retrievers, etc


Someone mentioned Portuguese water dogs before. My neighbor has a couple of them right now and have had a few in the past. They don't have fur, they have hair, so they are not bald and won't shed really or cause allergies. They are fantastic- they are seriously like giant fluffy stuffed animals. They are very playful and love to just sit right next to you. I believe they are pretty expensive though.

Iguanas, other reptiles, and birds I don't think are very fun animals. They just kinda sit there and don't have much of a relationship with the owner. Fish are somewhat like that too but they are fun to watch swim around. That said its also really annoying to have to clean the fishtank and deal with the pH and all that stuff.
 
someguy said:
Bald dog? I dunno...
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It isn't bald. It has hair instead of fur. It doesn't shed either. You would want to get a curly or wavy kind. There is a type called improper coat. Where it grows a undercoat which seems to cause allergic reactions.

Lila-swim.jpg
 
ChrisWB said:
There are many non-allergenic dog breeds of varying shapes and sizes. These will not have whatever it is that makes you allergic to them.
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Poodles are great for that. No pet dander... we have one and a half. Other one is half yorkie. They're small, easy to clean up after, smart, and very very cuddley!:D They also play nice with iguana.:)
 
D0ct0rteeth said:
Have kids. Much more fun. :)
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We have 6 kids; 3 the old-fashioned way and 3 born in China. Add to that some dogs, cats, a bird, fish, horses, sheep, goats, alpaca, donkeys, chickens, a squirrel, snake, and lizard.

If I was in an apartment, I'd still go with fish. Setting up a saltwater reef aquarium is both rewarding and educational.

Mind you, it requires a great deal of patience; set up the tank, plumbing, heater, pumps, and lighting. Mix the saltwater and add to the tank. Add some live sand and liverock. Leave the tank alone for awhile. Add some "clean-up critters" (hermit crabs, snails, sea stars, sea cucumbers, etc). Leave the tank alone for awhile. Add some soft corals and possibly heartier fish (you can buy tank-bred fish and corals, if you are opposed to taking them from the wild). Leave the tank alone for awhile... Well, you get the idea. ;)
 
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