Adopting an adult dog rather than a puppy means less time will have to be spent training the animal. If you are not able to train a dog, obedience classes are available at clinics and through kennels. Larry Heil, owner of Rainwater Kennels in Grand Island, teaches six-week obedience classes about every two months. Heil also trains hunting dogs, enters dogs in retrieving competitions and offers behavior modification classes. When choosing a cat, consider if any family members are allergic to cat hair or dander.
Cats enjoy each other's company and can be declawed to save furniture.
Scratching posts, furniture sprays, regularly trimming a cat's nails or behavioral training are alternatives to having a cat declawed. Birds are social animals that may live up to 60 years depending on the breed. If time is not set aside each day to play with a bird, it will get depressed. The time needed to clean a cage, the noise the animal makes and the expense of clipping wings and toenails must also be considered when deciding whether to buy a bird. When buying fish, decide whether you want fresh or saltwater fish, consider what size tank they will need and the type of environment, such as plants and water temperature, they require.